Navigating Challenging Times

“We’re a small nonprofit that does refugee and new immigrant support work in the community." 

It's a short, but effective phrase we use when talking about our work at outreach events. In the last few months, people have raised their eyebrows when they hear the words “refugee” and immigrant”. Growingly familiar comments follow: "Oh, you work with refugees and immigrants, how are you all doing right now with everything that's going on? Are your clients, ok? Are they safe? Have you had funding or staffing cuts? Thank you for doing this work, it is so important!" 

ReEstablish Richmond is an apolitical organization, yet by the nature of having the words “refugee” and “immigrant” in our mission and our ethos, we find ourselves strangely positioned in this current political moment. As a team, we must admit, it has been a challenging few months as we all navigate these uncharted waters together. We have been grateful for the outpouring of concern from our community for the wellbeing of our staff and our clients. 

From our clients we have heard a range of experiences. Across the newcomer community there is a deepening anxiety and outright fear about how policy shifts will affect them and their families. The majority of our clients have arrived through the refugee resettlement process or another refugee adjacent pathway like a Special Immigrant Visa. These have historically been protected statuses with broad support. Now, some are worried the promises of a stable new home may be less certain than they thought. This feeling of instability is not new for most of our clients, and for many it brings back traumatic moments from their journeys to resettle in the US.  

Misinformation is also fueling greater fears as false or misleading narratives are shared on social media within newcomer communities even when the reality of mass deportations is not currently logistically possible. This fear has left some clients afraid to leave their homes, for fear of being profiled, being misunderstood in explaining their situation, or that they or their family members might be wrongfully arrested. This compounds an already prevalent reality of newcomers feeling isolated and cut off from the broader community, widening the gap toward better integration.  

Nearly all are concerned about their families outside of the US, who are scattered across different countries and were on track to be reunited together in Richmond after years apart. Many of the pathways to come to the US legally have been cut off or made significantly harder to access. 

As a team, we feel the heavy burden that our clients are having to carry. In the midst of it all our team is listening deeply, affirming our clients’ experiences of fear and anxiety, and trying to provide trusted resources and compassionate, trauma-informed care. Our clients remain as they always have-- incredibly resilient, resourceful, and hopeful even as they face barriers and challenges. We continue to show up and do our work, because our clients are determined to make Richmond their home. 

Many have asked about our ability to sustain our work as an organization. Though there have been moments in our history that we had hoped for federal grant money, we have been relieved in the last months for our grassroots, local support. We know that these deep roots of local support will bolster us in the coming days.  

Still, we feel the impact of cuts all around us. Many in the social support sector are scrambling to find ways to work with shrinking resources. These are longtime friends and colleagues navigating extremely challenging situations both internally and with the populations they are serving. With so much economic uncertainty across the board, questions of sustained funding will become challenging. All adds weight to our already heavy work.  

Yet, this is the moment that ReEstablish Richmond was made for. We were founded over a decade ago to fill gaps in the system and with every challenge of the last years- the pandemic, the Afghan evacuation, the war in Ukraine-- we have rallied together with our community to show up for newcomers.  

Now as we face these new challenges, we need our community to mobilize in full force for the welcome and support of newcomers. Whether that is donating to our “Prepare for Tomorrow Fund” to ensure we can fill the gaps for newcomers as services decrease, bolstering our capacity as a volunteer, or attending our annual Multicultural Festival on June 14, we need the solidarity of our community now more than ever.  

Together, we can show that Richmond does not turn away in times of challenge—we step up to act.