Center For African Immigrants And Refugees Organization

CAIRO ADVOCATES FOR AND ACTS TO INCREASE EQUITY AND SOCIAL JUSTICE THROUGH PROGRAMS, SERVICES, AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZING FOR IMMIGRANT CHILDREN, YOUTH AND FAMILIES TO THRIVE.

THE SPACE PROGRAM SEEKS TO BRIDGE THE GAP BETWEEN SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITY, AND THEREFORE THE ACADEMIC DISPARITIES FOR AFRICAN IMMIGRANT CHILDREN WITH THE FOLLOWING GOALS AS ITS MAIN DRIVERS: A) EMPOWERED PARENTS-TRAINING AND ORGANIZING PARENTS SO THEY DEVELOP THE SKILLS, CONFIDENCE AND KNOWLEDGE THEY NEED TO BE LEADERS AND ADVOCATES IN THEIR CHILDREN'S LEARNING DEVELOPMENT AND B) CULTURALLY-INFORMED EDUCATORS, TRAINING EDUCATORS AND SCHOOL STAFF TO ENSURE APPROPRIATE ENGAGEMENT, EDUCATION AND CARE IS AVAILABLE TO ALL YOUTHS AND FAMILIES WILL RESULT TO C) SUSTAINED SUCCESS FOR SOMALI YOUTHS, ULTIMATELY, ENSURE THAT SOMALI YOUTHS WILL BE READY FOR SUSTAINED SUCCESS IN SCHOOL AND IN LIFE. WE WORKED IN THREE OREGON SCHOOL DISTRICTS (REYNOLDS, BEAVERTON, HILLSBORO) AND ONE IN MINNESOTA (ISD 742).

OUR BILINGUAL COMMERCIAL DRIVERS LICENSE (CDL) TRAINING PROGRAM IN MINNESOTA PAID FOR STUDENTS TO RECEIVE CDL LICENSE TRAINING, SUPPORT FINDING JOBS, AND FINANCIAL LITERACY TRAINING. WE ALSO OFFERED EVICTION PREVENTION RENT RELIEF PROGRAM IN OREGON FOR LOW INCOME HOUSEHOLDS IN MULTNOMAH AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES.

CAIRO ACADEMY, THE PURPOSE OF WHICH IS TO BRIDGE THE OPPORTUNITY GAP FOR OREGON'S AFRICAN REFUGEES AND IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES. OUR GOALS ARE TO SUPPORT EARLY LEARNERS' ACADEMIC AND DEVELOPMENTAL SUCCESS (INCLUDING DUAL LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT), EMPOWER PARENTS TO BE ENGAGED ADVOCATES FOR THEIR CHILD AND TO PROVIDE A WAY FOR FAMILIES TO ADJUST TO NEW INSTITUTIONS/EXPECTATIONS WITHOUT SACRIFICING CULTURAL IDENTITY. WE OPERATED 5 PRESCHOOL CLASSROOMS IN THE PORTLAND METRO AREA, WITH A TOTAL OF 96 STUDENTS. THE MAJORITY OF OUR STUDENTS ARE LOW INCOME (<200% FPL) AND FROM AFRICAN IMMIGRANT AND REFUGEE COMMUNITIES. THE CAIRO EARLY CHILDHOOD EQUITY PROGRAMS ARE CULTURALLY SPECIFIC SERVICES TARGETING AFRICAN IMMIGRANT AND REFUGEE FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN AGED 0-5 YEARS OLD IN THE PORTLAND METROPOLITAN AREA. OUR PROGRAMS CONSIST OF PARENTING EDUCATION SERVICES, PARENT-CHILD INTERACTIONS (P-3 SPECIALIST) SERVICES AND KINDERGARTEN TRANSITION SERVICES.

WE PROVIDE AN ARRAY OF HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICE BENEFITS TO THE AFRICAN IMMIGRANT AND REFUGEE COMMUNITIES IN OREGON AND MINNESOTA. DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC WE PROVIDE SUPPORT TO FAMILIES DURING COVID ISOLATION AND QUARANTINE PERIODS, AND PROVIDE WRAPAROUND SOCIAL SERVICE SUCH AS PAYING A MONTH OF RENT, WEEKLY GROCERIES, UTILITIES, AND HEALTH CARE. WE PROVIDE OUTREACH AND EDUCATION AROUND COVID-19 EFFECTS AND WHAT SELF-ISOLATION LOOKS LIKE. WE HAVE ALSO PROVIDED VACCINE EDUCATION AND OUTREACH, SUCH AS MAKING APPOINTMENTS FOR CLIENTS, HOSTING MONTHLY VACCINE EVENTS BOTH ONSITE AND DOOR TO DOOR CLINICS. WE PARTNER WITH OTHER NONPROFITS TO MAXIMIZE OUR EFFORTS IN VACCINE OUTREACH AND EDUCATION. WE ALSO OFFERED TOBACCO HEALTH EDUCATION AND WORKED TO PREVENT YOUTH TOBACCO USE.