Community Refugee & Immigration Services

Important CRIS Legal Services Updates! Beginning in September, the CRIS Legal Services clinic schedule is changing. We will now host two Haitian Legal Clinics per month, on the first and second Tuesdays. We will also have two Ukrainian Legal Clinics per month, on the third and fourth Tuesdays. Additionally, our Refugee Adjustment Day will now take place on the first Wednesday of each month. There will be 25 available appointments on each of these days on a first-come, first-served basis (between 8:30 AM and 12:00 noon).   Previously, only one clinic was held per month per community; these changes reflect an increase in our service capacity.   Those who are not a part of the communities listed above and want to schedule an initial consultation (intake appointment) with CRIS Legal Services may call 380-LAW-CRIS (380-529-2747) on the first business day of each month to schedule. Make sure to visit https://lnkd.in/gicJrEC9 or email Carolina Iporre (ciporre@cris-ohio.org) for more information.

The CRIS employment program aims to prepare refugees for the workplace to help them achieve the goal of long-term self-sufficiency and integration in the Central Ohio community. This includes English language instruction, skills-based instruction, interview practice, and individual employment counseling. Recently, the CRIS Employment team has innovated new approaches to workplace preparation with some of those they serve.   One of these fresh approaches is a weekly professional development class. This class aims to support CRIS employment program participants who have professional skills and experience and strong English language skills. The curriculum was developed by the course’s volunteer teache Rob Newman; it highlights professional life in the U.S., resume-building, networking, interview strategies, and more. Now retired, Newman brings over 30 years of experience in leadership development, training design and development, and human resources expertise to his volunteer work with refugees. He shares, “Refugees are so interested in succeeding here in the U.S…helping them do so is tremendously exciting."

Our very own Executive Director Angie Plummer recently made a radio guest appearance on 89.7 NPR news in an interview with WOSU Public Media’s All Sides Host and Executive Producer Anna Staver. Angie and Rob Cohen, Porter Wright immigration attorney and CRIS board member, discussed refugees in Ohio. This conversation is part of the All Sides series Untangled, which aims to take complicated topics and untangle them. Close CRIS partner and Church World Service Community Organizer Blaise Balazire also shared snapshots of his own journey as a refugee during the show. A recording of the show is available on podcast platforms.

We're #hiring a new Grant Writer in Columbus, Ohio. The position will include identifying and applying for grant opportunities and tracking reporting requirements in partnership with our program managers and leadership. This position is made possible through the generosity of Rohini Mulchandani. Rohini reached out to CRIS looking for a way to support refugee-focused services in Central Ohio, and she was drawn to the idea of growing CRIS’ capacity to help in new and different ways. A native of India, Rohini moved to the United States in 1964. She earned her master’s degree in food science and technology from Michigan State University in 1966, and her doctorate in dairy technology from The Ohio State University in 1969. Following this, she worked in the Ross Laboratories division of Abbott Laboratories (now Abbott Nutrition International) here in Columbus for nearly 25 years. In 1998, she retired from her highly successful career at Abbott and launched a new endeavor–her own food company. She created Arjay Gourmet Foods, LTD. and spent many years running her own business, through which she became known as the “Chutney Lady.” In recent years, she has dedicated herself to philanthropy, including the support and creation of special projects at her alma maters, Columbus State Community College, Otterbein University, the Columbus Zoo and the Wilds, and others. In her words, “My parents and grandparents modeled philanthropy for me, and they raised me with the mentality of teaching someone to fish rather than giving them a fish. I have always wanted to give back.” CRIS’ Executive Director, Angie Plummer, shares, “Working with Rohini on this has been inspiring. Her curiosity and passion for making informed investments in community work is infectious, and we can all celebrate the impact she is making in the world both at CRIS and beyond.” Thanks to her gift, we are eager to hire someone who will help us continue becoming the best version of CRIS we can be for the people we serve. Apply today or share this post with your network.

Here's a behind-the-scenes action shot of the 2024 Refugee Mental Health Training hosted last week by CRIS staff members. Health & Wellness Program Manager Cat Gossman and Clinical Lead Kyri Shaffer led the discussion, and other CRIS staff members offered valuable cultural insight, examples, and stories to enhance the training. Special thanks to the 150+ participants and the organizations represented: US Together, Inc., Directions for Youth & Families, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Ethiopian Tewahedo Social Services (ETSS), Jewish Family Services, Franklin County Children Services, Netcare Access, OhioHealth, @Asha-Ray of Hope, Hope & Healing Survivor Resource Center, Vineyard Columbus, Dublin City School District, Westerville City Schools, Lima City Schools, and Central Ohio Area Agency on Aging.

Refugees, immigrants, and allies alike are all invited to Gov't 101, presented by Church World Service Community Organizer Blaise Balazire, this Saturday, March 23rd, from 2-4:30 PM at the CRIS Office (4645 Executive Drive). This training is designed for immigrants and refugees who want to: Understand the government structures and how they influence our daily lives, from local to federal levels. Discover ways to get involved in decision-making processes to drive meaningful impact on our immigrant and refugee communities. Build connections with other engaged community members and collectively advocate for change. Let us know you're attending by completing the short RSVP form!

CRIS staff attorney Vincent Wells has been named a recipient of the Public Interest Law Foundation (PILF) Excellence in Public Service Award! This award is given out annually to two outstanding attorneys by the PILF at Ohio State University Moritz College of Law Annual Auction selected for their “continued commitment to public interest work in our community…This award is dedicated to attorneys doing great work in the public interest who are dedicated to the mission of providing stellar legal services to the underserved.” Vincent has been instrumental in providing legal services to Afghan evacuees, as well as being a vital part of CRIS Legal Services as they support thousands of refugees and immigrants each year. Congratulations, Vincent!

What does it mean to be culturally considerate in our approach to parent interactions, safety, and mandated reporting? This was the big question in discussion last week during a free training hosted by CRIS Refugee Health & Wellness Clinical Lead Kyri Shaffer, IMFT-S in partnership with Nationwide Children’s Hospital CALL Clinical Lead Supervisor Ashley Skelly. Over 90 social service providers, educators, and medical providers from The Center for Family Safety and Healing, PrimaryOne Health, Westerville City Schools, Riverview International Center, Ethiopian Tewahedo Social Services (ETSS), Dublin City Schools, Nationwide Children's Hospital, and Franklin County Children’s Services took part in this training. Shaffer and Skelly shared valuable information related to the refugee experience and resettlement, how culture influences the conceptualization of safety and health, and how to be culturally responsive when mandated reporting is necessary. This mission-aligned training serves as a way to further equip the Central Ohio community and deepen partnerships as we continue to help refugees and immigrants reach safety and stability. 

The 100-strong CRIS team is richly diverse; our stories reflect those we serve. A few CRIS colleagues (Jhuma N Acharya, Anitha Kavuna, Krista Smith, and Ahmed Kamil) recently took part in a refugee and immigrant experience film project in collaboration with the Central Ohio Area Agency on Aging (COAAA). COAAA serves many refugees in our community and to better equip their nurses and social workers to serve this population, they are gathering personal accounts and narratives from community members who have experienced the refugee process through this film project. We are incredibly thankful for community partners like COAAA who are committed to responding to refugees' unique needs with understanding, compassion, and professionalism. Read some of our staff stories: https://lnkd.in/gUkGm-_F