Volunteers Mohamad, Dylan and Karlie met for the first time at IIM at our 'Spread a Little Warmth' event, and they all happened to all sit down at the same table together. While Dylan and Karlie live in Minneapolis, Mohamad was one of about 15 volunteers from Global MN visiting for a few weeks from the Middle East! Even though their time in Minnesota was limited, Mohamad and his traveling group made it a point to explore the different volunteer opportunities that are offered in the Twin Cities. Before we knew it, the trio had a fully completed, cozy fleece tie blanket! The three held it in the air and took a selfie to commemorate the time they spent together before moving onto the next fabric set. Not only was there a new blanket, but the creation of a new friendship! While attendees began to say their goodbyes, Dylan lifted a bag from beneath the table and asked if there was a designated area for additional donations. Many of the people who came to IIM also brought along … [Read more...] about Cozy Connections

Each year, the Twin Cities receives newly resettled refugee families, largely from refugee camps in warm-weather climates like Myanmar, Congo, and Ethiopia. The International Institute of Minnesota (IIM) helps to welcome these families, finding them affordable housing before their arrival. It's not uncommon for the units or homes that are available to be barren and in need of deep cleaning, so they do their best to prepare the space before families arrive. When IIM staff visit newly resettled families in the winter months, they oftentimes find families huddled together under thin blankets with the thermostat set very low to avoid the additional costs that heating can add to an electric bill - sometimes it's their first-ever winter. They call on their community members to donate as many blankets or warm items as possible to help families during the long, cold months. So we had an idea...could we get together a group of people to help create large, warm blankets to be given - … [Read more...] about Spread a Little Warmth

Of course, people struggling through displacement and seeking asylum need the basics - things like food, water, and shelter. But only serving basic needs does not do justice to the complicated human beings at the center of our work, who yearn and hope for better days ahead. That's why, after we gathered an all-star group of volunteers to assemble hygiene kits for asylum-seekers at the border, we wanted to do something more...something to let them know that there are people out there, however unseen, who are wishing them well on their journey. A hand written note can speak volumes - so together, we got to work. We wrote hundreds of cards, some in Spanish and some in English, to send along with our hygiene kits for people waiting at the border. The notes contained messages of welcome, of support, of encouragement, and of love. They let people know that they're not alone - and they spoke volumes about the kindness and generosity of this incredible group. Just a few … [Read more...] about Messages of Hope

You know that feeling after a warm, refreshing shower? How everything just suddenly feels a little bit better than it did a few minutes ago? The power of freshening up, especially after a long and straining journey, is undeniable. And for asylum-seekers who haven't had access to shower a days or even weeks or months, feeling clean again is not just refreshing - it's a way to restore dignity. And to feel a little bit better again. After spending some time at the U.S./Mexico border in recent months, we've seen that need come through loud and clear. So we convened some incredible volunteers in the Twin Cities to do what we could to help even a few families lift their heads a little higher. Deodorant, toothbrushes, toothpaste, soap...those were just a few of the things that went into the hygiene kits prepped by dozens of friends at the Alight Minneapolis office. It's true that many hands make light work - in the span of just a few minutes, the group assembled close to 150 … [Read more...] about Feeling Fresh

Our commitment to working with displaced communities in the Twin Cities has been a new way for people familiar with our work abroad to join us - right here at home. Teresa is an incredible friend and supporter - she's traveled with us to East AFrica and is a valued part of our family. So when she learned of a way to jump right in and do the doable here at home, helping welcome newly refugee refugee families, we weren't surprised that she got on board right away! For the very first home we worked on, Teresa made sure everything needed for the kitchen was provided and there. When she found out about the second home we were supporting, she reached out to her network and filled up a car with items and delivered them to the home and cleaned and set it up. She continued that way for a few more homes, too! She scrubbed out cupboards and drawers, making sure that the kitchens were spotless before putting items away. After the first house set-up, she showed up with liners when she … [Read more...] about Jill of All Trades

Outfitting an apartment with everything a family will need is expensive. There are the bare necessities — rugs, garbage cans, and shower curtains. But it’s things like books, toys, or a colorful table cloth that really make a house a home. Looking for a little extra help, we reached out to our local communities on NextDoor, and boy did they deliver. In the two months that we have been doing resettlement homes, we have received donations from over 100 people that have seen the post, people who have stepped up to do the doable. It has unleashed abundance in ways we couldn’t expect. Neighbors have dropped off $100 Target gift cards, toys, furniture, other home items and so much more. One women’s aunt passed away, and after seeing our post she brought in everything that was in nice condition. Another women reached out to her neighbors to do a collection of items that she brought in. Another teacher who bought items off the Amazon wish list, came in to help organize donations and … [Read more...] about Next Door

As anyone who has moved a lot of furniture knows, it can be a lot of heavy lifting. And with all these home move-ins, we were starting to feel like we were moving friend after friend into a new place and getting a little worn out. We needed someone who could help take some of the—very literal—weight off of our back, and this is where one of our volunteers, Derek, stepped in. When our muscles were starting to fatigue, Derek was able to step in and help us with a lot of the heavy lifting. Derek came many times to help, whether that was organizing and packing boxes at our office or carrying couches and beds into the new apartments. In one instance, a family was moving to a different unit in the same building and none of our staff were able to go. Derek went without us, making the time to make a difference in this family’s life. "John Coltrane said, 'I want to be a force of real good' - a credo that I try to subscribe to in my life," said Derek. "Alight has allowed me an … [Read more...] about Take a Weight Off

Refugee families in the U.S. face a lot of new challenges. For the adults, it's settling into their new home and figuring out ways to support their family. But for kids, it's all about learning the ropes of their new school - and making all new friends. When we partnered up with the International Institute of Minnesota to help welcome new refugee families to the Twin Cities, one of the things we prioritized was coming up with ways to help kids acclimate and prepare them for the things they'll need when the school year starts, but also that will help them connect with other kids in the neighborhood. So we got to work...new backpacks filled with notebooks, pencils, markers, and more. We found a bike that would be the right size for each kid, so that they can explore their new neighborhood and meet new friends nearby. We rounded up some soccer balls, because soccer is such a beloved sport for kids everywhere. Inside, we put together a plentiful collection of puzzles, books, … [Read more...] about A Fresh Start