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| Refugee Transitions Volunteer Newsletter | April 2010
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Dear RT Volunteers,
Believe it or not, summer is fast-approaching (again!). Here are RT we are gearing up for some exciting summer programs, and are working to ensure that students are enrolled in supportive, engaging and fun programming this summer!
As you know, summer can be a difficult time for newcomers, youth and adults alike. Children at home can cause stress in the house, and youth often feel isolated and lack opportunities to practice English and continue learning. "Summer Slide" can rear its ugly head--and we want to prevent that from happening.
There are lots of great opportunities out there this summer. We've listed a few below. As a volunteer, you can work to connect your family to the resources they need to ensure that all students continue to learn and grow over the long summer months. We're here to help--so let us know if you have questions or need more leads on summer programs in the Bay Area!!
And, ff you are in the neighborhood, please stop by our May 5th event in SF!! (Details below).
Lots of gratitude,
The RT Team
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Intern of the Month
Shannon Shaper
RT wants to take this opportunity to thank Shannon Shaper, RT's Spring Intern, for her amazing work this semester.
A Westmont College Student on Westmont's "Urban Study" Semester in San Francisco, Shannon has devoted every Monday and Wednesday to Refugee Transitions, supporting our adult programs, our youth programs, and our essential office work.
In just three short months, Shannon has served as a classroom assistant to our morning ESL class at Good Samaritan Family Resource Center in SF, has helped RT organize pre- and post-testing for adult students, tutored at our Oakland International High School program, supported us through the transition to Salesforce, helped us expand into a new office, and generally supported RT with its everyday needs.
Shannon is now headed back South for a (hopefully!) relaxing summer and will begin her Junior year at Westmont next year. Shannon, we will miss you!!!Want to intern in RT's office like Shannon? Contact us!
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Don't Forget!
RT Fundraiser & Social
Wednesday, May 5th
9:00 pm
Elixir Bar
3200 16th Street
San Francisco, CA 94103
Come connect with other RT volunteers, staff and board members and celebrate the hard work of the RT family! Invite friends!
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We need YOUR photos, stories, and ideas for our new website!
RT is currently in the process of redesigning our new website. In order to make our new site more dynamic and interactive, we're hoping to include more content from YOU, our dedicated volunteers. We're looking for: - Short stories (just a paragraph or two) about why you like volunteering with RT, or how you've seen your student grow. See Brett Rankin's story, "A Challenging Case," featured in this newsletter, for ideas!
- Stories or even short testimonials written by your students about what they've learned from RT, or why they like their tutors.
- PHOTOS!!! Please send us pictures of you with your students. We love pictures of you and your student studying at home, or out and about the Bay Area.
- Lesson plans that really work: If you have a lesson plan or activity that you love and would like to share with others, write up a quick description and send it our way.
- ESL teaching links that you frequently use.
These will be featured on our new website! This is especially exciting for students (you can show them their picture, story, or testimonial on the web).
So please take some time during your next tutoring session to take a couple pictures, write up a story of your own, or help your student write a little piece that we can feature.
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A Challenging Case:
RT Volunteer of the Month Brett Rankin shares his story
If you need inspiration, look no further. Brett Rankin has been volunteering since 2008 and has gone above
and beyond in his work with Peter, a Russian
man with advanced-stage multiple sclerosis.
Read his touching story below.
After undergoing training as a literacy coach in the fall
of 2008, I came armed to my first meeting with my new student, Peter, with
notebooks, reading and writing exercises, and a few ice breaker activities.
What I was not aware of was the fact that due to Peter's extremely advanced and
debilitating multiple sclerosis he was nearly blind and more or less
quadriplegic. Therefore, there would be no development of reading or writing
skills, and certainly the aim of our weekly lessons would not be finding a job
or working on independence. Our first lesson was brief, as he didn't speak a
word of English and I didn't speak any Russian, so I taught him some basic greetings
and had him memorize his address and phone number and a few other personal details
that he might conceivably need to know in English.
To read the rest of Brett's story, click here.
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Summer Camp 2010
Since 2006, Refugee Transitions has offered the only local overnight summer camp for refugee youth in the Bay Area. And as summer approaches (can you believe it?) we have solidified our camp dates for refugee youth ages 11-17 in San Francisco's Presidio. - Boys: Saturday July 30th-Sunday August 1st
- Girls: Thursday August 12th-Saturday August 14th.
Now is the time to talk to families about this opportunity for fun, learning, community-building and English practice in the outdoors!
We will be sending out the application forms soon, but please email lauren@reftrans.org if your youth is interested in attending so we can hold a spot. |
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Census forms are still being collected
ATTENTION SAN FRANCISCO VOLUNTEERS: The following area codes have had very poor return rates on the census forms. Make sure yours students are counted!94110
94133
94109
94112
94108
94134
94131
94115
94107
94123
94132
94124
94121
Remember, the Census data helps us advocate as communities for more services, and determines how many seats we have in Congress!
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Volunteer Shout-Outs to:
Sirianand Jacobs
Debbie Brown
Angeline Yang
Mike Devito
Jayma Brown
Danielle Forrestier
Ursula Hegi
Zack Reidmen
Julia Otis
Carl Langfeldt
Julie McAffee
Roshni Patel
for logging over 50 hours with their students in our new Log system!
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Mark Your Calendars:
WORLD
REFUGEE DAY
Celebrations
June 20th is international World Refugee Day. To honor the strength, resilience and accomplishments of refugees and to welcome them to the United States, this year's annual celebrations will be held in the following locations and on the following dates.
Friday, June 18th
San Jose
Evening Program and Performances
Friday, June 18th
Oakland
Afternoon picnic and presentation, San Antonio Park
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NEWS
The New York Times
"Burmese Refugees Persecuted in Bangladesh"
BANGKOK - Stateless refugees from Myanmar are suffering beatings and deportation in Bangladesh,
according to aid workers and rights groups who say thousands are
crowding into a squalid camp where they face starvation and disease.
In a campaign that seems to have accelerated since October, the groups
say, ethnic Rohingya refugees who have been living for years in
Bangladesh are being seized, beaten and forced back to Myanmar, which
they had left to escape persecution and abuse and which does not want
them.
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Important Education Resource for ALL volunteers:
The education system in the U.S. is complicated and overwhelming for many newcomer families. Yet learning to navigate this system is crucial for student success.
The OUSD created an illustrated guide for navigating the school system translated into 10 languages. While some of this information is specific to the OUSD, much of it is generalized information and tools (again, translated!) that apply to all U.S. Schools.
These are posted on our website here. Please take advantage of this wonderful resource!
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College of Alameda Job Fair!
Wed April 28th
11:00-2:00
555 Ralph Appezzato Memorial Parkway
(Formerly Atlantic Avenue)
Building F
TELL YOUR STUDENTS!
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Spring Institute's ABCs for Tutors
Click Here to View
This is an outstanding ESL Resource that makes learning accessible and relevant to our students. Please read!
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Make a Difference
Be a Refugee Foster Care Parent
Wanted: Warm-hearted, internationally-minded families to welcome a refugee youth into their homes. You can be single or married; from a large family or nave no children at all; and of any race, religion or ethnic background.
Shape a future. Help a refugee youth begin a life again.
Refugee foster youth are courageous, resilient, spirited and vulnerable. They are here ALONE - victims of persecution, war and human trafficking. They need our protection and a reason for hope.
Contact Coleen Higa at coleen@catholiccharitiesscc.org with questions.
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Useful Resources for Your Work as an RT Tutor-ONLINE!
RT Volunteer Erinn Struss has compiled a list of helpful online resources for RT tutors.
Links include:
- General ESL Resources, Worksheets & Games
- Lesson Ideas
- Podcasts/Multimedia
- News pages with Multimedia for ESL learners
- Websites with Student drills
- ESL Civics Resources
- Interview Guides
- Resource Guides
- Grammar Guides
Thank you, Erinn! |
Please Complete the Oakland Unified School District's Online Survey
By filling out this survey, you will help the OUSD and RT collect valuable data on our programs and the clients we serve.
THANK YOU!
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Know someone who wants to Volunteer? 
If you know someone who wants to volunteer with Refugee Transitions, we are always looking for more help in the East Bay, San Francisco and the South Bay! Send them this email, and direct them to our website at www.reftrans.org.
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Become Friends with RT on Facebook!
Join Refugee Transitions' online facebook community. Become our friend and get access to RT news, photos, YouTube videos, and more! |
To Read Past Newsletters: View Our Website
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Thank you, again, for all that you do to serve the immigrant and refugee populations of the Bay Area. You are the heart and soul of what we do!
Sincerely,
Lauren, Laura, Tenley, ZarNi, Grace, Elsa, Nandi, Julia, Nakachi and Jeff
(The Refugee Transitions Team) | |
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