On Monday, I met my dear friend Farida at the Soft Landing office. We awkwardly drank tea, shared sweet treats, and giggled 6 feet apart from behind masks. When she called me the night before, I was hesitant to meet with her, knowing the renewed COVID risks, but she really wanted to come in and see us; she was lonely and Monday was her birthday. COVID isolation has taken a toll on everyone, but for Farida–a social, single woman who lives alone and spends her days working three jobs–it has been excruciating. Seven years ago, Farida was forced to leave her family, her children, and everything she knew behind in Afghanistan as she fled for her life. Once she was in the U.S. she was able to apply for asylum through a credible fear interview (the same interview ALL people seeking asylum and refuge start with) and qualified to be considered for asylum based on the same five categories that any refugee is evaluated on: fear of death or persecution due to Race, Religion, Nationality, Political Opinion, or Participation in a Particular Social Group. Last year, with much rejoicing, over 6 years from when she applied, she was finally granted asylum here in Missoula. That was just the first step towards her dream of reuniting with her children. With her blessing, I am telling you this story today because the process that gave Farida a safe home and another chance at life–Asylum–faces increasing threats on a nearly daily basis. At the bottom of this statement, after an explanation of the whats and whys, we will tell you how you can help by submitting a comment by July 15th at 11am MT. Pressed for time and up to date on the situation? Submit one here now 😉 and every day till the deadline.

Asylum. What is Asylum and why is it important? In the most simple terms, asylum offers a path to safety for individuals and families seeking refuge from fear of persecution or death. There is very little difference, other than the location of claim, that differentiates someone seeking asylum from that of a refugee. In fact, once an asylum claim is approved, that person gains “refugee status”.  As an organization with a mission to assist refugees, including asylees, we are horrified that new U.S. policies at the border are denying life-saving assistance to vulnerable men, women, and children–assistance that we as a nation have committed to for generations, time and time again. Additionally, the administration has recently proposed new changes that affect not only those at the border in need, but also the tens of thousands of other people seeking asylum in other locations in the U.S., just as Farida did. 

Today, as refugee resettlement is threatened by the declining arrival ceiling, asylum is also under attack. The slow erosion of these programs has been underway for a long time, as we have seen amendments and regulations rolled out by this administration gutting our ability both as individuals and as a nation to help people in need. In dire need. The most visible place we see this occurring for asylees is at our southern border with the new MPP (Migrant Protection Protocols) or “Remain in Mexico” policies that are putting tens of thousands of people and families at further risk of kidnapping, sexual assault, horrific conditions, and yes, COVID. If you can read more at this time, this article is a good place to start, these short stories will drive home the life-threatening situation, and this piece will help you understand the further threat of COVID at the border due to MPP. If you have reached your capacity with print journalism, I would highly suggest this Pulitzer-winning episode by the podcast This American Life. On top of MPP at the US-Mexico border, we have also seen refugee resettlement close to halted, citing COVID risk expressed through open-ended and vague language that sets a dangerous precedent for an undefined amount of time.

But it goes on. Even with the MPP in place and asylum at the border essentially halted, the attack has not ended. Today we enter the last 7 days of a 30 day comment period related to the new proposed rules to further gut asylum in the U.S. These new rules will eliminate not only protection for women like Farida who have fled due to severe domestic violence that goes unchecked by the law in her home country, but for hundreds of thousands of people currently seeking asylum whose claims would be impossible to approve under the new regulations–both at the U.S.-Mexico border and elsewhere in the U.S. The Boston Globe Editorial Board writes, “These proposed regulations, detailed in a 161-page document and subject to a 30-day public comment period, amount to a clear abdication of America’s humanitarian tradition of welcoming the most vulnerable populations, like women and children fleeing severe domestic violence and LGBTQ asylum-seekers facing deadly persecution. The rules dramatically aim to redefine the meaning of asylum, creating new standards that amount to insurmountable barriers.” 

 The new rules would amount to us never having been given the chance to meet Farida. I can’t imagine our community without her, just as I can’t imagine a world in which we, in good conscience, could have turned her away. 

 As Natalie Nanasi, immigration attorney and Professor of Law, says in this op-ed, “ From the outset, U.S. asylum law was intended to be an expansive and rights-protective doctrine. But the Trump administration has used every tool at its disposal (including some that have proven to be beyond its lawful reach) to curtail access and restrict those rights.”  I LOVE that we live in a country that would create an “expansive and rights-protective document” aimed toward a simple truth that all humans are deserving of a safe existence (with painful acknowledgement of the complexities and downfalls of our nation to do this for our own BIPOC citizens). I do think that however flawed a nation we live in, providing refuge and asylum for the world’s most vulnerable has for a long time been a cornerstone of our global and humanitarian leadership. It is what defines the United States in many ways. The proposed changes layer destruction on top of insult on top of eradication of this identity, put hundreds of thousands of lives at risk, and erode the core values and founding principles of this country (Again, however flawed the realization of these goals and values- let’s keep working on that!).

There are vast amounts of information and resources out there regarding these proposed rule changes (I have included many links here!), yet there are so many very important things going on in the current news cycle (BLM, COVID resurgence) that this has been all but drowned out. We at Soft Landing didn’t even truly realize the extent of this until just a few days ago. To reiterate, this will decimate our asylum system. It will be the nail in the coffin. Please take 5 minutes every day until July 15th to do one of the only things we can do right now- use our voices to speak out in support of the basic human right to a safe life without fear of persecution. At the very least, we can flood the system with comments that would delay the decision to put into action these unconscionable new restrictions forcing people into further danger. 

HOW TO ACT–

*Some of the action items below come from Hearts and Homes for refugees, CWS, and HIAS. Thank you to these great organizations for providing this guidance.*

Between now and 1 p.m. on July 15 the public can comment on these proposed changes, which include:

• Completely barring granting of asylum on the basis of gender

• Changing the very definition of “persecution”

• Redefining some of the core grounds for asylum claims, including membership in a “particular social group,” which could have a dire impact on women and LGBTQ individuals fleeing violence and persecution.

• Denying asylum to people who transited through other countries on their way to the United States

• Denying asylum seekers basic due process and their day in court by allowing immigration judges to decide cases based solely on written applications

Here is an even more in depth bulleted list of the negative effects of these proposed rules. 

Instead of the typical 60-day comment period, the administration is only allowing 30 days, seeking to execute this inhumane plan as quickly as possible. 

THREE ACTIONS TO TAKE TODAY AND EVERY DAY UNTIL JULY 15

1. Submit a public comment: 

Learn more here:  Click to comment  and submit your comment to the administration today! The click-to-comment campaign will close at 11 a.m MT (1 p.m. ET) Wednesday, July 15. It is ESSENTIAL to use your own language.  “Copy-paste” comments are identified by software and deleted from consideration.  If you want to use some of the above language to make your point- that is fine, but just remember to add your own opinions about why you support a strong U.S. asylum system and why you oppose the proposed changes. For example, why does abolishing the U.S. asylum system violate your Faith values? Does your family have a refugee story? Are you friends with someone who is an asylum seeker or was granted asylum? Do you work/volunteer with refugees? Have you seen firsthand how refugees contribute to your community?)

2. Take the #Comments4Asylum pledge:

After submitting your comment, take the #Comments4Asylum pledge and get three other people to join you. You can reach out one-on-one or tag people on social media! We will also be posting this information on Facebook and Instagram over the coming week for you to share easily with your friends- or share this whole email if you like.

Sample social media post: I have submitted a comment against the administration’s plan to end asylum. I am pledging to get three others to speak out for those seeking safety too!  Click to comment  [Insert handle][Insert handle][Insert handle] Join me: #Comments4Asylum 

3. Write a personalized letter:

Send a handwritten letter to the administration about why the U.S. must protect asylum seekers. Use your own experiences, stories, perspectives, values and research. Handwritten letters and other unique comments are key to helping slow down this cruel plan. Note: you can comment online AND send a letter, there is no limit. 

Instructions:

1. To count, the letter must reference: “DHS/EOIR; RIN 1125-AA94; EOIR Docket No. 18-0002.”  For example, a good start would be: “I am writing to share my strong opposition to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and Department of Justice (DOJ) Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) Joint Notice of Proposed Rulemaking: Procedures for Asylum and Withholding of Removal; Credible Fear and Reasonable Fear Review; RIN 1615-AC42 / 1125-AA94 / EOIR Docket No. 18-0002/ A.G. Order No. 4714-2020.”

2. The letter must be postmarked by July 15, 2020.

3. Address:

Lauren Alder Reid, Assistant Director 

Office of Policy

Executive Office for Immigration Review

5107 Leesburg Pike, Suite 1800, 

Falls Church, VA 22041

*Additional action! Take a picture of your letter and share it on social media using the #Comments4Asylum hashtag! 

So, thank you so much for bearing with us on this incredibly long but important statement and call to action. We are always so grateful, not just for your support, but for your ACTION.  You guys know how to get stuff done, so please join us in getting as many comments submitted as possible to delay and STOP these horrific changes to asylum rules.

In love and gratitude,

Mary Poole
ED Soft Landing Missoula

World Refugee Day is celebrated each year on June 20th to honor the strength, determination, and contributions that refugees bring to our communities. Hundreds of Missoulians (and beyond) have celebrated this day with us in past years, and we hope you can join us again this year. Although COVID concerns have shifted our plans and we have postponed our Annual World Refugee Day Cup soccer tournament, we’re thrilled to partner with Big Sky Documentary Film Festival and Run Wild Missoula to celebrate with a virtual screening of “RUNNER”, the breathtaking closing film of the Big Sky Documentary Film Festival this past February.  This is a nationwide virtual screening event that we are so excited to take part in. You can learn more about the film and watch the trailer here, and when you do, we know you won’t want to miss this incredible film.

This award winning documentary is about Guor Maker’s journey from Sudanese refugee to Olympian, chronicling Maker’s difficult and triumphant journey from refugee to world-renowned athlete, told in intimate interviews with gorgeously animated flashbacks of Guor’s upbringing, and culminating in a heart-wrenching reunion with his parents after a 20-year separation. His story is a distinctly inspirational one in which the indomitable human spirit emerges against all odds.

The film will be available to screen online for one week starting on Friday, June 19th by purchasing tickets through the BSDFF website. You can also follow the event on Facebook.

20% of all ticket sales will be donated to Soft Landing, and your purchase of a $12 ticket provides:
• A one-time link to watch the film at home with your family or “QuarenTEAM”, starting on June 19th
• A link to join the live virtual Q&A June 20th at 7pmMT with Guor Maker and director Bill Gallagher
• A donation to Big Sky benefitting Soft Landing Missoula.
• A link to join a panel discussion with Soft Landing Missoula & Run Wild Missoula on Friday, June 26th at 7:30

We are really excited about the June 26th panel that includes conversation with and perspective from Missoula resident and prior refugee Nolasque Balitebya. This is going to be an engaging and insightful followup to an incredible film and we so hope you will join us.

These kids are incredible. They are the future and because of that, we couldn’t be more excited for our world.

Here is a little sneak peak at the wonderful portrait sessions donated by Tiffany Photography and David Clumpner Photography ( and a couple from the wonderful Helen Rolston-Clemmer!) to commemorate this occasion. The captions below are part of a mini-interview we had with each student to record the thoughts of the moment and share the voices of refugee youth in our community.

Rachelle Bushiri

Rachelle enjoyed her senior year of high school in the US. She felt so supported by her teachers- especially Aria Peters and Ms. Little. While she thought that navigating the English language was challenging at times, she loved that she could study and excel during French class. She enjoyed meeting new people and friends, especially her friend Malia who has been kind and helpful as she learned the ropes in her new school.

The youngest of her 4 other siblings who are all high school graduates, she has found motivation in looking at her family and all they have accomplished. Her mom is her hero and she admires her strength and love for her family. Immediately following graduation, she would like to work to save money, but dreams of going to college to become a nurse.

“Keep up with your home work. Work hard. High school is fun, but it is not easy. Don’t sleep too late!” All good advice 😉

Hagos Gebremedhin

Hagos is a quiet, thoughtful, and kind young man. When asked about his favorite memories, he talks about the guidance of his gym teacher, Mr. Slemberger, the kindness of the woman serving him lunch that said hello to him by name every day, studying with volunteers at Soft Landing, and, of course, his friendship with the boisterous and fun loving fellow graduate, Janvier.

From a big family, Hagos is always looking out for others. He experienced many differences between school in his native country of Eritrea and the US. The language was the obvious one, and he found this the hardest part. But he also saw stark differences in the severity of treatment of students in Eritrea and the freedoms that are enjoyed in America. With a love of music, religion, and family, he has dreams of one day returning to Ethiopia to help his fellow Eritreans.

“He is like my brother.” From the moment that Janvier and Hagos met, they have been the best of buds. Quiet curiosity meets outgoing and playful. Finding camaraderie not only in shared struggles with language and navigating a new town, new school, and new culture, these two also share a love of music and soccer. Their’s will be a friendship to last a lifetime.

Janvier Munyazikwiye

With his infectious smile and trickster ways, you might not first know that Janvier is one of the most hard working and generous young men out there. Case in point, if you ask him where he will be in 10 years, he replies, “Retired!”, but spend any time around him and you soon find this out- he is a good one. Janvier picked up English quickly but he most enjoyed math in school. He played on the Hellgate soccer team and remembers this as the most fun he had in high school.

Not only navigating finishing up school virtually due to COVID-19, he also worked two jobs to help support his mom and sister, and of course, pay for his car which he counts as the biggest difference between student in Africa and students in America. Well, that and the super nice teachers here- especially Aria Peters, his English teacher 😉

A little sibling rivalry is never bad when it comes to graduating high school (Sifa, his sister will graduate next year!). Janvier gets serious when asked about his advice for younger students, “Work hard and don’t give up. Save your money and don’t waste it. Be nice.” And even more serious when asked about what adults should do to support students, “ Keep helping others. Keep going.”

Doing this together… a couple more photos of love, family, and friendship.

Congrats to all of the graduates and their families. There was also a wonderful article in the Missoulian highlighting these awesome students!

Yup. This absolutely needs to be said. And said. And said…And said. It needs to be said by all of us, including Soft Landing Missoula. Black Lives Matter. Full Stop.

It also needs to be acted on. We are a white-led organization working primarily with black people and people of color. While it is most certainly always our priority to be client led with open hearts and eyes, we have more work to do in our organization so that we can continue to strive to be a part of the solution to addressing what is wrong in our world. We have more things to learn. We need to listen more. We need to be more intentional, and more thoughtful, and we need to be a part of conversations and actions to dismantle racism in America and work towards being an Anti-racist society, not just “less racist”.

Anti-racism is the active process of identifying and eliminating racism by changing systems, organizational structures, policies, practices, and attitudes, so that power is redistributed and shared equitably. (NAC International Perspectives: Women and Global Solidarity)

I am not saying this to you from a soap box or a place of comfort. I just learned this definition this week. One of the greatest gifts this work with people of color has given me is to lay bare my own learned racism and bring this conversation into my life in a very real way. A way in which I can grow and learn and act toward not only being a better human, but a better participant in the long term work that it will take to dismantle racism in our communities and our country.

I wanted to be able to give you guys commitments from Soft Landing in this statement. These are not perfect or complete. That will take more hard work (remember how I just learned the definition of Anti-racism this week?!?!)- work that we are willing to do. Work that we commit to for the long haul, not just while this is so prevalent on our social media feeds, but during and AFTER that. 

Here are the promises we make:

1) We will educate ourselves and inform our programming by listening to and following the lead of refugee, and BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People Of Color) voices. We will not let our own ignorance and history paralyze us, but will face the world with curiosity, open eyes, love, and action.

2) We will focus this work in our own community, but not ignore the national issue of institutional racism in America. We will partner with other local organizations that are BIPOC lead, and contribute financially to that partnership, to assist in doing the work of increasing equity in our community. 

3) We will intentionally work toward a more representative board and staff. This has always been a “long-term” goal with inherent challenges, but again, just because we can’t do it perfectly right away, doesn’t mean we shouldn’t do it. We will examine our own internal policies and procedures to make sure we are walking the walk of Anti-racism, not just talking the talk.

4) We will offer space and support for New Americans of color to drive conversations of what it means to be BIPOC in America. This is a big one right now. Refugees have to live with the consequences of being Black and Brown in America without the context of having grown up in this broken system. People are scared and have many questions. Over the last couple of days we have been embarking on starting the conversation with refugees and partners from the BIPOC community on how we can help facilitate this space while still letting our clients lead this conversation where they would like it to go.

5) We will celebrate. We will dance. We will sing. We will play. We will laugh. While we do this, we will make it a priority to lift up the voices of refugees as a part of Missoula’s BIPOC community. We will acknowledge the work to be done, but just as importantly, we will celebrate the joy, resilience, and strength of communities of color. 

There is so so much to say here, and I know our “feeds” are chock full these days of resources, but incase you are struggling to find local ways to support this work in our own community- here are some great Missoula and Montana based organizations lead by the BIPOC community that you can invest (give money!) in to support the long term work of racial equity right here. If you want to really invest, please consider becoming a monthly donor as your monthly reminder that this is still incredibly important when the fervor on social media wanes. I am sure this isn’t an extensive list, but they are the ones I know about and if you know of others, PLEASE share with me and I will re-share.

University of Montana African-American Studies Department– specifically consider donating to the Dianna Riley Fund to support the annual Black Solidarity Summit at UM.

University of Montana Black Student Union- website and Facebook

Empower MT and YWCA Missoula– specifically donating to support the new joint position of their Racial Justice Engagement Specialist, Alex Kim.

The Montana Racial Equity Project

Additionally, many people from the BIPOC community around the nation have created incredible resources that they have painstakingly developed for the education of white people in this space. To white people like me: use these resources and PAY for them. Even if it is a free podcast or online resource. Figure out how you can financially support and donate to the work that you are finding value in. This is as much a “product” to pay the maker for as you pay the local farmer for providing you with fresh food (Fresh food should also be a right, but unfortunately it is another privilege. This is also part of the “work”).

Resources for white people in this conversation have never been more easy to access. You can start here.

OK!  This is a start.  A start of a long conversation, progressive action, and a commitment from us to always strive to be better and contribute to a better and more just world.

In love and gratitude and solidarity and action,

Mary

FLASH BAKLAVA SALE!

We miss you. This social distancing thing is hard.  We wanted to find a way to say “Hello! We are in this TOGETHER” and support one of Missoula’s refugee-run small businesses at the same time.  What better way to do this than with a FLASH baklava sale, complete with doorstep delivery (in Missoula)?!?  In honor of bringing us together during this isolating time, we are also offering to throw in Soft Landing Missoula’s own “TOGETHER we are Missoula” yard sign for any additional donation $15 or over (option available at checkout).

You might also notice that this would be the perfect Mother’s Day gift if you are lucky enough to be around your mother, the mother of your children, or any mother at this time of isolation.

Ordering for this quick FLASH sale begins 10 am Monday, May 4th, 2020 and runs through 10 pm Tuesday, May 5th, 2020- or until we hit max capacity! Delivery will take place on Friday, May 8th, 2020. Delivery location must be in Missoula for this sale.

Due to the fact that this sale is a delivery, please don’t forget to include your address and phone number when checking out, as well as any special delivery instructions we would need to know added in the comment box. 

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The large majority of profits of this sale go directly to the local refugee family who hand-make these treats and provide critical support for their small business, Babylonian Baklava, during the Covid-19 crisis.

Babylonian Baklava Box Options

(for delivery on May 8th)

There are 2 sizes of boxes available for this sale.  Quantities are slightly larger than some of our other sales, because of the effort that goes into the delivery, but this baklava is so fresh it will keep for a week or more right on your counter- if it lasts that long!

10 Piece Box: Great for an individual or a family, but if you are ordering for Mother’s Day, you might want to order 2 because you know momma doesn’t like to share…

25 Piece Box: May we suggest some neighborly social distancing-appropriate sharing?

Living, and Learning, in a Virtual World…

As reality set in a few weeks ago (yup, feels like it was a few years ago-amirite?) that we were all going to be in this for quite a while, Soft Landing shifted gears to make sure families had everything they needed to survive, and even thrive, through social distancing, employment challenges, changes in childcare, and more. One of the most important things we have been able to do is support refugee students in accessing, engaging in, and sticking with virtual education. This isn’t a huge stretch for us, but it has required a substantial amount of adjustment for all involved. With the twice weekly after school program for middle school and high school refugee students we have been running for the last 2 school years, the incredible Soft Landing volunteer tutors, and the wonderful admin staff, teachers, and tutors with Missoula County Public Schools, the ground work was set to be able to step into this space. It is so important that refugee students continue to get access to the same educational experience that American born, native English speaking kids have access to. In many cases, through no fault of their own, these students end up a little behind, even in the best of circumstances (and parents of school-aged kiddos know, the “best” circumstances are still REALLY HARD right now!). 

In saying all that, we have now matched 12 students with 12 tutors and have supported everyone as we all learn this new system (see the picture below of Molly’s Zoom meeting checking-in with some of the tutors and Aria Peters of Missoula County Public Schools). I wanted to share with you the story of one of these matches- Patrice, the youngest of five brothers (student) and Alisha (Tutor). Patrice is currently studying for his high school equivalency, HiSET, and dreams of one day becoming an EMT and working for Missoula’s emergency services. When he heard that we were setting up folks with virtual tutors, he was among the first to raise his hand and has been incredibly engaged with his tutor, Alisha, spending hours with her each week studying advanced biology and science. Like many students and tutors, Alisha and Patrice worked through the barrier of home internet access and connected with our partners at Missoula Alliance Church to get him signed up for the free Spectrum internet and then an SLM tech volunteer helped Patrice set up his new modem. This match has been a great fit and we are also excited to share more about it in Alisha’s own words- “I was born and raised in Mumbai, India. In 2000, when I was 16, my family and I had an opportunity to immigrate to the U.S., so we moved to Austin, TX. Now, 20 years on, I am a postdoctoral research scientist (biologist) at UM studying Rocky Mountain stream and terrestrial ecosystems, and how the animals that live in them are coping with a warming climate. I have always been grateful that my family could move to the U.S.; it was a truly life-changing event that allowed me to become independent, study at a university, and pursue a PhD in science. But settling in, becoming assimilated, finding our footing and feeling like we belonged in this new country, were all really, really hard. So, I had always wanted to reach out to other people who might be struggling with the same things, to offer any help, and let them know that it will be ok. SLM was that opportunity for me! Being a tutor not only allows me to work with some incredible kids, but I get to merge my love for science with my wish to reach out to the immigrant and refugee community. I am constantly humbled by the SLM kids I work with. They are thoughtful, kind, patient, understanding, and deeply motivated to do well (I don’t recall being that way as a teen!!). I don’t think I do much or nearly enough, but I am extremely grateful for the chance to make even the smallest difference.”  Thank you Alisha!  You are amazing!

This experience has not come without challenges and time consuming detours, as access to home computers, internet, and the ability to navigate the virtual world seems always present in one way or another, but it has been an exciting and rewarding way for us to be able to continue with our programming- slightly adjusted- and serve families during COVID.

Now here comes the huge part- we get to do this because of you. You were the ones who donated the computers that are in these families homes. You are the ones who have supported Soft Landing as we have worked hard to build meaningful and impactful programming for refugee families in Missoula. Heck, you may have even been one of the thousand people who marched with us four and a half years ago to make sure the world knew that Missoula would be a welcoming place for refugees to resettle. And you are the ones standing by us as we navigate this new space and the wide range of other services we dove into during this strange time. I say this, not only as an incredibly heart felt THANK YOU, but also as a little nudge ;). Missoula Gives starts on Thursday (although giving IS live early this year- ie: right now!) and we want to first acknowledge that there is huge uncertainty for us all, and there are so many legitimate needs in our community at this time.  We hope that Soft Landing will continue to be a part of your giving during Missoula Gives this year. We are doing great things with incredible people and you have brought us this far. If you can give again this year, please do. If you are a new donor, every little bit counts. If you are in the fortunate position of wanting to find something meaningful to do with the COVID stimulus money that landed in your bank account- we can help with that 😉

So here’s to Patrice and Alisha, as well as all of our other students and tutors, and to all of you who continue to make the magic happen.

In love and gratitude,

Mary Poole
ED Soft Landing Missoula

Missoula’s Refugees Give Back

Through an amazing partnership with many local business around town that are providing production space, including our good friends- Imagine Nation Brewing Company, Coaster Cycles is well on it’s way to producing 1,000,000 face shields to be used locally and sent all over the US to COVID hot spots in need of this essential protective equipment. And where there is resourcefulness, creativity, and ingenuity- of course there are REFUGEES! Here are a few more pictures of some amazing people stepping up to help with productions of these shields. Thank you to everyone involved in this incredible project.

Intern Spotlight

Katie VanCleave is a Sociology student at the U of M. Originally from Miles City, Katie has a passion for exploring new cultures. She began her internship with Soft Landing in January, and soon became an indispensable part of our team. Even though her official internship has been cut short by current circumstances, Katie has stayed with us, volunteering remotely to help Soft Landing stay afloat during this challenging time- specifically stepping in to help with Missoula Gives! We are so grateful for students like Katie, who are dedicated to making this community a better place.

Save the (New) Date

We just couldn’t stand to see a year go by without our annual soccer tournament to celebrate all of our wonderful new neighbors in Missoula the best way we know how- with soccer, music and food!  Due to concerns with wanting to be sensitive to COVID social distancing for as long as possible, we have moved back the date from World Refugee Day in June to Welcoming Week in September.  We will continue to monitor the situation, but for now- please mark your calendars to come celebrate with us on September 12, 2020! More info on the 2020 tournament as well as great photos from past years here!

Through an amazing partnership with many local business around town that are providing production space, including our good friends- Imagine Nation Brewing Company, Coaster Cycles is well on it’s way to producing 1,000,000 face shields to be used locally and sent all over the US to COVID hot spots in need of this essential protective equipment. 84,000 shields were assembled and shipped out just last week to hospitals, nursing homes, and other facilities in need. And where there is resourcefulness, creativity, and ingenuity- of course there are REFUGEES! Here are a few pictures of some amazing people stepping up to help with productions of these shields. Thank you to everyone involved in this incredible project

Soft Landing Missoula seeks a summer team member to join their small but dynamic organization. A summer team member would focus on supporting refugee and immigrant youth and their families in Missoula. They would design and implement summer programming focused on educational, recreational and social outings and activities for youth ages 13-20. 

Outings and activities would have the goal of preventing summer learning loss, preparing them for future academic and career opportunities and giving them access to experiences they otherwise would not have. The member will communicate regularly with participating youth to ensure their wellbeing and access to food and support over the summer. 

In addition, the summer team member would participate in COVID relief efforts of the organization. These may include using community resources to bring food to families, checking in on families via phone or social media, and helping families fill out paperwork for benefits. 

Living Allowance: None

Hours Commitment: Members commit to serve at least 300 hours.

Start Date:  Flexible (May/June) and end date no later than August 31.

# of weekly hours:  Flexible—part-time to full time as long as they are on track to complete at least 300 hours. 

Service Eligibility Types: Positions can be work study, internships, practicum or volunteers.

Eligible for Service: College Students or 2020 high school graduates (17-18 years old)

Education Award: Earn a $1,289 Education Award for future schooling or to pay down student loans. 13 MT colleges may match up to $1,000 annually.   

Contact Molly Cottrell at molly@softlandingmissoula.org for details on how to apply.

I’ve got that fuzzy feeling…

How the heck are ya?  This is crazy isn’t it?  In general, I feel like I am doing pretty good, and then all of a sudden I am caught off guard by an awkward laugh turned to ugly-cry turned back to laugh. This emotion, this reaction, is uncomfortable and something I have felt a little hard to nail down, but I think it just stems from general life discombobulation and disconnect. That kind of fuzzy feeling we all have when the path back to “normal” (and I am not sure that is even the best path right?!?) isn’t immediately apparent. 

Today, I did something I needed badly to feel a little “normal” again. I left the chilly basement room of my house (where the lower half of my body has been snuggled in a sleeping bag and my face has been in front of a screen for most of my recent work days) and I met up with Maria and Molly (wearing masks and keeping our distance) to deliver special food and supply boxes to every Eritrean Family for the Easter Holiday that they celebrate this weekend.  Oh, it was so wonderful to see the beautiful faces of my friends. The positive effect on my heart- immeasurable. Their faces looked a little like mine (wide-eyed and discombobulated- see first paragraph), but they also radiated love and hope and humor and gratitude and resilience. And I just thought, “They are doing ok- WE are doing our job.  We are living our mission. This is why we are here”.

So while yes, much of my life feels uncomfortably fuzzy, there is one thing in which my clarity has not wavered. I feel more solid in the mission and the importance of our work than ever and more proud of our amazing team than ever- each doing our own part to adapt, to piece it together, and then to rise to the occasion. As I described in my last email, and that you can now find on our website, we have been able to move quickly to shift the services we offer to prioritize our work with partners to keep families safe, fed, housed, accessing available financial assistance, connected to on-line education, and still feel like they are a part of a community that cares about them.  In ways, it has been a magical time that we can do these things, that we are here, and that we can still offer a warm “hug”, even if it is with a “knock and drop” box of holiday essentials.

Uncertainty is hard. It is just emotionally hard to live in the unknown, the uncertain- how ever much you rise to the occasion, still it lurks under the surface. Find small ways that help you feel connected.  Get out of your basement and out from behind screens as often as you can. And most importantly, be kind to yourselves.  Embrace the uncomfortable laugh turned to ugly-cry turned to laugh.  It helps remind us that we are all human and in this together.

In love and gratitude,

Mary

PS- Those boxes we delivered?  They contained all sorts of goodies that your generosity has made happen.  We used donated gift cards and recent monetary donations to purchase teff flour, green coffee beans, sanitizing wipes and other essential staples (I got some nasty looks for assumed “hoarding” of wipes as I went through the checkout line this morning-ha!), and each family also got a beautiful handmade mask to keep them safe during trips out of the house. Next week, we will deliver care packages to families beginning to celebrate the Ramadan holiday that begins next Friday. You guys are the ones that make this happen. Please consider an in-kind gift of supplies or gift cards or better yet- commit to a monthly donation to get us through this time if your family feels able to. At the end of this month, there will also be the opportunity to support our COVID specific relief work through Missoula Gives– more info about that on it’s way 😉 Thank you.

PPS- GRETA HAD HER BABY!!!!! HOORAY!  Mom and baby are home and happy and healthy. We got in a quick visit to peek in through the window at this amazing woman and our new office manager- Iris 😉 She agreed to let me share this picture with you all. Sorry for the window glare but hopefully we will all get to meet her in person soon!

Here are a few photos of our adventures delivering holiday food and supplies for Eritrean families yesterday- doing our best to follow essential social distancing AND support families.

Kamoon Arabian Cuisine

Did you guys know that the refugee-run Kamoon food truck continues to serve up delicious dinners daily?!  Parked in the lot at Imagine Nation Brewing Company (1151 W. Broadway), you are able to order ahead of time via telephone or on-line and then grab a growler or 4-pack of the most delicious beer from Imagine Nation. If you pick up both food and beer, you get $1 off food and $2 off beer!  Come out and support these amazing small businesses that add incredible value to our community.

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AmeriCorps Position

Soft Landing is looking for an AmeriCorps Volunteer to join our dynamic team for the 2020-2021 school year. This full time position will be specifically focused on working with and supporting refugee youth in accessing and pursuing higher education.

Request for additional information or questions about the position can be emailed to molly@softlandingmissoula.org or learn more by clicking on the button below.

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Find out more about how to support Soft Landing Missoula’s COVID-19 response effort during Missoula Gives by checking our our Facebook Event page.  Please share widely!