Empowerment through Language, Cultural Exchange, and Community Engagement.

We strive to empower individuals and families, including newcomers to Rochester, New York, by providing them with the tools and resources needed to integrate into their new community successfully. We recognize the unique challenges faced by these individuals, including linguistic barriers and cultural differences, and our initiative seeks to address these challenges through the following projects.

Cultural Exchange. We will organize cultural exchange events that bring together newcomers and long-time residents to foster understanding and appreciation of Arab culture. Such events include cultural festivals that showcase the rich heritage and traditions of Arab communities, providing a platform for newcomers to share their culture with the wider community.

Community Engagement. We will offer workshops and seminars on topics such as navigating healthcare, education, and employment systems in the United States, providing newcomers with essential information and resources. We will collaborate with local organizations and businesses to create internship and job placement opportunities for Arab newcomers, helping them establish themselves in the local workforce.

Language Support Programs. To effectively execute these projects, we recognize the importance of language support. Thus, we plan to offer language support programs that pair newcomers with English-speaking volunteers to facilitate language learning and cultural exchange. We will also provide English language classes specifically tailored to the needs of Arab newcomers, focusing on practical communication skills for daily life in Rochester.

Additionally, we will offer Arabic lessons to children with limited language proficiency or for whom Arabic is not their first language, aiming to improve Arabic language proficiency, increase bilingualism, and encourage cultural exchange.