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Creating a welcoming and inclusive environment for New Americans, Immigrants, and Refugees in West Michigan.
WELCOME PLAN UPDATES
Kent County Purchasing and Business Network Event
The WMWPC shared our new Annual report and the Welcome Plan’s goals for New Americans. We anticipate new job opportunities and future collaboration from local business leaders as we continue our important work.
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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Welcome Sesame Webinar
Thursday December 7th 1:00pm
REGISTER HERE
Sesame Workshop invites you to a webinar highlighting our domestic Welcome Sesame initiative, which expands our efforts to support families affected by conflict and crisis. We will discuss our current content offerings, including 2 new professional development courses, as well as dive into ways these resources can be implemented in your work with children and families.
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SAN Community App
www.sancommunity.com
A platform designed to unite mentors and mentees, fostering a collaborative environment promoting higher education. Empowering students (mentees) to pose questions, complete with photos, to a diverse community of mentors.
If you would like to add your organization to our interactive map please read these informative slides or contact Felicien Sangwa at sangwacomputer@gmail.com
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VACCINES
Available until December 31, 2024.
The federal government has launched the Bridge Access Program which provides free COVID-19 vaccines for uninsured adults and adults whose insurance doesn’t cover all COVID-19 vaccine costs. If you visit Vaccines.gov you will be able to search for participating vaccines sites by selecting Bridge Access Program.
TESTING
The federal government restarted their free COVID-19 at-home test program. Each household can order 4 free COVID-19 tests. The website to order tests is live and can be found HERE. These tests will detect the currently circulating COVID-19 variants. People are encouraged to use the free tests immediately as Americans prepare for travel and gatherings with friends and family throughout the 2023 holiday season.
EDUCATION
Check-out NRC-RIM’s translated COVID-19 resources and materials on boosters, waves, variants, and other general COVID-19 vaccine information useful. Customizable and translated into more than 40 languages, these are among their most popular resources to date.
In collaboration with the International Rescue Committee (IRC), NRC-RIM released Know Your Rights fact sheets in English, Spanish, French, and Haitian Creole. Aimed at Cubans, Haitians, and others from Latin America who are humanitarian parole recipients, the fact sheet explains eligibility for healthcare services, translation and interpretation, privacy concerns and more.
Sponsorship Support Program Grants
The office of Global Michigan is asking our communities to come together and form welcoming groups for sponsoring newcomers from the following program models:
CHNV Uniting for Ukraine Welcome Corps
Are you interested in forming a sponsorship with one of these models?
Would you like a info session to learn more?
Click Here if you are interested in joining an information session
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
Engagement Opportunities
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GR Chamber + National Civics Bee
Tuesday April 16th Frederick Meijer Gardens
The application opens Wednesday November 13, 2023, and closes on Monday January 8, 2024.
The Grand Rapids Chamber is partnering with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation to host a civics competition that encourages young Americans to engage in civics and contribute to their communities. Participating 6th, 7th and 8th graders will flex their civics knowledge for a chance to win recognition and cash prizes. Finalists will be invited to Washington, DC to compete in the inaugural National Civics Bee national championship in Fall 2024. More Information Here!
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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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LES CLAY CHRISTMAS CONCERT
Saturday December 16th 6:00pm
1795 Knollcrest Circle Southeast, Grand Rapids MI 49546
Join us for a festive and soulful celebration at the Calvin University Gezon Auditorium! Immerse yourself in the captivating rhythms and melodies of Africa, as talented musicians and dancers take the stage to deliver an unforgettable Christmas experience.
Get your Tickets Here!
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Nia na Njia Project
Are you interested in event production, fundraising, and networking?
Les Clay invites you to join the 2023 Nia Na Njia cohort. This fall’s focus is on putting on an amazing fundraising concert in December. We need YOU!
After signing up, you will receive an email about dates and times when the group meets. You will also receive information about the program, your involvement, and the program expectations.
JOIN HERE
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THE PLAYGROUNDgr
THE PLAYGROUNDgr has two events coming up and is seeking sponsorship! Please see info and sponsorship opportunities for Healing Through Play and Play Around the World. Contact Jacqueline for more information: jacqueline@theplaygroundgr.org
Healing through play Sponsorship
Play Around The World Sponsorship
THE PLAYGROUNDgr is a local nonprofit, who is committed to bridging the disparities of the racial, gender, culture, and socioeconomic gaps often found in caregivers/educational institutions and community based programing around the world of play. Play based support, therapy and awareness continues to be an evidenced tool that sharpens and supports, emotional health, mental health, trauma, grief and attachment. THE PLAYGROUNDgr is tasked with ensuring all members of our community have access to free or reduce rated play workshops, trainings, play based groups and play based therapy.
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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
Funding Opportunities
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Capacity Building and Outreach
Due Thursday December 21st 2023
The Office of Global Michigan is pleased to share a funding opportunity for the Capacity Building and Outreach Program, a project made possible through the advocacy efforts of the Funding for New Americans Coalition.
A virtual grant proposal info session will be held on Monday, November 27th 11:00am – 12:30pm; below you’ll find information on how to join this call. Please submit any questions regarding the content of this Request for Proposal (RFP) prior to this session by email to Leo-refugeeservices@michigan.gov.
This information and a downloadable copy of this Request for Proposal is also posted on our website: https://www.michigan.gov/ogm.
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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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