THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!
Your support has helped JCIRA achieve even more this past year, helping us to provide vital resources and advocacy to immigrants and to strengthen bonds throughout our community. Your generosity has made an important difference to many people.
Here's Some of What happened at JCIRA in 2023
Since opening the JCIRA Multicultural Center in 2023, we’ve had an average of about 200 individual visits per month. Visits include people coming for events and classes, immigrants and allies asking for assistance, meetings, presentations, and other uses listed below. We’ve had to expand staff hours to cover the demand for services and programs.
Classes and programs at the Center
At a small satellite KIAC/JCIRA office
Access to trained Accredited Representatives for certain limited immigration legal assistance, through a partnership with Kitsap Immigrant Assistance Center (KIAC).
Presentations this year, at the Center and other locations
Accompaniment and Advocacy
Youth
Communications
With continued support, we hope to do even more in 2024.
Here's Some of What happened at JCIRA in 2023
Since opening the JCIRA Multicultural Center in 2023, we’ve had an average of about 200 individual visits per month. Visits include people coming for events and classes, immigrants and allies asking for assistance, meetings, presentations, and other uses listed below. We’ve had to expand staff hours to cover the demand for services and programs.
Classes and programs at the Center
- Drop-in hours for immigrants, potential volunteers, other organizations, and everyone. There are computers, wifi and printers available to visitors.
- English Learners (ESL) class and separate individual English tutoring/conversation pairs.
- Beginning and Intermediate Spanish classes.
- Women’s Justice Circle—bridging from personal friendship to community power.
- Meeting space for BIPOC/PGM and allied groups to meet/have events, including potlucks and parties.
- Legal Assistance and Family Support Fund (“JCIRA Fund”--direct grants, usually $500 to $1000 per year to individuals/families with urgent, immediate needs) ---$60,000+ provided in 2023.
- Kids’ corner developed by community adults and kids, including toys, books, seating, a mural and permanent PT Library collection of children’s books and stories about immigrants.
At a small satellite KIAC/JCIRA office
Access to trained Accredited Representatives for certain limited immigration legal assistance, through a partnership with Kitsap Immigrant Assistance Center (KIAC).
Presentations this year, at the Center and other locations
- Grand opening with proclamation by City Council, Port Townsend Police and Jefferson County Sheriff welcoming immigrants; over 200 people attended over 2 days.
- Healthcare Access for Immigrants: Open House at the Center with Jefferson Healthcare, the major healthcare provider in Jefferson County. Attendees could speak with a bilingual doctor or dentist, learn about getting a primary care provider, make appointments, and discuss availability of financial aid. Also included explanation of new WA legislative actions that will increase some healthcare access for undocumented and low- income patients. Over 50 immigrants attended.
- Bilingual presentation by North Olympic Health Networks about their medical clinic in Pt. Angeles-30 attendees.
- Two-session program with bilingual tax advisor on issues specific to immigrants /and persons with ITINS instead of SSN-8 attendees.
- Presentations about the WA Immigrant Relief Fund (WIRF) in Port Townsend and Sequim—about 30 attendees each.
- Presentation by a UW researcher about the extent of ICE and local law enforcement cooperation in Eastern WA-- about 30 attendees.
Accompaniment and Advocacy
- Spanish/English interpretation and accompanying of those interacting with service agencies in the area, building confidence to engage with the systems on their own behalf.
- Using our organizational clout to work with agencies to reduce barriers to services for undocumented and non-English speaking applicants.
- Having a presence on the board of OlyCAP, the largest social services organization in Jefferson Co.
- Working with WAISN, La Resistencia and other groups to promote immigrant-affirming legislation, closure of and/or improvements to existing conditions at the NW Detention Center.
- Lobbying state and federal legislators, corporations.
Youth
- Two high school students, one of Japanese descent and one Mexican, are doing their senior projects with JCIRA this year.
- Summer camp registration help/scholarships for children from immigrant families -22 children.
- Serving on the PT school District’s hiring committee for a new DEI staffer.
- School programs at all Jefferson County public schools and at the Center about immigration and other cultures, led by immigrants themselves—hundreds of students.
- Conducting annual workshops at the PT School District DEI training day for K-12 educators.
- A bilingual International Relations college student spent a six-week summer internship with us.
Communications
- Monthly newsletter to >1000 subscribers, now available in Spanish and English
- Website in English and increasingly, in Spanish
- Facebook pages in English and Spanish
- Bulk text messages (in Spanish and English) and bulk email blasts (mostly in English) about timely news, invitations, etc.
With continued support, we hope to do even more in 2024.