Join us for the first Supper Club of 2020 and enjoy a delicious Eritrean meal cooked with love at Scotty’s Table! We are so excited to feature the incredible cooking of Haben Asgedom and Merry Gebray both beloved regulars on the Soft Landing food circuit for their many amazing meals and traditional Eritrean coffee!

The Soft Landing Missoula Supper Club aims to introduce the incredible culinary talent of Missoula’s newest neighbors and international residents, whose rich and flavorful cooking traditions provide a cultural bridge and enrich our shared community.

Where: Scotty’s Table- 131 S. Higgins Ave- below the Wilma, accessed from Caras Park area.

When: Monday, January 27th.  Doors open at 5:30pm and food will be served at 6:00pm

Cost: Eat: $40/person Give: $60/person Love: $80/person**

How: Call Soft Landing Missoula at (406) 493-0504 to make a reservation M-F, 9am-4pm

Please direct any further questions to info@softlandingmissoula.org

**Payment will be collected after the meal, but when you pay you will have the option to: Eat: $40 for a delicious family style dinner, where a portion of the cost covers ingredients and staff time, and the rest goes to the guest chefs. Give: $60 gets you the same delicious dinner, but with an additional $20 donation going to benefit the guest chefs and Soft Landing Missoula. Love: $80 gives an additional $40 donation to the guest chef and Soft Landing Missoula to collectively make this an unforgettable evening! All levels are welcome and appreciated!

All the Feels…

It has been a busy time and there is just a lot to keep up with at the end of the year. Of all the things I have recently written about- this good news may be the most important.

For those of you that have been following along, you know that the administration recently signed an Executive Order stating that “States and Localities” must provide formal written consent for refugee resettlement to continue to occur.  Many of us have been working behind the scenes to ensure that resettlement continues in Missoula and we were proud to join the International Rescue Committee and many others this past Wednesday to witness statements from the hearts of individuals in support of refugees, as well as powerful words from refugees themselves. 

It was an incredibly stirring and emotional meeting with very few dry eyes. I am so happy to report that the county commissioners enthusiastically and unanimously agreed to submit the letter of consent, completing the 3 letters that were needed for resettlement to continue in Missoula! Governor Bullock and Mayor Engen submitted their letters earlier this month, with the current national total of States at 28 and Localities at 85 (this includes cities and counties).  

I really can’t convey how incredible the statements were at this meeting.  We heard from volunteers who have been working with families for 2-3 years, an employer with one refugee on staff and an employer who now counts refugees as half of his staff. We heard from other elected officials, from immigration attorneys, and the faith community. And of course, we heard the real stories of struggle, perseverance, and welcome in Missoula like none other from refugees both present and those represented with their written words. I did take a bunch of videos, including a beautiful statement from the county commissioners themselves, but alas… I can’t figure out how to get them to download into any format that I can share here or on Facebook (I can keep working on this but if anyone out there knows how to do this simple thing and wants to show me, that would be amazing! Sheesh!), but do have a couple of the statements in writing, both from SLM board members, that I would like to share with you.

Please take a moment to read this statement from Clem Work, SLM’s President Emeritus and SLM board member and faith leader Pastor Daniel Disch. This second letter is also signed by 13 other faith leaders in our community and both letters will give you an idea of what it felt like to be in that room 2 days ago.

It is hard for me to wrap up this email, because I really don’t feel like I am saying enough or the right words to convey my overwhelming awe and gratitude to Missoula’s residents and elected leaders for the welcome they give refugees.  So a huge thank you to Governor Bullock, Mayor Engen, and the Missoula County Commissioners (give all these folks a call to thank them and to let them know how important this decision was to you!) and of course and always, thank you to YOU for being the back bone to this city’s ability to welcome refugees.

In love and gratitude,

Mary Poole
ED Soft Landing Missoula

PS: Here are a few photos of folks talking.  The videos are a bit more exciting but thought you might like these anyway 😉

This statement was lovingly written by Soft Landing Missoula board member, Pastor Daniel Disch, to demonstrate wide support in the Missoula Faith Community for the continuation of refugee resettlement in Missoula, MT and additionally signed by 13 other leaders from various faith backgrounds. It is a beautiful example of an essential tie that binds us all; the tie of taking care of our fellow (wo)man. Thank you Daniel for your service and commitment to the world’s most vulnerable.

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Dear Missoula County Commissioners,

“You shall also love the stranger, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt.” (Deuteronomy 10:19)

“Welcome one another, therefore, just as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.” (Romans 15:7)

“Just as a mother loves and protects her only child at the risk of her own life, cultivate boundless love to offer to all living beings in the entire cosmos.” (Metta Sutta)

In the Hebrew scriptures, the instruction to care for the stranger is mentioned 36 times, more than any other commandment, underscoring the gravity of this teaching. The experience of being outsiders sensitizes the Jewish people to the plight of immigrants and refugees of all cultures. Jews are obligated to heed the outcry of the oppressed everywhere and to welcome those who flee from persecution.

The story of the Nativity of Jesus in the gospels, which we celebrate at Christmas, sees the Holy Family traveling to a town from whence their ancestors came. When they arrive, they find no place to stay; no relative, no inn will accept them. No one will welcome them as they are told there is no room. One person, a local businessman in the hospitality industry, recognizes their need and offers them shelter and safety.

Later in the story, when violence erupts, and the infant Jesus is in danger, the Holy Family goes on a long and arduous journey to another land to find a home, led there by God. In these stories, Christians see God’s presence and identification with humanity: with the plight of the displaced and vulnerable, and with the generosity of neighbors, where life is transformed in hope. Welcome is holy.

The Buddha taught that suffering exists, there is a cause of suffering and there is a way to end suffering. The Buddha also recognized that our own suffering is not separate from the suffering of others, nor is the end of our suffering possible without the end of others’ suffering. When we consider the suffering that results from loss of family, home and culture as refugees leave their homes, our hearts open and compassionate action becomes as reflexive as that of a mother caring for her only child. In other words we can’t help but extend our hearts and hands to ease suffering and offer healing.

Religious traditions and faiths around the world, including those in Montana, share love of and concern for the welfare of one’s neighbor as a central tenet. It is often when this seems the hardest – when neighbors are strangers, when relatives disagree, when changes seem threatening, when fears of shortage rise – the voice of divine hospitality calls and challenges us the most. It is our experience that citizens of the Five Valleys hold these values and practices dearly and seriously, especially in the face of need.

As faith leaders, we urge county and municipal leaders in Missoula County to continue to support the work of love and community in receiving refugees. Members and neighbors of faith communities are already giving of their time, money, and gifts to make known the dignity, integrity, and welcome that Montana has to offer. We have already done this together with our Hmong, Belarussian, and Ukrainian friends and relatives; we are doing this now with new Americans from other places, many of whom are fellow members in our own houses of worship, and our neighborhoods.

We commend to fellow residents of Missoula County hospitality for one another across political or ideological differences, respect and genuine regard, and the rich blessings of life together on the land of the Salish on which we reside.

In peace and gratitude,

Rev. Daniel Disch

Atonement Lutheran Church

Rabbi Laurie Franklin

Congregation Har Shalom

Dharmacharya Greg Grallo

Open Way Sanga

Unitarian Universalist Fellowship Missoula 

Rev. Laura Folkwein

University Congregational Church

Rev. Chris Flohr

St. Paul Lutheran Church

Rev. John Daniels

First United Methodist Church

Rev. Dr. Jennifer Yocum

University Congregational Church

Rev. Gretchen Strohmaier

Holy Spirit Episcopal

Rev. Barry Padget

United Methodist Church, retired

Rev. Stacey Siebrasse

Missoula Interfaith Collaborative

Rev. Molly Sasser-Goehner

Immanuel Lutheran Church

Rev. Terri Grotzinger

Holy Spirit Episcopal Church

Rev. Dan Dixson

Partners in Home Care Hospice

Rev. John Lund

Emmaus Campus Ministry

This statement was offered as one of many in support of refugees during the County Commissioners meeting on December 18, 2019 upon consideration of sending a letter of consent for refugee resettlement to continue in Missoula. The letter was enthusiastically signed.

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Good morning. My name is Clem Work. I am a resident of Missoula County and I have been a board member of Soft Landing since its inception.

Helping Missoula be a welcoming home for refugees has been a 4-year project of love and compassion, and as long as families fleeing violence or persecution in their home countries continue to make Missoula home, there will be no shortage of loving care and compassionate neighborliness—because Missoula is that kind of place. 

We are gathered here today because of an unconscionable presidential order that potentially injects partisan local politics and tremendous uncertainty into the process of refugee resettlement. But we know that whatever obstacles those of us committed to resettlement face, they pale in comparison to those our new neighbors faced and eventually overcame just to get here. And we are both humbled and inspired by the dedication and perseverance of our new neighbors that they demonstrate every single day. 

• Every day, a Congolese father and husband studies in his spare time for his GED and his citizenship exams, both still a ways off. And every Sunday, he attends the church he helped found in Missoula.

• Every weekday, a Syrian mom packs her toddler and her four-year-old off to daycare, hops the bus to her job, returning in time for the kids and making dinner.

• Every day, an Eritrean girl sacks groceries and also works toward her drivers license.

• Every school day, an Iraqi boy, who is in high school, amazes his teachers with his concentration and dedication. He also has mad soccer skills.

In one sense, what they are doing every day is unremarkable—it’s what many people do. But imagine leaving everything you have, fleeing for your life, living for years in a wretched refugee camp, then trying to fashion a new life in a strange place, and what seems mundane to us is actually an act of hope—sometimes nearly superhuman hope. And the end result is strong threads in our American fabric, making us a more resilient society.

As we all know, this is nothing new in America. For centuries, immigrants have overcome cruelty, hatred and adversity to gain a foothold and to prosper, to learn, to create and to give back. We at Soft Landing and in Missoula are happy to be a part of that American project and we urge you to consent to continued refugee resettlement in Missoula County.

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Thank you always Clem for your service, your guidance, and your beautiful words 😉

The English Language Institute’s online TESOL Certificate Program offers English language teacher

training to anyone who is interested in working with and teaching 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, community members, and international participants

who meet English language proficiency requirements. The 12-week course includes 100 online

instructional hours, 20 hours of practicum (observation and instruction), mentorship by experienced

ESL/EFL teachers, and help pursuing a career in the teaching profession. 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. This course is flexible and works with most

full-time student and work schedules. The spring program runs from January 22 to May 6. The program

cost is $1,300; registration is through the School of Extended & Lifelong Learning. Here is the

registration link: TESOL Registration Spring 2020.

If you have any questions about specific course details, feel free to email TESOL Certificate Program

instructor Josh Rosenberger at joshua.rosenberger@mso.umt.edu.

Soft Landing Missoula is searching for an exceptional, committed, and professional individual to embark upon a journey to be paired with a refugee ready to take their next big step toward education and a fulfilling career. This will be a one-on-one mentorship to help bridge the gaps and provide a kind, motivational guide for navigating the complexities of the slow and steady (but exciting!) grind to a future full of opportunity. You will be interacting with a group of incredible partners who are currently working on creating a “road map” for refugee learners that takes into account the specialized language and life experience challenges English Language Learners may face. That said, we are looking for someone who is flexible and understanding to the newness of this volunteer position and understands the importance of this adventure. We are also looking for someone willing to form a deep relationship with their match and commit to be a guide through what can be a multiple year process with varying levels of weekly/monthly time obligations.  

Currently, we are starting with just one match to see how things go. If you are interested in working with a motivated young woman from Congo as she navigates higher education and her dream of pursuing a career in law enforcement (maybe you even have experience in law enforcement?!?), please fill out this brief form. If you are interested in any other future matches or have any further questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to greta@softlandingmissoula.org. 

We are honored to work with the inspiring and wonderful folks with Montanans for Immigrant Justice (MIJ), and they have brought to our attention a way to support Dreamers in our community that we feel is incredibly important to share with you. Please read on for their message and how to give below. Soft Landing will be donating $100 and will give a free Soft Landing “Refugees Welcome” t-shirt to anyone who matches us or exceeds this donation level!

Dear friends,

As the US Supreme Court deliberates on the continued status of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), 800,000 young people in the US who are working, going to school and raising families face an uncertain future. They arrived here as young children, with their immigrant parents, before they were of age to make their own decisions about their immigration status. They built lives, gained skills, and be became our neighbors and friends.

Advocates, like the Dreamers at United We Dream, are encouraging DACA recipients whose status expires within the year to renew as soon as possible.

To support Dreamers in this time of uncertainty and stress, MIJ is raising funds to help at least four Dreamers with the expense of their DACA renewal ($495 per application, which includes fingerprinting and background check by USCIS, using biometrics).

Our goal is to raise $2000 by December 31st.

Will you join Montanans for Immigrant Justice in solidarity with Dreamers, and contribute to our Dreamer’s DACA renewal fund?

Donate online here, through our partners at the MT Human Rights Network: http://weblink.donorperfect.com/mij
Thank you!

And thank you from SLM! Let me know if you earned your t-shirt- mary@softlandingmissoula.org

Mary

Hello Neighbor!

We have an incredibly exciting announcement! Let me start at the beginning… of course….

In one of our last newsletters, I wrote a bit about being on this life-changing adventure for 4 years now. Well, early early in those times, Molly and I spent a ton of time putting our heads together, trying to figure out what serving refugees might look like in Missoula. As per usual, much of that involved getting on “The Googles”, and typing in various combinations of “Refugee Nonprofit”. It’s amazing what you can find with a little perseverance, and lots of wee hours of the night time while nursing children! What we found was an incredible number of amazing folks around the country doing the same stuff we wanted to do! Then, we picked up the phone. We spoke with people in Atlanta, Austin, Chicago, Los Angeles, Pittsburg, Boise, Seattle, Salt Lake… the list goes on and on. We gained strength, inspiration, and the programatic ideas we were searching for from each one. Each organization is so unique in what they offer and how they approach their challenges, their celebrations, and their communities, but there was ALWAYS a common thread of enthusiasm, openness, collaboration, feistiness, and local community. Each call felt like we had just discovered a new sister, a new confidant, a new mentor. The best thing is, we have kept in close touch with quite a few of these organizations over the years, and the feeling of awe and inspiration has never faded. And at some point, the questions on “what” and “how” also turned to us! “What is fiscal sponsorship and do you like it?”, ” How do you run your supper clubs?”, etc… And our questions, as you can probably guess, never ever stop! “Oh! Your cookie sale looked fun! What platform did you use?” HA! You get the picture…

So today, eeeeeeeee! I am so so excited that through the hard work of one of these nonprofits, Hello Neighbor out of Pittsburg, 8 women-lead, refugee-centered organizations are joining hands and hearts in a network designed to amplify our voices, exchange ideas, and work together to increase inclusiveness for refugees in communities across the nation.

As refugee numbers decline and community/state support for the resettlement program come in to question, we know there is another side to the story. The story of regular citizens coming together to uphold values of safety and opportunity for all. This is our story. This is the story of the Hello Neighbor Network. Stay tuned for adventure!

In love and gratitude,

Mary Poole
ED Soft Landing Missoula

November Supper Club!

On November 3rd, join us at Masala around 5:30 to enjoy a traditional Congolese meal prepared by the lovey Micheline Daphrose Radjabu! Reservations are required and these amazing dinners fill up fast! Check out the menu and call Masala today!

RESERVE NOW

Holiday Cookies!

Remember our wonderful Valentines day Baklava sale this year? The one where you guys bought over 1,000 pieces of baklava in under 2 days!?! Well, stay tuned for a Thanksgiving Cookie Sale in the works. Whether you just want a few new treats to sample, or a huge platter for your holiday table, we have ya covered and will let you know more details soon!

Events and Opportunities

>> For all of you Bozeman folks- Gallatin Refugee Connections is doing another incredible Welcome Kit Drive on November 2nd! Check out their FB event for more info and get involved with this incredible organization! <<

>> We are still looking for warm, weatherproof winter outerwear- coats, gloves, hats, snow pants, etc.. We are especially in need winter gear for kids of all ages! Items can be dropped off at our office Monday-Friday between 9am-4pm. <<

>> We are also still looking for pumpkins to carve with our after school kiddos on Halloween. There is still time to pick up a pumpkin- we suggest the win-win of buying it from Pumpkins for the Pov– and drop it off at our office Monday- Friday 9-4. <<

Just for Fun!

Remember one of the first viral You Tube sensations- the Kid President? Well, he is back, a bit older, and hanging out with refugees! Check out this great video!

We are incredibly honored to be a part of the birth of an incredibly inspiring group of women lead, refugee-centered organizations- the new “Hello Neighbor Network”! We are joining 8 other organizations to share stories, inspiration, ideas, challenges, and celebrations to create welcoming, inclusive, and supportive communities. Launched by Hello Neighbor out of Pittsburg, PA, together we will amplify our voices in support of refugees in our own communities and across the nation. We are joining some old friends and mentors as well as a few folks we have yet to get to know and are very excited about. We are all convening mid-November for some face time and space to exchange bold ideas! Expect to hear more about our adventures in Pittsburg!

As refugee numbers decline and community/state support for the resettlement program come in to question, we know there is another side to the story. The story of regular citizens coming together to uphold values of safety and opportunity for all. This is our story. This is the story of the Hello Neighbor Network.

Check out the other game-changing participating organizations!

Dwell Mobile located in Mobile, Alabama
Heartfelt Tidbits in Cincinnati, Ohio
Hearts and Homes for Refugees in Westchester, NY
Homes Not Borders in Washington D.C.
International Neighbors in Charlottesville, VA

Miry’s List in Los Angeles, CA
Refugee Assistance Alliance in Miami, FL

We are so excited to announce our November Supper Club! Ever since our first Supper Club featuring Congolese food this past spring, you all have been asking, and asking, and ASKING for more! This is going to be a special evening with an incredible family cooking for you. Please reserve your spots ASAP- it fills up quick! Read below to find out how…

Where: Masala, 206 W Main St , MT 59802

When: Sunday, November 3rd.  Doors (and wine!) at 5:30 pm and dinner at 6:00pm

Cost: Eat: $40/person Give: $60/person Love: $80/person

When you pay you will have the option to: Eat: $40 for a delicious family style dinner, where a portion of the cost covers ingredients and staff time, and the rest goes to the guest chef. Give: $60 gets you the same delicious dinner, but with an additional $20 going directly to the guest chef. Love: $80 gives an additional $40 directly to the guest chef to collectively make this an unforgettable evening! All levels are welcome and appreciated!

How: To make a reservation call Masala @ (406) 926-6444.

Please direct any further questions to mary@softlandingmissoula.org