Living the Mission Mentorship and Support Group Program
The Mentorship and Support Group Program enables skilled immigrants, refugees, and asylees to develop and practice essential skills that support professional integration. More than 35 staff volunteered to organize the program and serve as mentors for 30 mentees. WES volunteers worked with mentees to develop professional goals, find employment opportunities commensurate with their experience and education, craft résumés, network, and prepare for job interviews. As a result, mentees have been able to find jobs in their field or continue their education. WES volunteers worked in partnership with the Andrew Romay New Immigrant Center.
Living the Mission Stories of Immigrants
The Stories of Immigrants project brought together more than 30 WES staff who volunteered to find, interview, record, and publicize immigrants’ stories of struggle and perseverance in the U.S. After more than a year, volunteers’ efforts culminated with a screening event at the Tenement Museum in New York where WES staff and guests were invited to view the final videos. Immigrant storytellers hailed from various countries such as Venezuela, Colombia, Italy, and Russia, but they all had one thing in common, their desire to live the American dream.