Connecting New Americans to Resources & Community
AALV, a United Way funded partner, supports refugees and immigrants in our community with everything from meeting basic needs and finding employment to overcoming cultural barriers to accessing resources for issues like domestic violence and mental health challenges.
Jeetan, who came to Vermont as a teenager after growing up in a Nepali refugee camp, knows what it’s like to navigate complex systems in an unfamiliar place. “A lot of the things that I know now, I had to figure out for myself. It has helped me to be that navigator for other people,” he says.
Jeetan talks about the importance of partnering with other organizations to help community members access culturally responsive services. Sometimes that means providing interpreting services for job interviews and training, sometimes that means combatting cultural stigmas associated with seeking help for mental health issues.
Collaboration is key, Jeetan says. “AALV is not equipped to do everything by ourselves. Building trusted relationships and understanding is really important.
