Guiding New Families
Our Work:
United States
At Alight we have spent years listening to the voices of displaced people, from this wealth of insights we have learned that there needs to be stronger systems in place to help them navigate their new and complex realities. We are addressing the critical need for trustworthy and timely resources with Guides welcoming new arrivals from Ukraine, Afghanistan, the U.S-Mexico Border, and beyond. Arriving in a new country can be an experience filled with uncertainty and unfamiliarity, our guides are from the same regions as the displaced people we serve, and speak Ukrainian, Pashto, and Dari.
Newly arrived families will be able to attend in-person welcome orientations led by our Guides, which will provide in-depth information. Guides will be available for additional questions through a WhatsApp concierge service and offer a wealth of resources to help new arrivals find culturally relevant locations, like nearby Halal Markets and Ukrainian community events. The website will also supply direct links to relevant government services and local organizations serving refugees.
People are made up of more than being fed, clothed, housed, educated and given some kind of political voice. There is something more to a human being that’s really not visible on the surface.”
– Dr. Curt Rhodes, Questscope Founder
Mobilizing Minnesotans for Displaced Families
Recruiting & Guiding Sponsors – The U.S is ready to welcome thousands of displaced individuals, such as Ukrainians, Haitians, Cubans, Venezuelans, Nicaraguans, and others who have been granted refugee status to seek refuge in the United States. However, these families need to have support systems in place as they navigate a new country. Alight is recruiting Welcomers, everyday Minnesotans who are ready to become sponsors—helping newcomers as they arrive, build new connections, and become familiar with their surroundings. Alight will provide customized support to Welcomers by preparing and training sponsors through a digital training program, pre-arrival workshops, and virtual meetups where they will be able to ask questions and connect with other sponsors.
Minnesota has a rich history of welcoming new neighbors. While newcomers have had their everyday lives disrupted with instability and uncertainty, Minnesotans can guide families through a maze of new experiences, lending a hand with all the details, big and small, while offering them hope along their journey.
Learn more about our sponsorship program.
Welcome Home: Afghan Community Programs
Around 75,000 Afghans have arrived in the United States since the summer of 2021. In partnership with the State of Minnesota, Alight stepped forward to set up homes for arriving Afghan families. After setting up 131 homes in the Twin Cities we expanded our services to include a Welcome Home Market-- a warehouse full of free home goods and essentials for newcomers we hadn't met yet.
Since then, with help from the recently settled Afghan families we have been able to co-create programs that serve their needs. Our Ask Alight service allows us to be available for confidential questions and referrals, and to provide information on community events. Our programs for Afghan women and children are creating spaces that foster connection and community through field trips and clubs. Our hope is to help people feel at home here, however we can.
Helping Afghans Plant Roots
While having a place to live holds great importance for displaced people, we know that feeling at home requires familiarity, connection, and joy. We have learned that Afghans who feel most rooted, have a sense of community around them and social capital built. To help families establish a life and envision a future here, we have co-designed community programs with Afghan women and youth.
For Afghan women who are struggling with isolation and loneliness there will be a sewing cohort where they can gather, sew, forge friendships, and design products to sell for extra income. The sewing program will also be a space for conversation, where trained facilitators will address mental health concerns in a safe place amongst their peers. This program will help women deal with ongoing trauma while taking part in a calming and meticulous activity they love.
Youth programming will bring Afghan children together on weekends to play in cricket and soccer sports leagues. They will be able to enjoy playing familiar sports, having fun with their peers and simply being kids. Afghan families want to learn more about the new community they call “home.” Through monthly field trips, Afghan women and youth will have a chance to see some of the best places in their community. These field trips will allow families to imagine the possibilities of their new homes.
Guiding New Families
At Alight we have spent years listening to the voices of displaced people, from this wealth of insights we have learned that there needs to be stronger systems in place to help them navigate their new and complex realities. We are addressing the critical need for trustworthy and timely resources with Guides welcoming new arrivals from Ukraine, Afghanistan, the U.S-Mexico Border, and beyond. Arriving in a new country can be an experience filled with uncertainty and unfamiliarity, our guides are from the same regions as the displaced people we serve, and speak Ukrainian, Pashto, and Dari.
Newly arrived families will be able to attend in-person welcome orientations led by our Guides, which will provide in-depth information. Guides will be available for additional questions through a WhatsApp concierge service and offer a wealth of resources to help new arrivals find culturally relevant locations, like nearby Halal Markets and Ukrainian community events. The website will also supply direct links to relevant government services and local organizations serving refugees.
Mobilizing Sponsors for Ukrainian Families
Recruiting & Guiding Sponsors
The U.S is ready to welcome thousands of Ukrainians, but these families need to have support systems in place as they navigate a new country. Alight is recruiting Welcomers in Minnesota, people who are ready to become sponsors— helping Ukrainians as they arrive, build new connections, and become familiar with their surroundings.
Alight will be providing customized support to Welcomers, preparing and training these sponsors through a digital training program, pre-arrival workshops and virtual meetups where they will be able to ask questions and connect with other sponsors. While Ukrainian families have had their everyday lives disrupted with instability and uncertainty, Welcomers can guide families through a maze of new experiences, lending a hand with all the details big and small, while offering them hope along their journey.