DECEMBER 4, 2019
CONTACT: MUKHTAR IDHOW
PHONE: 603.296.0443
EMAIL: MIDHOW@REFUGEESUCCESS.ORG
CONCORD AND MANCHESTER, NH – The Organization for Refugee and Immigrant Success (ORIS) is pleased to announce its recent merger with New American Africans (NAA). Both organizations serve newly resettled refugees and immigrants in New Hampshire by providing assistance, programs, training, resources, and opportunities that promote self-sufficiency, so new Americans can successfully integrate into their new homes, and become productive and participating members of New Hampshire’s communities. As ORIS continues to grow and engage new stakeholders, this consolidation is an exciting milestone that will increase our statewide potency to amplify a united voice for new Americans.
New Hampshire is a small state, with nearly 8000 nonprofit organizations. As uncertainty continues to permeate the funding landscape, both locally and nationally, nonprofits in New Hampshire must get creative and collaborative in order to be sustainable. The situation is even more dire for organizations that provide services to refugees and immigrants. Despite the current administration’s decision to reduce the number of refugees to be resettled in the United States down to 18,000 – the lowest number since the inception of the refugee resettlement program in 1980 – there are many refugees and immigrants who are already here and still in need of assistance as they navigate the challenges of integrating into a new culture.
NAA was founded in 2004, supporting newly arriving African immigrants and refugees in their journey of integration and adaptation to a new life in Concord, New Hampshire. NAA fulfilled their mission through after-school and summer literacy programs, women and youth groups, and their signature Friday Family Fun Nights.
ORIS has been operating since 2005 as the Somali Bantu Community Association, and since 2011 as the Organization for Refugee and Immigrant Success. Their mission is to aid in the resettlement of refugees and immigrants in New Hampshire by providing assistance, training, resources, and opportunities that promote self-sufficiency. In 2008, the organization established Fresh Start Farms, a collective brand for new American farm enterprises, which develops local markets and trains farmers in business planning, building competency and integration into New Hampshire’s vibrant and growing local food system, while also expanding access to healthy, affordable, and culturally appropriate food to food-insecure families across southern NH.
During a collaborative agricultural project earlier this year, ORIS and NAA began exploring the idea of a deeper collaboration or partnership. Although each organization was physically located in separate cities – ORIS in Manchester and NAA in Concord – their missions and visions aligned in a way that a merger would give them the ability to achieve certain goals almost immediately. Joining organizations allows them to consolidate and expand services, share valuable resources, and simplify fundraising without competing with each other, thereby broadening each organizations’ approach and strengthening the capacity of the new American communities and service providers across city lines.
NAA is now a program of ORIS, with Program Director, Carolyn Musyimi-Kamau, operating in Concord. NAA’s services and programs will continue with the goal of expanding the reach to multiple ethnicities in addition to Africans. Additionally, five members of NAA’s board of directors have joined ORIS’s board of directors, increasing the effectiveness of the organization with new networks and institutional knowledge.
As the work continues under the umbrella of ORIS, the staff and board are looking forward to the many opportunities available to strengthen and expand programming for new Americans in New Hampshire. Today, ORIS’s collective staff and board represent seven countries and are fluent in thirteen languages. The power of ORIS lies in its cultural understanding, linguistic expertise, and first-hand knowledge of the immigrant experience.
“At the end of the day, our work is about fulfilling our mission of supporting new Americans on their journey to integration and independence. Through partnerships and collaborations, we are able to fulfill our mission in a more significant way, leading to real, sustainable change in the lives of new Americans and their families. When new Americans can thrive in their new homes, the whole community benefits.” Mukhtar Idhow, ORIS Executive Director.
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UMOJA GALA – Celebrate Unity!
In the spirit of unity, ORIS is thrilled to host the 2nd annual UMOJA Gala. The UMOJA Gala was first held in February 2019 as a fundraiser for NAA. Now that the organizations have merged, ORIS will continue the event, which was very successful in its inaugural year.
The 2020 UMOJA Gala will be held on Saturday, March 14 at 6:00 p.m. at the Grappone Conference Center in Concord. The UMOJA Gala is a special evening to celebrate the many cultures of the people we serve and to learn more about the mission and work of ORIS. Enjoy delicious international foods, entertainment by local performers and artists, themed raffle items and more!
Tickets are $80 and will be available to purchase at www.refugeesuccess.org.
Sponsorships with marketing benefits are available for all levels of support. Please contact carolyn@refugeesuccess.org for more information.
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Organization for Refugee and Immigrant Success
434 Lake Ave, Manchester, NH, 03103