Point me to organizations that support immigrants and refugees in Los Angeles.
November 26, 2010 10:06 AM Subscribe
What are some organizations in Los Angeles that support recent immigrants and/or refugees, where I can become involved on a voluntary basis once or twice a week?
I'm looking to become a bit more useful than just what I do at my job, and one of the major issues I find myself caring about is immigration and refugee issues. I also want to feel more tied to Los Angeles, and since folks from other places are at the heart of the life of this city, that's also influencing my thinking here.
A few more specifics of what I'm looking for and what I bring to the table:
* The organization focus could be broad - legal defense and English tutoring are common, and I'm not opposed to those. But a place that also makes some larger effort to push immigrant rights, create community, teach skills to kids and/or adults, help people develop and communicate their own stories, etc. are all things I'm interested in.
* Not a charity or non-profit whose focus is completely on short-term food support. (Not that I am against that, and certainly I am open-minded if it's just a part of what they do.)
* It need not be a political organization per se, but I would prefer that it not create a taboo around discussing the economic and political forces that bring people to leave their countries.
* My spanish is decent enough to carry on a meaninful conversation. I'm familiar with the geography and, broadly, the history of Central America and Mexico. I don't know any other languages. If I walked away with better Spanish, I wouldn't complain.
* I'm a Catholic and feel more comfortable than many people in religious settings, so I'm open to that, but I'm not interested in any group that specifically pushes a pro-life agenda or conservative sexual mores.
Help me brainstorm this out, AskMe. Any specific experiences with groups and organizations are also interesting to me.
I'm looking to become a bit more useful than just what I do at my job, and one of the major issues I find myself caring about is immigration and refugee issues. I also want to feel more tied to Los Angeles, and since folks from other places are at the heart of the life of this city, that's also influencing my thinking here.
A few more specifics of what I'm looking for and what I bring to the table:
* The organization focus could be broad - legal defense and English tutoring are common, and I'm not opposed to those. But a place that also makes some larger effort to push immigrant rights, create community, teach skills to kids and/or adults, help people develop and communicate their own stories, etc. are all things I'm interested in.
* Not a charity or non-profit whose focus is completely on short-term food support. (Not that I am against that, and certainly I am open-minded if it's just a part of what they do.)
* It need not be a political organization per se, but I would prefer that it not create a taboo around discussing the economic and political forces that bring people to leave their countries.
* My spanish is decent enough to carry on a meaninful conversation. I'm familiar with the geography and, broadly, the history of Central America and Mexico. I don't know any other languages. If I walked away with better Spanish, I wouldn't complain.
* I'm a Catholic and feel more comfortable than many people in religious settings, so I'm open to that, but I'm not interested in any group that specifically pushes a pro-life agenda or conservative sexual mores.
Help me brainstorm this out, AskMe. Any specific experiences with groups and organizations are also interesting to me.
The International Rescue Committee is an amazing organization and does all that you are asking for in an organizational.
posted by Pineapplicious at 11:16 AM on November 26, 2010
posted by Pineapplicious at 11:16 AM on November 26, 2010
Link for the IRC in LA:http://www.theirc.org/us-program/us-los-angeles-ca
posted by Pineapplicious at 11:18 AM on November 26, 2010
posted by Pineapplicious at 11:18 AM on November 26, 2010
I worked at a local consulate general when I was younger, in their legal department. At first, they let me use an old desk and gave me some busy work... after I earned their confidence they threw everything but the kitchen sink at me and I loved it.
posted by Mr_Crazyhorse at 11:28 AM on November 26, 2010
posted by Mr_Crazyhorse at 11:28 AM on November 26, 2010
Check with local libraries. Mine has an ESL program that includes one-on-one English tutoring, group classes, computer tutoring, all of which rely heavily on volunteer help. The big upside to this sort of thing is that you don't have to toil with paperwork in an office as a lackey and wonder if what you're doing is really helping. You get to sit there next to someone and show them how gmaps works. How to email their family. How to type a resume and a business letter.
If you're interested, I have a phone number for you. MeMail.
posted by carsonb at 12:51 PM on November 26, 2010 [1 favorite]
If you're interested, I have a phone number for you. MeMail.
posted by carsonb at 12:51 PM on November 26, 2010 [1 favorite]
Excuse me, it's an Adult Literacy Program, of which ESL tutoring is a large part.
posted by carsonb at 12:52 PM on November 26, 2010
posted by carsonb at 12:52 PM on November 26, 2010
I'm familiar with KIWA (the Koreatown Immigrant Workers Alliance), though since they're into unions and organizing and the like, you may not be as interested.
There's also the Instituto de Educacion Popular del Sur de California, which has an awesome project that teaches day laborers English language skills and skills in other areas (which would also allow you to flex your Spanish skills).
posted by librarylis at 1:01 PM on November 26, 2010
There's also the Instituto de Educacion Popular del Sur de California, which has an awesome project that teaches day laborers English language skills and skills in other areas (which would also allow you to flex your Spanish skills).
posted by librarylis at 1:01 PM on November 26, 2010
My GF is involved in an organization (Peace Over Violence) that works to assist/support victims of domestic violence. The main goal is not immigration related but many, many of the people they help are non-english-speaking Hispanic.
One example I have seen of where you could help is in translation. These victims write their statements in spanish... The very-thinly-stretched legal volunteers at POV cannot support that much Spanish->English translation. They take volunteers to help translate so that the legal team can work on legal matters instead of translation... Obviously, the various crisis centers that they support would also be able leverage someone that was bilingual.
If you are interested, you can either contact them through the website, or reach out to me via mefi mail and I can try to fast track you to the right people to get you started more quickly.
Kudos to you for wanting to be involved!
posted by milqman at 3:43 PM on November 26, 2010
One example I have seen of where you could help is in translation. These victims write their statements in spanish... The very-thinly-stretched legal volunteers at POV cannot support that much Spanish->English translation. They take volunteers to help translate so that the legal team can work on legal matters instead of translation... Obviously, the various crisis centers that they support would also be able leverage someone that was bilingual.
If you are interested, you can either contact them through the website, or reach out to me via mefi mail and I can try to fast track you to the right people to get you started more quickly.
Kudos to you for wanting to be involved!
posted by milqman at 3:43 PM on November 26, 2010
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by dilettante at 10:14 AM on November 26, 2010