Month of Action…

So far, mid-June through now has been a month of action.  With so much happening on the national and state level, our brains- and hearts- have been busy trying to figure out what is Soft Landing’s place in the conversation, and ACTION, surrounding immigrant families being separated at our southern border, increased racial profiling happening across the country and at our northern border- I mean our state folks!, and the travel ban being upheld by the Supreme Court.  After thoughtful deliberation, our voice and our thoughts were captured in an op-ed written by our staff and board that was featured in the Missoulian. While using our voices is essential, here are a few of the other things that have happened and are going on that you can join us in getting involved in.

–Montanans for Immigrant Justice is leading the charge on organizing marches and events that we have helped with and attended, with more to come. 

-We have signed on to 5 letters with the ACLU of Montana outlining clear and feasible ways that our elected officials can take action to change inhumane federal immigration policies.

-We are sharing information presented by the International Rescue Committee in Missoula that was put together through a grant with New American Economy about the economic impacts and benefits of immigrants in our communities.

-And we continue to work every day to assure that refugees and immigrants in our own community feel welcome and supported in reaching for their dreams- as in the case of Ammar Omar from Iraq and the new catering business, Arabian Cuisines, he recently opened, with a bit of help from us and huge heart and tenacity from him! 

Whether participating in a march, writing a letter to the editor and/or our elected officials, supporting the small businesses of refugees and immigrants in our community who after a short time are already contributing to our economy, or any of the other volunteer opportunities that I will list below, there is plenty to do my friends.  My final advice, as if you asked!- don’t get overwhelmed.  Do what you can.  Don’t let the hugeness of it all paralyze you. Persist. Even if it feels small, you are joining your voice and adding strength to the thousands (probably millions!) of others fighting all across our nation for the humane treatment of families, of people, of human beings.

In love and gratitude,

Mary

ps… Save the date for July 29th- our next Monthly Supper Club.  More details to come soon and we aren’t quite ready to open the flood gates of reservations (the last one filled in under an hour!), but know that it will be Eritrean food at Masala on the 29th of July.  Exciting!

Work directly with refugee families in Missoula!!!

One of the most impactful, meaningful, and personal ways you can become involved in creating a welcoming home for refugees arriving in Missoula- from minute one- is to join a Family Mentor team through the International Rescue Committee.  More info on how to do this and what is included can be found here. More families are currently arriving in Missoula and the need for volunteer Mentors is HIGH so it is likely you will get placed with an incoming family right away!
Here is an additional look at the perspective of a Family Mentor Team from a Missoulian Op-ed on the 4th of July.

Be a part of the amazing cultural experience that is SLM’s Farmers’ Market Booth!

We are looking for a couple more volunteers to round out our remaining Saturdays at the Farmers’ Market.  This is super fun folks with many ways you can be involved; you don’t even have to talk to anyone if you don’t want, just help us set up, take down, and transport our booth items! or be a Chatty Cathy and operate the till for the morning- your choice!

Are you brave 😉 Wanna drive with a refugee student driver?

We have many students currently with Learner’s Permits who we are looking to pair with experienced drivers for practice behind the wheel.  The folks who have been doing this for us for the last year LOVE it but we have more students than drivers right now.  Help us continue the growth of this very successful program that is a HUGE step in refugees achieving self-sufficiency and greater economic and social mobility in Missoula.  You must be willing to use your own vehicle.  For more info, contact Molly Cottrell at molly@softlandingmissoula.org

Host Families Needed for Mid to Short term stays for Students attending ELI programs this summer.

The University of Montana’s English Language Institute (ELI) is providing two exciting opportunities to become a host family! More information from ELI can be found here.

Soft Landing Missoula is in search of volunteers for our farmer’s market booth! This unique and fun volunteer position provides the opportunity to help refugee vendors sell their food and share their culture! We ask that volunteers commit to two Saturday mornings a month to help us at the market! We are also in need of help setting up and taking down the booth. We have shifts available in order to work with your schedule! We hope you will join us! 

If you are interested in volunteering at the market, please send an email to megan@softlandingmissoula.org. 

We are also looking for volunteers to fill short (or long!) slots at out food booth at Western Montana Fair this year- August 7th-12th, 10a-10p.  Please also indicate if this is something you are interested in knowing more about!

We are often asked how to get directly and meaningfully involved in the lives of families arriving in Missoula, MT, and therefore want to share an incredible opportunity to do so- becoming a family mentor volunteer with Missoula’s local resettlement agency, the International Rescue Committee. 

Family mentor teams are paired with families and serve as important connections to the Missoula community. As families continue to arrive in Missoula, family mentors are needed. The International Rescue Committee hosts trainings on the third Wednesday of every month from 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm at their office. Mentor teams are great to do individually, with a partner, or with a group of friends! For more information on how to get involved go to:

• The International Rescue Committee website with information on family mentor teams.
• The International Rescue Committee Facebook event page for the next training on July 18th. 

” I have been on two family mentor teams through the International Rescue Committee and the experiences have been life-changing. These families bring so much light into my life and they have taught me so much. My relationship with the families has developed into a lifelong friendship and I couldn’t be more grateful.” 

-Family Mentor volunteer with the International Rescue Committee

***Here is an additional look at the perspective of a Family Mentor Team from a Missoulian Op-ed on the 4th of July 2018

Have you ever had the delicious falafel or beef shawarma at the farmer’s market? Well, here is a little more information about Arabian Cuisines and the man behind it, Ammar Omar: 

Ammar started Arabian Cuisines in the Spring of 2018. Originally from Iraq, he and his family settled in Missoula, MT in May 2017. He hopes to share some of the culture and taste of Arabian food with Missoula. Ammar is an experienced and talented chef who ran a restaurant in the United Arban Emirates before coming to Missoula. 

Last year Ammar sold falafel at the Soft Landing Missoula farmer’s market booth. Since then, he has worked hard to study food safety and go through the process of starting his own business. He now owns Arabian Cuisines. 

You can find Ammar at every Clark Fork Market over the summer and a variety of other Missoula events. He also caters and does private events. Arabian Cuisines is a great option for a catered lunch or a family event at an affordable price! 

To get more information about how you can get Ammar to cook at one of your events contact Soft Landing Missoula at info@softlandingmissoula.org. 

Some of Ammar’s specialties are:

• Falafel: A vegetarian fried mix of vegetables including chickpeas flavored with cilantro, cumin, and other Middle Eastern spices.

• Shawarma: Juicy chicken or beef slow cooked on a rotisserie and thinly sliced as ordered.

The University of Montana’s English Language Institute (ELI) is providing two exciting opportunities to become a host family! Information from the ELI is below:

·         ELI is seeking 3 five-month hosts for English language teachers from the Okinawa Board of Education in Japan.  Their program is an intensive teacher-training program aimed at developing English language instruction skills.  Hosts for this program will receive an orientation to the homestay program, including intercultural communication tips and a stipend of up to $620/month.  The teachers will be arriving July 21 and staying through December 15.  Five months too long?  Can you host an English teacher for fall semester?  Or two months?

·         20+ hosts are needed for a Saturday, August 4, afternoon exchange (2 – 7 pm ) with students from Kumamoto High School.  These students are here for 16 days to study English and learn about American culture.  This is a low-commitment chance to share your lifestyle and Missoula with a visiting youth from Montana’s Japanese sister state.  Plan an activity or excursion and share dinner.

 If you are interested in either (or both!) of these host opportunities, please contact Sarah Bortis at 406.243.5885 or sarah.bortis@mso.umt.edu.  If you can’t do these times, but are interested for the future, let Sarah know and she will add to the contact list.

Soft Landing Missoula will be marching tonight along side Montanans for Immigrant Justice and others from a coalition that put together an outward show of our community’s horror at families being ripped apart at our southern border.  Please consider joining us.

Where: Missoula Co Detention Facility- 2340 Mullan Rd.

When: Wednesday, June 20th, at 5p

More information available in this Facebook Event.

We are so proud of the Montana voices that are speaking out against the forced separation of children from their parents by the United States of America at our southern border. This letter from Tester came about with pressure from our own communities across Montana being vocal and passionate about needing this to stop- now.  I know that, although with much less strong statements, Daines and Gianforte have also disagreed with the process taking place.  We need to continue to press our elected leaders in Washington to make BOLD strokes against family separation at the border, AND thank Tester for his leadership in this.

As you’ve probably heard, there will be a Futpong tournament at this year’s World Refugee Day soccer tournament and community celebration! Below is a little information from one of the creators of Futpong about this wildly fun game that can be played anywhere! 

Futpong is tennis with your feet and or other parts of your body excluding of course your hands and arms. Played on a 12’ by 6’ court with a net, recommended footwear is sneakers.  The tournament will begin with pool play where everyone can have a chance to dial in their touch.  The pool play will be followed by an elimination round.  Prizes will be awarded to the winner and finalists.  Recommended for ages 12 and up. 

Please email dave@futpong.net if you think you are interested in the tournament at the World Refugee Day celebration- so that we have an idea on the number of participants.    

Whether you’re playing or watching you won’t want to miss this exciting Futpong tournament! 

• Learn more about Futpong by checking out the Futpong website   
• See a Futpong tournament in action by checking out the video page
• Get connected and see more Futpong photos and videos on the Futpong Facebook page

Late last year, we were contacted by Jessie and her wonderful organization, Animal Wonders, with the news that Soft Landing Missoula had been named as the recipient of a presentation through a donation by a local company called SciShow.  We are thrilled to announce that we get to share this incredible gift with you all and Animal Wonders will be bringing some adorable and incredible animals to this year’s World Refugee Day soccer tournament and community celebration! 

Animal Wonders is a non-profit that both rescues animals providing them with a life-long home, and promotes knowledge and appreciation of animals and conservation by offering live presentations and online videos. Find out more about Animal Wonders by checking out their website!    

Animal Wonders will be presenting at the community celebration between 5:00 and 7:00 pm. Below are some of the animals you might meet! 

Blueberry the Northern Blue Tongue Skink

Kemosabe the Prehensile-tailed Porcupine

Yucca the Red-Footed Tortoise