It is with joy that we invite you to be part of the growth of Refugee and Immigrant Transitions’ Oakland Newcomer Hub.
In this time, when so many of our refugee and immigrant neighbors feel unwelcome in the U.S., it’s as critical as ever to have a community space filled with warmth, love, and support. That’s the idea behind our Oakland Newcomer Hub. Located within walking distance from many of our clients’ homes, this hub is a resource center for the whole family.
We are proud of the recently-finished renovations of the space. Thank you to all the RIT staff and volunteers who contributed their time and skills (including design!) and to our building owner and partner, Harbor House.
Refugees, asylum-seekers, and immigrants coming into the space can expect to receive a range of services. Those include English language/literacy/vocational classes, early childhood education, multilingual/multicultural case management (shared with our site partner, Burma Refugee Families & Newcomers), wellness workshops, support groups, and quarterly community events. Our staff’s work is supported by a community of amazing and committed volunteers, who make an impact as classroom assistants.
Last year, we served approximately 700 newcomers at the space. Our students achieve outstanding outcomes. For instance, 62% of our Vocational English class students made significant English gains in 2018-2019 (completed a language level), outperforming California state goals for adult learners. And at least 80% of parents surveyed agree that their children are better prepared for kindergarten thanks to our early childhood education programming. Besides numbers, there are countless stories of cross-cultural friendships and increased sense of confidence and leadership. These outcomes would not have been possible without the support of our donors, funders, and community partners. We are grateful for their generosity and vision.
“We want students to feel part of the community, that’s the main goal of RIT.”