Digging Deep

As with so many of you in our community, across the state, and around the nation (and sheesh! THE WORLD), we have been horrified at what is going on with family separation and detention of children on our southern border. There is not much I can say that has not yet been said about it, but I did want to touch on a few things.

One- We have an incredible community with a lot of people who care about this issue. We were so honored to partner with Missoula Rises, Montanans for Immigrant Justice, and the Jeannette Rankin Peace Center to host a Lights for Liberty vigil in Missoula and also be a part of 7 cities around the state, and over 700 around the world that not only expressed our outrage, but also demanded action from our elected officials. We have posted some great photos of the evening and ways you can KEEP ACTING so it doesn’t just stop there. It is hard to imagine that this has now been going on for well over a year and only seems to be getting more dire with recent efforts by the administration to make asylum completely unavailable at our southern border. Yes, this will probably be blocked by a judge, but if you remember, so was family separation and it is STILL happening! We have all got to dig deep and make the call, then call again.

Second- Have you noticed the (small but mighty) change we have made to the wording of our mission? Last winter, during our annual board meeting, we all arrived at the realization that we have never closed our door to anyone seeking our services, and in that way we had already been holding a place in the community for refugees as well as other immigrants, including those seeking asylum. In fact, interesting SLM trivia, we have had the honor of serving asylum seekers before refugees even arrived in Missoula. We feel like there is no better time to announce this change in wording and honor all of our work and all of the community members we serve by the addition of “and Immigrants” to our mission. At this moment, this does not mean an expansion of services that we offer, but that our doors will remain open to all immigrants and English Language Learners who seek our existing services. To further explain and give context for this addition in wording, we are sharing a letter from the Soft Landing Missoula board with you. I feel blessed to have a board that so closely shares the staff’s vision for this organization. Thank you board!

Lastly- We have got to keep celebrating! This is just as important as the rest. Refugees and immigrants fill our lives with richness and bring with them experiences, culture, and a resilience we would not otherwise know. We are getting excited for all of the events we and others are planning for Welcoming Week (Sept 13-22) and are bringing back our SUPPER CLUB for the month of July! Maybe it is by attending one of our many events, maybe it is through a small shared experience with a new neighbor you know, or maybe it is through taking 20 Eritreans to the lake for a day of fun (Andi- WE LOVE YOU!), but we all need to remember to celebrate.

In love and gratitude,

Mary

July Supper Club

We took a little break this spring, but we are back with a July Supper Club at Masala! We are so excited to feature our newest Iraqi neighbor, chef Suhad Munshid!

Join us at Masala on July 28th at 5:30 pm for this amazing meal.

Click below to view the menu, more details, and reserve your spot. Act fast—reservations only and the seats go QUICKLY!

RESERVE NOW

Volunteer Spotlight

You guys already know Hanan for her incredible cooking and near-famous Butter Chicken, but did you know that she has been an essential welcomer for refugees coming to Missoula? She is incredibly generous with her time, volunteering to translate and make sure Arabic speaking refugee families have access to all our community has to offer and advocate for them so no one falls through the cracks. She is a true friend and a large reason that these families are thriving here in Missoula. Thank you Hanan!

Opportunities and Events

>> Help Soft Landing raise $250 for swim lessons! We have been working with a local swim instructor since last winter who is voluntarily providing swim lessons to refugee students. Please help us cover the cost of pool rental and equipment so that we can keep the fun (and important instruction!) going!>>

>> Have you been tutoring English for a while and want to step up your game? Or maybe you are new to teaching English Language Learners but are excited for the opportunity to teach at home or abroad. Either way, this TESOL class is for you! Learn more!>>

>>ELI is looking for host families for the afternoon of July 27th from 2-7. This is a minimal commitment to have a lot of fun and get to share our great city with high school visitors form Japan! Learn more.>>

Most refugee children arrive in the United States and have not had an opportunity to learn how to swim. This winter we were approached by an amazing local swim instructor who offered to donate her time to teach refugee kids to swim. She started with 4 girls from Eritrea, ages 13-16. She picked them up and took them to the pool once a week for 12 weeks. Over the course of those 3 months, the girls went from being afraid to put their head under water, to swimming the length of the pool. They became confident and competent swimmers. Once word got out, kids have been begging to be next for swim lessons with Kyle. She is now on to her third group of kids. We want to help her sustain this effort by helping to pay for pool usage and equipment. Please make a donation to Soft Landing Missoula by cash, check or online at https://softlandingmissoula.org/donate. Leave us a note online after you have completed your donation or send us an email at volunteer@softlandingmissoula.org to let us know this is a donation for swim lessons. Any funds raised over the $250 will go to support our other youth programming. Thank you for your support!

Who is this course meant for? 

ELI’s TESOL Certificate Program offers English language teacher training to anyone who is interested in working with non-native speakers; this includes recent graduates, current students, those interested in teaching abroad, current teachers looking for strategies to meet the needs of diverse learners, and international participants who meet English language proficiency requirements. 

How much does this course cost? 

This program costs $1300 and includes 100 instructional hours, 20 hours of practicum (observation and instruction), mentorship by experienced ESL/EFL teachers, and help pursuing a career in the teaching profession. There is the option to split the payment cycle into two payments—one at the beginning of the course and one by the midterm.  

When can I start this course? 

The fall 2019 course starts the first week of September. 

When does the course finish? 

The course ends the first week of December.  However, teacher candidates will have two months after the last day of instruction to complete the 20 hours of observations and practicum and to turn in the capstone project: a teaching portfolio. 

Is there a certificate of completion? 

Yes, once you have successfully completed the program with a 75% or higher, you will be given a certificate showing you have completed the TESOL certificate program.  This program meets industry standards for program length and structure, administration, student services, curriculum and instruction, and instructor qualifications as defined by the TESOL International Association.  The combination of this certificate and a bachelor’s degree will satisfy minimum qualifications to teach English at most independent language schools worldwide.  

Can I complete this course if I work full time or am a student?    

Yes! Each week consists of approximately 8-10 hours of online instruction and completion of weekly assignments. For most weekly tasks, deadlines are consistent each week (e.g. the weekly lesson quiz is due by Sunday night; weekly assignments are due by Wednesday night). The class is structured in a way that allows for flexibility in that students can use evenings and weekends to complete lessons and homework. Also, the timing for the 20-hour observation/practicum component is flexible and can be completed in a way that works with your schedule.  Students who need extra time to complete the observation/practicum component can even get a two-month extension after the end of the 12-week course. 

How do I register?   

Registration is through the School of Extended & Lifelong Learning. Here is the registration link: TESOL Registration Fall 2019   

Do you have specific questions about the program?

Feel free to reach out to TESOL Certificate Program instructor Josh Rosenberger: joshua.rosenberger@mso.umt.edu; 406 243 2084.

On July 12th, Missoula, Montana will be joining hundreds of cities around the nation, as well as cities across Montana, to stand together and call for an end to child and family detention at the border. In partnership with Montanans for Immigrant Justice and Missoula Rises, Soft Landing Missoula invites you to join us in expressing our horror at the conditions in the detention center and the deaths of 7 children in America’s custody.

Where: St. Paul Lutheran Church- 202 Brooks St, Missoula, MT 59801

When: 7:30p

For more info on this local event and the motivation and details behind this national effort, please visit the Missoula FB event page as well as the Lights for Liberty website.

We are asking for your presence, but we are also asking for your PARTICIPATION! Along with select speakers, there will be a chance for audience participation to join our voices together in song. The song below was selected by members of Missoula’s immigrant community as a special lullaby sung by mothers to their children to comfort and soothe. There have been 7 children that have died as a result of conditions in these detention camps and we want to sing this song in their honor. Please join us and share with your communities, youth groups, etc.. so that we can send this song as far out into the universe as possible. Below is a youtube video and lyrics for you to learn ahead of time. Feel free to print and bring lyrics to the vigil. If you have a child or group of children that would like to stand at the front of the vigil and sing with a group (vs from the audience), please contact mary@softlandingmissoula.org. Thank you.

A la rorro nino

A la rorro niño
A lo rorro ya
Duérmete mi niño
Duérmete me ya.

Este niño lindo
Que nació de dia,
Quiere que lo lleven
A ver a su tia.

Este niño lindo
Que nació de noche
Quiere que lo lleven
A pasear en coche.

A la rorro niño
A lo rorro ya
Duérmete mi niño
Duérmete me ya.

Este niño lindo
Se quiere dormir,
Y el pícaro sueño
No quiere venir.

Este niño lindo
Que nació de noche
Quiere que lo lleven
A pasear en coche.

We are hiring! SLM is searching for an experienced and adventurous Director of Development and Planning to join our team! Check out the job post below – maybe you are our match?!

Director of Development and Planning

The Director of Development and Planning will join Soft Landing Missoula’s dynamic non-profit organization as a team player, and will lead the fundraising efforts of the organization by developing and implementing an ambitious plan to leverage grants, major donors, special events, and general giving to ensure Soft Landing Missoula’s long term financial sustainability. S/he will work in a fast paced, interactive office environment to help SLM enhance its ability to serve a growing number of resettled refugees and continue to increase Missoula’s capacity to be a welcoming community. This position is flexible, but primary hours need to be in office and spread across the work week. Occasional night and weekend hours required.

Wage: $21-24/ hour, DOE

Hours: Full time (30-40hrs/wk) preferred. Part time (under 30 hrs/wk considered).

FT benefits include: Medical, dental, vision, and life insurance premiums are covered. In addition, SLM offers 20 paid vacation days each year, 10 paid sick days per year and 12 paid holidays. SLM will offer 6 weeks of paid family leave to full time employees welcoming a new family member.

About Soft Landing Missoula:

Our vision is to help Missoula be a welcoming, supportive and informed community that can assist refugees and immigrants to integrate and thrive. Soft Landing Missoula operates under Social and Environmental Entrepreneurs, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization providing fiscal sponsorship. Starting as a grassroots effort to do our part to help families fleeing war and terror, we have been in operation for 3.5 years and have helped to welcome over 75 new families to Missoula since the return of resettlement to our city in 2016.  We are a post-resettlement, client-driven organization that focuses on long term integration of refugees and immigrants. We help refugees, immigrants, and supporting organizations to work through the challenges of making a new home while taking every opportunity to celebrate all of the richness in culture and experience that our new neighbors bring to our community.

Core responsibilities will include:

• Maintain grant calendar and lead the efforts for grant prospecting, writing, and reporting

• Maintain donor/supporter database (currently using Salesforce), track and respond to donations (with possible support from interns and volunteers)

• Plan and execute special events, including house parties, collaborations with local business, donor appreciation/stewardship opportunities, etc.

• Develop and execute online giving campaigns

• Oversee direct mail appeals

• Cultivate major donors to build a major gifts program, including securing one-on-one meetings with individuals and businesses  

• Participate in the communication efforts for the organization, help develop and implement systems to increase SLM’s positive visibility, including social media

• Effectively manage interns, volunteers, and board members to increase capacity

• Help with general duties as assigned

• Contribute to the cleanliness and welcoming environment of our active and shared office space and Community Center.

Additional responsibilities may include:

• Contributing to the thoughtful and sustainable growth of this organization by helping design and implement systems that increase the effectiveness and efficacy of our programs

• Managing attendance and program evaluation records and coordinating the use of data analysis for learning and improvement, as well as annual reporting.

The ideal candidate will have:

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in a relevant field

• Two years work experience in a non-profit organization, with a focus on fundraising, systems, and communication

• Proven ability to establish and meet deadlines, multitask, and prioritize

• Experience successfully prospecting, cultivating, soliciting and securing major gifts

• Experience with the grant writing process, including prospecting, writing LOIs and proposals, and reporting on grant outcomes  

• Familiarity with Salesforce or other donor databases

• Experience with website maintenance and social media platforms

• Experience overseeing volunteers and interns

• Working knowledge of the Missoula community and resources

• Interest in working in a team environment

• Passion for refugee resettlement in Missoula

• Interest in designing and implementing systems to increase organizational productivity

• Ability to work independently and take initiative to follow through with organizational goals

To apply, please submit cover letter, resume and two references to molly@softlandingmissoula.org.

This week, we were beyond excited to honor one of our most dedicated and incredible volunteers, Bonnie Medlin. Bonnie is a graduate student at the University of Montana and won the Outstanding Student Volunteer of the Year Award, an award given to only one student at UM every year.

Bonnie began as one of our very first volunteers with one of the first refugee families to arrive in Missoula. For the last 2 and 1/2 years, she has been a consistent presence as a mentor and friend to a single mother and her 4-year-old daughter. She has guided this family through everything from learning to drive, new jobs, new schools and all aspects of adjusting to life in America. Bonnie and her refugee family have a bond that is unbreakable. This mother and daughter from Eritrea have been separated from everyone they knew and loved in their life. Bonnie has helped them build a new extended family and supported them every step of the way in Missoula and beyond. Bonnie has taken them home with her to Seattle to spend the last two Christmas’ with her own family, helping them start a new tradition that eases the losses of the old.
Bonnie continues to see this family on a weekly basis but has also taken on additional responsibilities as a volunteer. Bonnie is now a regular presence in the Soft Landing office most days of the week. She answers the phone, helps with outreach and fundraising and jumps in whenever she is needed. But most importantly, she is available for one on one help for refugees that walk into the office with a question or need. In the past few months, she has helped dozens of refugees navigate the daily challenges of American life.

Bonnie is a joyful presence and has a generous soul. She always greets people with a smile, puts them at ease and is ready to help. She is dedicated and has grown meaningful relationships with so many refugees who now call Missoula home. She is open and at ease with people from all different cultures and has been a huge asset to Soft Landing Missoula. Thank you so much for everything you do! We love you!!!

All you need is LOVE!

As evidenced by my Beatles-themed wedding, I have always loved this line and although I still believe in this basic principle, I also now realize that a roof, food, a couple of decent pieces of clothing-and even toilet paper-sure are nice, too! I always feel lucky to have you guys, but on days like this, I especially want you to know how loved you are and how much love- and yes, all those other things including toilet paper- you have given to refugees in Missoula. Once refugees are in the US, they have freedom of movement to be anywhere they need to be.  Sometimes that means a long-awaited reconnection with relatives somewhere other than Missoula or leaving due to a specific job opportunity that comes along in another state. One thing we know though, “SPOILER ALERT”, families don’t stay because they love this bone-chilling winter weather we have been having, they stay because of LOVE. This is where you come in. This is the love you have shown by helping to drive folks to Helena to process their Green Card applications (thanks Heather and Chase!), by working on homework with kiddos (thanks Shyla and your dedicated after-school crew!), by sitting down one-on-one and painstakingly practicing vocab and grammar (thanks Clem, Jane, Susan, Kristin, Aleta, Marcia, Jennifer, and our many other English tutors), by helping us keep our office running and daily visitors assisted (thanks Andi, Bonnie, Lee, Julie, Cathryn, and Nancy), by checking out and delivering on “wishes” and “opportunities” from our resource board, by providing technical/computer support to SLM and refugees (thanks Darrin, Rhett, and Zak!), by checking out and providing minor repairs on donated cars (thanks Bryan and Dan!), by attending our Supper Clubs and providing economic opportunity to refugees, by helping get kiddos to their school activities, by buying out 1,000 pieces of baklava in 3 days (AHHHHH! See photos below!), and yes, even by regular Costco runs to get TP and other essentials (you rock Julie!). This, and so much more, is the love you have given. I could really go on and on.  All this to say, on Valentine’s Day and every day, we love you and want to thank you for loving our new neighbors.

In love and gratitude, 

Mary Poole
ED Soft Landing Missoula

P.S.- Hey!  This is super cool, and extremely humbling- we made it into an incredible list of refugee advocates from all over. This list was put together by Sloane Davidson of Hello Neighbor– just a phenomenal woman who also founded a refugee support agency, in Pittsburgh, about the same time SLM took shape.  I get that it is my face that makes it into these things, but we all know who does the heavy lifting.  Any doubts, read the above again and/or come to the office and see our hardworking staff!  😉

United We Eat

SUPPER CLUB:  Join us again at Masala for our February 24th supper club! We’re thrilled to showcase the talents of guest chef Dr. Shabnam Qureshi, a Pakistani immigrant and professor at UM, as she prepares a delicious meal to share the culture and generosity of Pakistan. Click below to view more details and reserve your spot. Act fast—they go QUICKLY!

RESERVE NOW

People, Partners, Programs

Yesterday was “Galentine’s Day”- the day about ladies celebrating ladies!  On this day, we highlighted one of our “sisters” by recognizing Miry Whitehill of Miry’s List. Miry has been a generous friend, a strong guide, and a supportive confidant for us at Soft Landing. You should check out the incredible and inspiring work they do with refugee families in LA!

LEARN MORE

Events and Opportunities

>>Join us for the Big Sky Documentary Film Fest!  We are so excited about the incredible films we will be sponsoring and hope to see you there. LEARN MORE>>

>>The Lifelong Learning Center has an opening for a Tuesday evening ESL teacher. This is an incredible organization and a possible opportunity for even more days of teaching English. LEARN MORE>>

>> World View Film Series. The second installment of this popular FREE series of 5 films in partnership with The Roxy Theater, Arts Missoula, and others, kicks off Feb 25th and goes through June. This season’s theme is MUSIC. LEARN MORE>>

Call to Action- Advocacy

If you weren’t already aware, we are well into Montana’s 2019 Legislative Session. While we have not yet seen any refugee specific bills pop up, there is a bill, HB146, and companion state referendum, HB147, that we are worried about. This bill regards Sanctuary Cities, and places HUGE fines on municipal governments for not deferring to federal agencies in regard to immigration. READ MORE about why we oppose this bill and how you can help ASAP!

MORE PHOTOS! 
A couple more pics of our awesome Valentine’s Day Baklava Sale!  Thanks so much Waleed for making over 1000 pieces of baklava and thank you guys for the incredible response that sold all of this in less than 3 days!  This makes us think that maybe we should have another something up our sleeve for Mother’s Day!!!
PS- We also had a fun impromptu Eritrean Coffee Ceremony in our office for pick-up day.  We love this tradition so much that we will soon be hosting a monthly coffee ceremony in our office- open to all.  Stay tuned!

So, if you weren’t already aware, we are well into Montana’s 2019 Legislative Session. While we have not yet seen any refugee specific bills pop up, there is a bill, HB146, and companion state referendum, HB147, that we are worried about. This bill regards Sanctuary Cities, and places HUGE fines on municipal governments for not deferring to federal agencies in regard to immigration. Please read our statement below that we submitted before the bill recently passed committee and quickly got sent through the House- passing all 3 readings. We still have time to stop this by contacting our Senators before it reaches the senate floor. It is first headed to the Senate Judiciary Committee- so especially contact these folks using the easy link above!

Here are some main points you may mention when calling:

-Solution in search of a problem. No city or town has a sanctuary city policy.

-Takes away local government choice.

-Imposes huge penalties and imposes costs of compliance, even for an informal policy.

-Symbolic effect of the law/referendum is to raise fears of immigrants living among us; divides and stirs the pot.

-Unjust, unconstitutional and a waste of state resources.

-Counter-productive. Puts the most vulnerable, women in situations of domestic violence and human trafficking victims, at highest risk by placing barriers between immigrants and law enforcement.

-Bill has been proposed last 3-4 legislative sessions and never passed. Referendum would be struck down as unconstitutional.

So PLEASE, contact your senators ASAP on this issue. Tell them to VOTE NO on HB146 and HB147. It is quick, it is easy, and it makes a HUGE difference!

————————————————————————————————————-
Testimony in opposition to HB 146 and HB 147

 Soft Landing Missoula is a local, grassroots non-profit whose mission is to help Missoula be a welcoming, supportive and informed community that can assist refugees as they integrate and thrive. Thanks to the International Rescue Committee as the resettlement agency, about 225 refugees from four countries now call Missoula home. Although refugees are immigrants with documented status, we understand the plight of undocumented individuals, for they have also suffered and feared much in the countries from which they fled.

 We oppose HB 146 and HB 147 because they do nothing to make Montana residents safer. The proposed legislation is a useless, threatening gesture, “nugatory” in legal terms, that promises punishing fines to Montana towns and cities that do anything to block or delay or give less priority to the giving of information to federal immigration authorities. These bills falsely assume a solution where no problem exists; as the fiscal note to this bill says, no Montana town or city has adopted any resolution or ordinance restricting any information about a person’s citizenship status or prohibiting compliance with a federal immigration order.

 Would the resources and time committed to investigating and enforcing such punitive measures make Montanans any safer? All of us want safety, and immigrants in Missoula have experienced that commitment by Montana law enforcement. But federal law enforcement in the service of safety and national security has not always guaranteed these things, even for citizens. In recent years federal enforcement agencies have been responsible for much unnecessary pain–family separations, child detentions, cruel asylum policies, racial profiling, and more. These actions continue to erode public confidence in immigration enforcement.

 Moreover, this approach is counter-productive. These types of policies create fear in the local immigrant communities and spreads distrust, particularly among women in domestic violence situations, and women and girls who are here as a result of human trafficking. They are the ones who are at greatest risk of being dissuaded from trusting law enforcement if they believe the local police will turn them over to ICE if they reach out for help and potentially force them back into unsafe circumstances. Intentionally placing barriers between Montana law enforcement and immigrants, Montana government and minorities, is onerous and not helpful to anyone.

Please vote against HB 146 and HB 147.

Respectfully,

The board of Soft Landing Missoula and executive director Mary Poole

The perfect feel-good gift for Valentine’s Day!

You know how we like to use any and every opportunity to bring you unique and delicious food that also economically benefits refugees?!?! Join us this Valentine’s Day in celebrating love, welcome, and community by gifting (and eating!) expertly made and beautifully packaged BAKLAVA!  

This Iraqi Pistachio Baklava, made by one of Missoula’s refugee chefs, won Best Sweet Treat at the 2018 Western Montana Fair and is the perfect Valentine’s Day gift for yourself, your friends, or your special someone. 

ORDER: It’s so EASY! Just fill out this Google form with your name and phone number, plus the amount you would like to purchase!

PICKUP: Wednesday, February 13th from 9:00am – 5:30pm
at the Soft Landing office:
939 Stephens Ave Suite C
Missoula, MT 59804

PAYMENT: To be made at the time of pickup! We accept check, cash, or credit cards. 

As with all of Soft Landing’s food initiatives, we will be utilizing our Eat, Give, Love model. When you pay you will have the option to: 

EAT: the cost of your baklava, where ALL proceeds go to the refugee chef
GIVE  the cost of your baklava plus an additional $10 donation in support of Soft Landing Missoula
LOVE: the cost of your baklava plus an additional $20 donation in support of Soft Landing Missoula

All levels are welcome and appreciated!

PLACE YOUR ORDER BY WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 7th!
https://goo.gl/forms/wGU5JbXofZfiii7x2

Reach out us at 406-493-0504 or to
ashly@softlandingmissoula.org with any questions!

Thank you so much for helping us SHARE THE LOVE!

– In love and gratitude, Mary Poole
Executive Director
Soft Landing Missoula