A movement of neighbors and friends dedicated to welcoming new arrival families into our community through inspired crowdsourcing solutions.
MIRY’S LIST 2017 ANNUAL REPORT
MIRYSLIST.ORG | @MIRYSLIST
THE THEME FOR 2017:
ANA HUNA Ana Huna means “I’m here” in Arabic. Ana Huna is a phrase we use every day in our work with families. It’s an easy phrase that anyone can use - even those of us who don’t speak Arabic -– to let our families know that we are here for them, pledging our dedication to welcoming them with these two simple words. Ana Huna is also something we encourage our families to tell themselves, their neighbors and our community. Ana Huna. I’m here. It’s a statement and anthem to give ownership of a new place, new space and new life in America.
Front cover: Alawad Family. Homs, Syria. Arrived Nov 2016 Photograph by Danny Liao This page: Limar, 5 & Mays, 12. Syria. Arrived Jan 2017 Photograph by Christina Gandolfo
CONTENTS A LETTER FROM MIRY........4 OUR ISSUE…..………………….…5 OUR APPROACH…………….…9 WHO WE SERVE…….………...11 PROGRAMS……………………...13 OUR IMPACT………………….…16 COMING SOON……………….19 FUNDING AT A GLANCE…21 THE GREAT EQUALIZER….23
Miry, 32 USA Photograph by Christopher Patey
A LETTER FROM
MIRY Dear friends, In July 2016, I met a family who had just moved to LA as refugees from Syria. Their youngest son was 5 months, the same age as my youngest. They needed a Jumperoo for the baby, and when I visited their apartment it was clear they needed much more than that. We created a list of supplies they needed to turn their empty apartment into a functional home for a family of 5. I posted their list to Facebook and in 2 weeks my friends and family had donated everything on their list. Since then, Miry's List has gone from one mom helping another mom into a nonprofit organization serving over 250 families (that’s 1,500 individuals!) -- mostly families with young kids resettling in America from Syria, Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq and Yemen. We have a staff of 6 - all of whom are previous recipients of our programs. We’ve created a mechanism for anyone in the world to send gifts directly to the doors of new arrival families in America, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Miry’s List is a scalable solution to a historical and systematic problem: Refugees starting out in America without the supplies to take care of themselves or a community support system to welcome and embrace them. We’re connecting Americans of all races, backgrounds, and creeds to make connections with new arrival families. When we talk about sharing experiences with our newest neighbors, whether its at a New Arrival Supper Club community dinner or attending a baby shower for a new arrival expecting mom, we’re describing a long American tradition of welcoming the stranger. This tradition can only be continued if we know what people’s needs are and how we can fill them. We can only learn this if we ask: How can I help? When our neighbor struggles, it isn’t “their problem.” It’s our entire neighborhood’s problem. We must listen to them, open our hearts and minds, and welcome them into our neighborhoods, schools, and playgrounds. We have to give them our kindness. We have received so much. This report is an overview of what’s possible with a big idea and a group of renegade solvers ready to help. There is no limit to what we can do together. Together we are amazing.
miry@miryslist.org
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OUR ISSUE:
THE CURRENT RESETTLEMENT SYSTEM In 2017, 53,716 refugees were resettled in the US. The top US states for resettlement are California, Texas, New York, Washington, Michigan and Ohio. Refugee resettlement is handled by 9 licensed non-profit agencies and hundreds of local affiliate agencies that receive federal government funding for their refugee work. Resettlement agency case workers are responsible for up to 300 people. They help resettling families find permanent housing, get enrolled in public benefits, healthcare, school and apply for Social Security cards and other documents. Miry’s List exists to fill the gaps in the refugee resettlement system, providing new arrival families with a community support system to address the needs they have that are not met by their resettlement agency.
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DID YOU KNOW? ABOUT FOUR-IN-TEN REFUGEES THAT ENTER THE U.S. EACH YEAR HAVE BEEN CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS. 6
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Abdul, 28 & Rezwanullah, 7 months. Kabul, Afghanistan. Arrived Mar 2017 Photograph by Christina Gandolfo
OUR APPROACH:
SURVIVE, HIVE, and THRIVE
MIRY’S LIST IS DIVIDED INTO THREE CHRONOLOGICAL PILLARS THAT BEGIN FROM OUR FAMILY’S FIRST STEPS OFF THE PLANE:
Zulal, 7. Kabul, Afghanistan. Arrived Dec 2016 Photograph by Robyn Von Swank
1. SURVIVE: Brand new arrival families are in “survival mode,” often living in motel rooms, jetlagged, quiet, confused and scared. The goal in this initial phase is for each family member to rest, relax, and do whatever they need to do to feel safe. Services offered include: temporary housing, meal and groceries delivery, emergency supplies like diapers, wipes, cell phones, and car seats.
2. HIVE: Once a family has moved into their permanent home, we begin the Hive phase of our program. Like swarming bees, we surround our families with the people, services, and things they need to rebuild their lives. Services offered in Hive include: Wishlist creation, English tutoring, play dates, grocery shopping trips, rides to appointments, resume editing and employment mentoring, and pregnancy support.
3. THRIVE: Refugees no longer in the Hive phase, our families feel safe, empowered, hopeful, and supported. One way we can tell that a family has reached the Thrive phase is when they ask about volunteering opportunities with Miry’s List. Thriving neighbors wonder how they can help other people around them. Services offered in Thrive include: New Arrival Supper Club event catering, volunteer and work opportunities at Miry’s List, specialized workshops and classes, reimbursement for job-seeking expenses, car donations, and travel loan relief.
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WHO WE SERVE: • • • • •
INDIVIDUALS KIDS SENIORS FAMILIES INDIVIDUALS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS
COUNTRIES OF ORIGIN: • • • • •
AFGHANISTAN IRAN IRAQ SYRIA YEMEN
OUR PROGRAMS: 1. 2. 3. 4.
WELCOME HOME EMERGENCY RESPONSE WISHLISTS NEW ARRIVAL SUPPER CLUB
Zarour family. Syria. Arrived Sep 2016 Photograph by Christina Gandolfo
OUR PROGRAMS: WELCOME HOME: Matching incoming families and individuals with welcoming neighbors with empty guest houses or guest rooms in their homes. A soft, safe, warm, and welcomed landing makes all the difference in the world for families beginning their rebuilding journey.
EMERGENCY RESPONSE: We provide families with urgently needed supplies and services they simply can’t wait for, including but not limited to grocery and meal delivery, diapers, wipes, cell phones, car seats, formula and refrigerators.
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WISHLISTS: Creating and managing customized Amazon wishlists of the things our families need to turn the house into a home and feel safe. Wishlists are promoted on our website and social media so our community can send welcome gifts directly to the doors of new arrival families 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
NEW ARRIVAL SUPPER CLUB Empowering new arrival families through economic opportunities to share their culture through food. This wildly popular popup event series gives families opportunities to show off their skills and culture, earn money, and meet neighbors who want to welcome them.
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Ayman, 47, Director of Logistics, Miry’s List. Damascus, Syria. Arrived Oct 2016 Photograph by Christina Gandolfo
OUR IMPACT • 257 families served from Syria, Iraq, Iran, and Afghanistan -- more than 1,500 people! • 6 jobs created for previous recipients of our program, now helping the families who came after them • 115 volunteer list makers around the world managing our family's lists • $1,000 per day in welcome gifts sent directly to the doors of resettling families through our wishlists • 1000's of in-kind items donated to families in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, and San Diego counties • 500 play dates, birthday parties, English lessons, family dinners, shopping trips, school visits, and doctor visits organized • 12 New Arrival Supper Club community dinners
In 2017, 35,940 people used our website
The Miry’s List website enables $1,000 per day in welcome gifts sent stranger to stranger, directly to the doors of New Arrival families.
to help resettling refugee families in America.
COMING SOON 2018:
Did you know that refugee families are required to pay for their own flights to come to the United States?
Did you know they pay full retail price for their flights, setting them into a crippling cycle of debt that often takes years to pay off?
Miry’s List will challenge the systemic problem of refugee travel loan debt. Sameer Issa, 12. Damascus, Syria. Shevin Abdi, 32. Kurdistan. Arrived Oct 2016 Photographs by Christina Gandolfo
THE MISSION: FREEDOM FROM DEBT Reimburse 500 newly arrived resettling families for the full cost of their travel loans totaling $2M.
FINANCIAL EDUCATION Provide each family with in-language financial training to learn about family finances, budgeting, credit, and the basics of the American banking system.
POLICY SHIFT Challenge global airlines to adopt Migration Rate Pricing, ensuring that refugees and migrant people worldwide are able to avoid the devastating ramifications of travel loan debt. This program is currently in incubation, with a public launch planned for the first quarter of 2018.
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FINANCIALS:
2017 FUNDING AT A GLANCE OPERATING BUDGET: $220,648 EXPENSES: $178,234
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A NOTE FROM OUR CFO: “Miry’s List has shown me the power of the collective good in people. And the inherent kindness that exists when people are given access to helping others.” -Dan Chang, Chief Financial Officer
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THE GREAT EQUALIZER:
FOOD RABIA’S HOMEMADE
AFGHAN LOLA KABOB Serves 4 | Prep Time: 10 min | Ready to eat in: 25 min This popular variety of Afghan kabob can be served with fries, vegetables, rice and spicy chutney.
INGREDIENTS 1 lb. ground beef 2 steamed or boiled potatoes, mashed 1 diced red or green pepper 2 eggs 2 cloves garlic
DIRECTIONS COOK beef, onion and garlic, dash of salt and small amount of water for 7 minutes. It shouldn’t be cooked completely. MIX together beef, mashed potatoes, and peppers. Add black pepper, salt, one egg, ground coriander, ground ginger, garam masala and flour to beef and potatoes mix.
1 medium onion 1 tbsp. ground black pepper 1 tbsp. ground coriander 1/3 tbsp. ground ginger 1/3 tbsp. garam masala
BLEND together with hands or in food processor or meat grinder until it makes a fine paste. MIX 1 egg in a bowl and use to coat your hands for making kebob.
1 tbsp. salt ¼ cup water ½ cup all purpose flour Oil for deep frying
ROLL small amounts of kabob mixture and roll it back and forth between your hands. Each kabob should be approx. 3in long and 1in wide. DEEP FRY kabobs, covered in oil in deep pan SERVE atop salad or rice with fries and enjoy!
Husna, 20, Family Services Director, Miry’s List. Afghanistan. Arrived Mar 2017 Photograph by Angie Smith
“Food is a way to show love as an action.” -Rachel Castillo, Supper Club attendee
I don’t stand before you. I don’t stand behind you. I stand beside you. You made this possible. Thank you for being huna for us.
Abdulbaset, 10 & Muhammad, 12. Homs, Syria. Arrived Nov 2016 Photograph by Danny Liao