Organization: MULTICULTURAL REFUGEE COALITION
Mission: CREATING LIVELIHOOD OPPORTUNITIES FOR REFUGEES THROUGH TWO SOCIAL ENTERPRISES IN AUSTIN, TX.
Activities: AT MRC'S OPEN ARMS STUDIO, REFUGEES HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE TRAINED IN PRODUCTION SEWING TECHNIQUES AND BECOME ELIGIBLE FOR FULL-TIME FAIR-WAGE EMPLOYMENT. ONE OF ONLY A FEW SOCIAL ENTERPRISES IN THE U.S. PROVIDING PRIVATE-LABEL MANUFACTURING, OPEN ARMS SPECIALIZES IN PRODUCING HOME GOODS, ACCESSORIES AND CLOTHING BASICS.
NEW LEAF AGRICULTURE CONNECTS REFUGEES TO SUSTAINABLE FARMING OPPORTUNITIES BY OPERATING 20 COMMUNITY GARDEN PLOTS AND A COMMERCIAL FARM IN ELGIN, TX. THE FARM EMPLOYS ORGANIC, SUSTAINABLE PRACTICES WHILE TRAINING REFUGEE FARMERS FOR PAID AGRICULTURAL WORK THAT IS DIGNIFIED, IN-DEMAND AND FAMILIAR FROM THEIR COUNTRIES OF ORIGIN. FARMERS SELL PRODUCE THEY GREW AT THE FARM TO LOCAL MAKERS, RESTAURANTS, FARMERS' MARKETS AND THROUGH A COMMUNITY-SUPPORTED AGRICULTURE (CSA) MODEL.
SHARED VOICES TRAINS REFUGEES AS PROFESSIONAL INTERPRETERS, AND STRENGTHENS LOCAL LANGUAGE ACCESS SERVICES. SEVERAL TRAININGS ARE OFFERED EACH YEAR, INCLUDING A 40-HOUR INTRODUCTION TO COMMUNITY INTERPRETING, A 24-HOUR MEDICAL TERMINOLOGY & MENTAL HEALTH INTERPRETER TRAINING, AND CUSTOMIZED 24-HOUR TRAININGS FOR THE CITY OF AUSTIN. ALL COMMUNITY MEMBERS WITH SUFFICIENT LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY ARE ABLE TO JOIN THE COURSES. WE OFFER SCHOLARSHIPS FOR REFUGEE CANDIDATES.
NTEE category: Human Services
Secondary category: Community Improvement & Capacity Building