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Creating a welcoming and inclusive environment for New Americans, Immigrants, and Refugees in West Michigan.
WELCOME PLAN UPDATES
Law Enforcement Engagement Event
The WPC Safe and Connected Communities workgroup hosted a community Engagement event with law enforcement and members of the African immigrant and refugee community at Treetops Collective on Monday October 30.
Community members from around 10 African countries, GRPD, Wyoming PD, Kentwood PD, Kent County Sheriffs Dept. and our county prosecutor Chris Becker came together to discuss community policing and asked each other questions, followed by breakout sessions by jurisdiction. Law enforcement learned about policing norms in several African countries and community members were able to share their top safety concerns here in the West Michigan. The event was well intended and are we are looking forward in continuing these discussions in diverse settings.
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CHNA Paper Surveys
Due this Thursday 11/2/23
The Kent County Health Department wants to make sure your surveying efforts are counted by getting all paper surveys entered online by the end of this week. Please drop surveys off to the Health Department by this Thursday at the latest. If there is no possibility of bringing the surveys to KCHD, please contact:
janine.odonnell@kentcountymi.gov Office: (616) 632-7268
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WMWPC Resource Page
Our Welcome Plan Resource Page is still under construction, and we will continue to add resources as you share them with us. We will really appreciate your feedback and contributions of resources for our Refugee, Immigrant, and New American community in West Michigan. Click here to submit resources
Please share communications with Marcial Benavidez (marcial.benavidez@kentcountymi.gov) any communications that you would like to include on Tuesdays by 9am to be shared on the Weekly Wednesday Communication.
EDUCATION AND RESOURCES
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Public Service Announcement
The FBI has seen an increase in reports of threats against Jewish, Muslim, and Arab communities and institutions, raising our concern that violent extremists and lone offenders motivated by or reacting to ongoing events could target these communities. As we are communicating with our law enforcement partners, faith communities, and others, this Public Service Announcement is being released by the FBI and DHS to the American public to help protect our communities. We ask members of the public to immediately report anything they consider suspicious to law enforcement.
To report information in West Michigan, contact the FBI Grand Rapids Resident Agency at 616-456-5489 or submit a tip to tips.fbi.gov or 1-800-CALL FBI.
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Upcoming Grants From Office of Global Michigan
The Office of Global Michigan will be requesting grant proposals in the coming weeks. If you are interested in getting a head start for applying please click here for more information!
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Click on Image for Informational Flyer!
Newcomer Rental Subsidy Program
Affordable housing is a critical need for newly arriving refugees and for local community partners and sponsors who provide resettlement support. The subsidy program provides refugees and other newcomer population-eligible households with monthly rental assistance for up to 12 months to help families successfully integrate into communities, become self-sufficient and thrive.
Applications will soon be available in Arabic, Ukrainian, Dari, Pashto, Spanish and Kinyarwanda. We will give an update on these translations as soon they become available.
Contact LEO-RefugeeServices@michigan.gov for questions and support.
Click Here for more Information!
Apply Online Here
We are seeking to partner with Financial Institutions or Community Organizations that provide financial empowerment classes to connect recipients of the Newcomer Rental Subsidy Program with additional support. If you provide or are aware of this service, please fill out this form
NRS Info Sessions
For a better understanding of the NRS program and to address any questions you may have, the OGM is hosting 2 info sessions that will include:
- NRS Program overview
- Filling out an application demo
- Q&A
You can register for one or both Sessions
Sessions will not be recorded*
Info Session 1:
Date: Thursday, November 9th
Time: 11am – 12:30pm EST
Info Session 2:
Date: Monday, November 13th
Time: 2pm – 3:30pm EST
Session Links and Info
You can submit questions in advance to Carmen Bordea (bordeac@michigan.gov) and will have the opportunity to ask additional questions during the presentations.
Click to Watch the Concentric Video
The Treetops Concentric Program*
Treetops Concentric is available to immigrant and refugee women and teen girls who live in Kent County and are looking for opportunities to build relationships with peers and with other community members from a variety of backgrounds while learning more about how to access the resources available in the community. Treetops contracts with and trains New American women to lead Concentric groups. This is a replicable model of providing a platform for local leaders and strengthening an area’s social fabric –
if you think a community you are a part of could benefit from the Concentric model please contact Jenna at jenna@treetopscollective.org.
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Collective Care program
Collective Care program provides a next step for New Americans first engaging with conversations about mental health on a personal level but not interested in a therapeutic setting. Collective Care Specialists are trained to facilitate six-session Circles of Support to equip more community members with tools to understand and navigate trauma in their lives and families, making referrals to healthcare providers when necessary. Specialists also provide language-based resource navigation support to Circles members and as needed by immigrant and refugee community members in general. If a leader in your community is interested in being trained in Circles of Support facilitation, please contact Jenna at jenna@treetopscollective.org.
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Engagement Opportunities
Michigan Farmworkers, Service Providers and Growers Conference
Wednesday, November 1st, 2023 8:30am-4:15pm
Double Tree Hilton Hotel Grand Rapids Airport 4747 28th St. SE, Grand Rapids, mi 49512
Improving health, wellbeing, and Safety for Farmworkers
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Kent County Business Networking Event
Wednesday, November 1, 2023
DeVos Convention Center from 8:30 am to 12 pm.
Info Postcard ENGLISH – SPANISH
Are you a Michigan supplier interested in doing business with Kent County? Join the Michigan Economic Development Corporation’s Pure Michigan Business Connect (PMBC) team and the Kent County Purchasing Division for a no-cost Kent County Purchasing & Business Networking Event!
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How to Use Ride Share Apps
Wednesday November 15th 9am-4pm
Tree Tops Collective – 906 Division Ave S, Grand Rapids MI
Treetops will be holding a walk-in workshop where participants learn how to setup and use Uber/Lyft in 10 minutes!
Language Support: Kinyarwanda, Swahili, Nepali, Farsi/dari, and Arabic.
Please contact latifa@treetopscollective.org for any questions.
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Companionship Workshop
Saturday, November 18 from 9:00am – 12:30pm
Victory Point Ministries 11530 Ransom St, Holland, MI 49424
Have you ever wondered how to sustainably support someone in distress without burning out?
Movement West Michigan & Doors of Hope are providing a Companionship workshop on how to support the individuals in your community who live with mental illness, insecure housing, or chemical dependency and move from a transactional exchange to relational engagement, enabling substantive change with Companionship. Register here by November 15th to claim your spot!
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AAIPA Engagement Opportunities
The American Arab Intellectual Property Association is Looking for sponsors and partners for the 2024 Second Annual Inventors Challange and The Arab and Islamic Cultural Festival. Checkout the following links for sponsorship package information!
Contact haitham.atiyah@aaipa.net for more information
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Want to Join the Collaborative?
Completion of this interest form will connect you with our coordinator to learn more about the Welcome Plan Collaborative and get connected to a workgoup.
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