Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - Five of Western New York's leading refugee service organizations have announced their formal partnership Tuesday, a day which happened to be World Refugee Day.
"We are experiencing unprecedented numbers of refugees across the globe. These refugees are coming because of a variety of reasons," said Molly Carr, CEO of Jewish Family Services of Buffalo. "There's over 50 civil wars happening throughout the globe. Global warming is impacting the security and safety of refugees. Situations like the war in Ukraine has created millions of refugees that are fleeing from their homes."
As a way to efficiently help handle unprecedented numbers and aide migrants and refugees in all the resources these organizations have to offer, Catholic Charities of Buffalo, Jewish Family Services of WNY, Jericho Road Community Health Center, Journey's End Refugee Services of Buffalo and the International Institute of Buffalo have banded together formally to form The Refugee Partnership of Western New York.
"The framework of the partnership is rooted in our belief that our community thrives when we collaborate with each other, our community partners and those we serve to provide quality services, and build sustainable systems that support, integrate and attract refugees and immigrants," said Karen Andolina Scott, Chief Executive Officer of Buffalo's Journey's End Refugee Services.
Scott highlights the goals of the partnership, as we are experiencing an unprecedented amount of migrants and refugees coming from all over the world.
"The refugee partnership aims to improve services for refugees and immigrants, increase community capacity for welcoming our newest neighbors, strengthen partnerships with ethnic community-based organizations, assisting them in building their own capacity, and to advocate for and with refugees and immigrants at the local and state government levels, utilizing data-driven information to improve their overall quality of life."
This partnership will help direct migrants and refugees to specific assisted programs that the service centers have to offer, such as language assistance, education, workforce development and countless others programs.
"The collaboration has grown over the years and become stronger," says Jericho Road's Chief Programs Officer, Dr. Anna Mongo. "In this last few years, it is the strength of what has taken years to develop into what is eventually the refugee partnership that has allowed us to handle issues like the Afghan influx that came a couple years ago and the asylum seekers who are coming from New York City now. We are all together in our strength and collaboration."
"We are all essentially moving into a project knowing our areas of strength, knowing what we bring to the table, and being able to trust each other. I think probably the greatest thing is being able to trust your partners in a moment where you're feeling stressed or overwhelmed and we've all been in those places."
While the leaders of the agencies will tell you that the challenge has become greater in taking on more and more migrants in need, they know that the partnership will not only continue to grow, but aid in achieving the goals that will impact the more than 12,000 refugees and asylum-seekers already living in Buffalo and those who will be joining the community in the future.
"There is a moral aspect to this work, we must remember that many of our ancestors came to this land as a place of opportunity and a refuge from persecution," said Deacon Steve Schumer, President and Chief Executive Officer for Catholic Charities of Buffalo. "And they were welcomed, we must do no less for those who come here today, seeking the very same safety."
