There are also approximately 250 immigrant and refugee families who are willing and able to help new immigrants adjust to their new life. No other cities in the United States have the support structure to welcome refugees as effectively as the Twin Cities.
Planted:
Refugees are met at the airport, provided a native meal and taken to their fully furnished living quarters (in partnership with their resettlement agency). The agency works with them to obtain a Social Security card and public assistance. Often they are linked with a church or a community group who we will work with to help them take further steps towards being planted in their new community.
Flourishing:
The VISION of CEEDS is to help people flourish by providing accessible employment, education, social services, and support to the immigrant and refugee children, youth and families, in close cooperation with the community, local religious groups and officials for the purpose of enhancing the integration of immigrant and refugee youth and others into American society. We want to build community primarily, but not exclusively, among the current Congolese population as well as those new arrivals (5,000 to 7,500 families) coming now through 2018 thus promoting integration and education of the new arrivals. Our ultimate goal is to help immigrants and refugees integrate into American society and become productive members who are not solely dependent on social and government services.
We help refugees put down their roots so that they can flourish after years of displacement and trauma.
