Social Action
WJCI mobilizes congregations and individuals throughout the metro New York area with unique opportunities to support asylum seekers, refugees and other immigrants through various actions.
Ukrainian Crisis Response
Welcome Circles & Microgrants
To support resettlement efforts for newly arrived Ukrainians, WJCI has created a microgrant program with generous funding from UJA--Federation of New York, Jewish Federations of North Americas (JFNA), and The Shapiro Foundation. If you, your synagogue, or your community organization are interested in sponsoring a Ukrainian family fleeing war, please email info@wjci.org with your name, organization name (if any), and location. Learn more about our Microgrant Program here.
We are providing grants to newly formed and certified HIAS Welcome Circles and are even serving as your own personal Welcome Circle Liaison to guide you through best practices. For more information about getting involved, please see our one-sheet on Welcome Circles. If you have already formed a Welcome Circle and need help raising funds, apply for a microgrant here.
Resources
WJCI provides several educational and career resources for newly arrived Ukrainians. By working with local colleges and community partners, WJCI connects newly arrived Ukrainians to English tutors, career counselors, and SUNY Westchester Community College, so they can pursue educational and career opportunities here in the U.S.
If you are a newly arrived Ukrainian interested in English tutoring, contact us at info@wjci.org. to get connected with a tutor.
The Office of Admissions at SUNY Westchester Community College invites new Ukrainian arrivals for a tour of the campus and to sit in a class to see what the experience is like. Interested? Contact us, and we will connect you with admissions!
Community & Support Systems
Kitchen Table: Ukrainian Community Fellowship
If you are a recent arrival from Ukraine, Westchester Jewish Community Services will be offering a support group. Come and enjoy Ukrainian community fellowship in an informal, confidential, and warm setting. Get answers to your questions, exchange resources, find out how to handle challenging situations at school or at work.
To learn more, please review this resource (in both English and Ukrainian) which contains further details. Questions? Email Nataliya Trofort.
Join us for our monthly Abraham's Tent gatherings on Sundays at St. Michael's Ukrainian Catholic Church in Yonkers. Email info@wjci.org with questions. Stay tuned for future dates!
Дорогі друзі, долучайтеся до наших зібрань, які проводяться кожного місяця по неділях біля Палати Авраама в Українській Католицькій Церкві Св. Михаїла в Йонкерз. Надсилайте будь-які питання на нашу адресу електронної пошти: info@wjci.org. Слідкуйте за нашими повідомленнями з приводу майбутніх зустрічей!
Highlights of Previous Actions
Thank you to the members of UJA NY Larchmont Mamaroneck who made 183 Dignity Project bags for refugee women containing sanitary products. We are so grateful for partners like this!
Thank you to the 250+ people who came out for UJA Federation of NY's Annual Gift of Hanukkah event. They assembled and wrapped 500 kits filled with arts and craft supplies which will go to refugee children and teens in Westchester including clients of ReSET, Neighbors for Refugees, Congregation Sons of Israel Briarcliff Manor, and Open Arms for Refugees.
Thank you to Elena's Light for partnering with us on the Afghan Women's Circle! We have concluded our 5-week course and all attendees will continue working with their mentors to adjust to life in America.
Youth-Led Projects
We are so proud of our WJCI teen interns who formed and hosted the Ukrainian Teen Girls Group at JCC Mid-Westchester to do fun group activities and foster community amongst newly arrived refugees. We are so proud of this beautiful effort and can't wait for it to expand after the summer.
Thank you to these wonderful Mamaroneck High School students from Students for Refugees! They sorted and bagged donated groceries for Neighbors for Refugees families. SFR MHS did many other incredible things this year, including helping with the Afghan Women's Circle and starting a club for Ukrainian teen girls.
Kudos to Lulu from Westchester Jewish Center who made these welcome baskets full of essential items for a dozen newly arrived refugee families in and around Westchester as part of her Bnai Mitzvah Project.