The Wait for Housing in New York City This summer, New York City is struggling to find homes for a record number of asylum-seekers. The city’s “right-to-shelter” protections are meant to guarantee a bed in a homeless shelter for anyone who needs it. With almost 100,000 migrants arriving in New York since spring 2022, the […]
Community gathers together at Olin Park On July 9, refugee families, OFDR volunteers, and other community members gathered at Madison’s beautiful Olin Park for Open Doors for Refugees’ annual summer picnic. “One of the things that we like about having this annual picnic is it’s a time for everyone to come together,” Sallie Pisera, an […]
Who’s New in Madison (WNIM), one of Madison’s oldest and most active social clubs, has selected Open Doors for Refugees as its 2022-2023 service partner. After kicking off the partnership in September with two successful fundraisers, WNIM has come up with even more creative ways to support Open Doors. Led by WNIM’s Service Committee dynamos […]
Who’s New in Madison (WNIM) has selected Open Doors for Refugees as its 2022-2023 service partner. One of Madison’s oldest and most active social clubs, Who’s New is a women’s group with 600 members who participate in 65 different activity groups, from book clubs to kayaking. Every year the Who’s New board selects a non-profit […]
Following the U.S. military’s withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021, more than 76,000 Afghans have entered the U.S. under a special process called “humanitarian parole.” Under humanitarian parole, Afghan evacuees can remain in the U.S. for just two years. When this parolee status expires, they will lose access to employment, health care, and their legal right […]
Refugee families and Madison community members gathered in Olin Park on a sunny June afternoon for Open Doors for Refugees’ annual picnic. The celebration on June 26 was the first since 2019 — the event was paused for the past two summers due to the pandemic. Dozens of attendees enjoyed a potluck in the Olin […]
Since it was enacted in March 2020, Title 42 has been used to turn away more than 1.7 million migrants at the Mexico-US border. Doctors Without Borders in Mexico report that Title 42 leaves migrants stranded in highly insecure conditions. “It is a xenophobic policy disguised as public health protection that does nothing but put […]
Build Your Future: Skill Building Funding Opportunity Madison-area refugees are able to apply for funds and support for education and career development as part of our Skill Development Initiative. Those interested in furthering their English language proficiency, pursuing higher education, developing vocational skills, or starting or growing a business are eligible to apply in 2022 for […]
You’re invited! Sunday, June 26, 202212 p.m. to 4 p.m.(Potluck starts at 1 p.m.) Olin Park Pavilion1156 Olin-Turville Ct, Madison, WI Join us for our annual picnic for food, fun, and good company. Help us celebrate the refugee families we support and the amazing Madison community that welcomes them! Food: Potluck – please bring a […]
Aziz and his family arrived in Madison from Afghanistan in 2015. In 2021, thanks to his proficiency in English, Dari, and Pashto, he was chosen to work as an interpreter at Fort McCoy’s receiving center for Afghans who were fleeing due to the U.S. military’s sudden departure. Aziz was central to the movement of 12,600 […]
