When a person arrives in the United States as a refugee, they have material needs: housing, food, transportation, healthcare, and employment, to name a few. Social needs are less visible but equally important: people need community to thrive and experience emotional and physical well-being. Hello Neighbor’s mission is to support refugees by pairing them with neighbors dedicated to building ongoing, supportive relationships. This approach can create a sense of community for refugees and volunteers alike, but can also involve complications such as cultural differences, language barriers, or an imbalance of power. This workshop will explore the question: How can volunteers interacting with people who have refugee status form genuine and healthy relationships? The session will also provide an overview of the refugee resettlement process in the U.S. and include practical tips for communicating with non-English speakers.

We will also be collecting items during the week to be donated to Hello Neighbor to support refugee and immigrant families in Pittsburgh. Visit the Civic Action Week website for more details.