Riva Refugee & Immigrant Voices In Action

OUR MISSION IS TO HELP REFUGEES EXPAND THEIR WORLD OF POSSIBILITIES THROUGH ADVOCACY, EDUCATION, AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT.

RISE (REBUILD, INTEGRATE, SERVE, AND EMPOWER) AMERICORPS IS AN IOWA-BASED NATIONAL SERVICE PROGRAM THAT STRENGTHENS THE ECONOMIC CAPACITY AND SELF-SUFFICIENCY OF IMMIGRANTS THROUGH COMMUNITY SERVICE. RISE AMERICORPS ADDRESSES BARRIERS TO ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY AND ADVANCEMENT FOR REFUGEES AND IMMIGRANTS. BARRIERS MAY INCLUDE LITERACY (E.G. DIGITAL, TECH, READING), LANGUAGE, LACK OF FAMILIARITY WITH HIRING PROCESSES (E.G. APPLICATIONS, COVER LETTER, INTERVIEWS), LACK OF NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES, AMONG OTHERS. AMERICORPS MEMBERS ASSIST COMMUNITY MEMBERS WITH WORKFORCE READINESS EDUCATION, TRAINING AND SUPPORT SERVICES SO INDIVIDUALS CAN DEVELOP SKILLS, GAIN CONFIDENCE AND BECOME ASSETS IN THEIR COMMUNITY FOR THOSE FACING SIMILAR HURDLES TO OPPORTUNITY AND STABILITY. RISE AMERICORPS ALSO HELPS TO BRIDGE THE GAP BETWEEN CHRONIC WORK SHORTAGES ACROSS THE STATE AND AN UNTAPPED WEALTH OF TALENT IN THE REFUGEE AND IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES.

THE FAMILY FOCUS PROGRAM PROVIDES ESSENTIAL LINGUISTIC AND CULTURALLY APPROPRIATE SERVICES TO REFUGEE AND IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY MEMBERS LIVING IN IOWA THROUGH PEER-TO-PEER EDUCATION, CASE MANAGEMENT, SYSTEMS ADVOCACY, AND COMMUNITY BUILDING. SPECIFIC AREAS INCLUDE (1) PARENT AND FAMILY SUPPORT: OVER 400 CASE MANAGEMENT PARTICIPANTS, 23 LEARNING CIRCLES, 62 CHILDREN REGISTERED FOR PRESCHOOL AND DOZENS OF RESOURCE VIDEOS IN 5+ LANGUAGES; (2) CRISIS ADVOCACY AND REFERRAL SERVICES: 99% INCREASE FROM PREVIOUS YEAR IN CASE MANAGEMENT CLIENTS AND SERVICE HOURS, EXTENSIVE STAFF TRAINING AND PUBLIC ADVOCACY; (3) WORK READINESS: OVER 200 CLIENTS ASSISTED WITH IT, ESL AND OTHER JOB TRAINING, 68 INDIVIDUALS GAINED EMPLOYMENT AND MANY INCREASED WAGES.

THE HEALTH EQUITY CAMPAIGN EMPHASIZES BUILDING THE POWER OF PEOPLE AT THE GRASSROOTS LEVEL TO DEMAND AND WIN HEALTH SYSTEM POLICY CHANGE AND ADDRESS BARRIERS TO CARE FOR IMMIGRANT AND REFUGEE COMMUNITY MEMBERS. THE KEY AREAS OF FOCUS FOR THE CAMPAIGN ARE VACCINE UPTAKE, MENTAL HEALTH, SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH, MEDICAID AND SUPPORT SERVICES TO VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND SEXUAL ASSAULT.BY ORGANIZING WITH AN INTERSECTIONAL APPROACH AND FORGING RELATIONSHIPS WITH A NETWORK OF DIVERSE STAKEHOLDERS, SEVERAL COALITIONS HAVE SUCCESSFULLY BEEN FORMED TO REACH MULTIPLE POPULATIONS THAT WILL BENEFIT GREATLY FROM ADVOCACY AND INCREASED ACCESS TO SOCIAL SERVICES. FORGED AT THE OUTSET OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, THESE COALITIONS HAVE HOSTED CLINICS, EXPANDED VACCINATION OPPORTUNITIES, DISSEMINATED AT-HOME TESTING KITS, PROVIDED TRAINING, CURATED A LIBRARY OF MULTILINGUAL EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES, AND SUPPORTED LOCAL HEALTH DEPARTMENTS. TLY IMPROVED ENGLISH PROFICIENCY.

OTHER COSTS RELATED TO ORGANIZATION'S MISSION AND PURPOSE.