Summer Spectacular Celebration
Jun
22
3:00 PM15:00

Summer Spectacular Celebration

Join us for our annual celebration of World Refugee Day! This is an informal pizza and popsicle party and everyone is invited. Refugee families who are new to the area and those who have been here several years will be mingling with long-time residents.

Kids will have access to the park equipment and play fields so feel free to bring balls, lawn games, etc. We encourage folks to bring folding chairs and blankets and extra to share if you can.

Please RSVP using the button below so we can prepare to bring enough pizza and popsicles. Let us know if you can help with set up or clean up too!

When you sign up, we are also asking if anyone would be willing to bring drinks to share (no alcohol, please!) and if anyone can help give rides to refugee families without transportation. If you are interested in driving, we will follow up to get some documentation from you before approving you as a driver. We look forward to seeing you there!

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Thanksgiving Potluck
Dec
2
2:00 PM14:00

Thanksgiving Potluck

  • The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

All are invited to come celebrate this season of gratitude, welcoming our refugee neighbors into the community by sharing food and fellowship together.

Please sign up using the link below if you can attend, bring a dish to share, or help to drive a refugee family to the event. Drivers are a BIG need, as it is the families who struggle with transportation who need these social events the most!

Thank you for helping to make Washtenaw County a welcoming place!

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The Migrant and Refugee Crisis
Jun
11
3:00 PM15:00

The Migrant and Refugee Crisis

The Interfaith Round Table of Washtenaw County will hosting a panel and community conversation on Sunday, June 11 at Zion Lutheran Church (1501 West Liberty Street Ann Arbor, MI 48103.) Panelists will share who immigrants are, why they come to the U.S., what are their current needs during this antagonistic climate towards immigrants, how faith communities are responding to this need, and what our shared responsibility is to address the issue. Our very own Emmeline Weinert (Co-Founder & President of WRW) will be one of the panelists.

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Learn about refugee resettlement in Washtenaw County
Nov
17
6:00 PM18:00

Learn about refugee resettlement in Washtenaw County

  • Chelsea District Library - McKune Room (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

The Chelsea Human Rights Commission is pleased to present “Refugee Resettlement in Washtenaw County,” a panel discussion co-sponsored by the Chelsea District Library, Faith in Action and One World One Family. The event will be November 17, 2022 from 6-7.30 in the McKune Room of the Chelsea District Library. Enjoy international refreshments and learn about an important issue for our community.

This panel will focus on issues facing refugees in our area, including housing, transportation, employment and family well-being. Presenters will discuss the refugee resettlement process and ways in which Chelsea residents can be involved. Panelists include Mira Sussman, Resource Development Manager for Jewish Family Services, Duaa Aloqdeh of Jewish Family Services, and Joyce Deren from Washtenaw Refugee Welcome. The panel will be moderated by Susan Morrel-Samuels, Chair of the Human Rights Commission.

Questions in advance are encouraged and may be submitted by Nov. 14th to HRC@city-chelsea.org

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Day of Love
Feb
6
1:00 PM13:00

Day of Love

Valentine's Day is just around the corner, and though it may look different this year, WRW still wants to celebrate the love present in our community! We are asking volunteers to make baskets with valentine making supplies for our refugee families. Feel free to make multiple baskets if you’d like and remember to sign-up using our SignUp Genius page (in the email) to ensure each family gets a basket. These baskets can be a box or a bag, whichever you prefer. These baskets will be delivered to our local families that could use a little extra love this winter.

If you have any questions or need the SignUp Genius link, please contact Sarah Eklov-Monegan at wrwhospitality@gmail.com.

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Thanksgiving Celebration
Dec
6
5:00 PM17:00

Thanksgiving Celebration

We are excited to be having a community Thanksgiving Dinner again this year, our third annual! We are so thankful for the vibrant gifts that refugees bring to our community and for all the volunteers who help them feel at home here. This annual tradition with WRW is a great way to show our appreciation while introducing new Americans to one of our beloved holidays.

We hope that you will join us! Please RSVP to WRWHospitality@gmail.com by November 30th and let us know if you would like to bring a dish to share!

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WRW Taste of Ann Arbor Clean Up
Jun
2
9:00 AM09:00

WRW Taste of Ann Arbor Clean Up

Willing to do some dirty work to help raise money supporting refugees in our community?!

On June 2nd two blocks of Main Street, Ann Arbor will be closed to traffic for forty restaurants to sell samples of their food at Taste of Ann ArborMain Street Area Ann Arbor has offered Washtenaw Refugee Welcome a donation to handle trash at the event.

Our team of volunteers will be setting up trash receptacles, emptying them throughout the event, keeping Main Street clean, and clearing things away after the event. This is a big job, but we are happy to be undertaking it with the help of Recycle Ann Arbor.

We are looking for volunteers to help out. Closer to the event we will email out detailed instructions to those who sign up. This is a great group service activity for students, youth groups, families, etc. as you can enjoy the festivities before or after your shift! Volunteers should be able to be on their feet for a few hours with reasonable breaks, able to carry up to 20 lbs and willing to cart food waste (we will provide gloves, brooms, etc ). All of these times are flexible, so if a different time works for you or you have a group larger than allotted in a shift that is fine, please let us know and we will fit you in.

Thank you so much and don't hesitate to reach out with questions! wrwcommunications@gmail.com

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Valentine Making Party
Feb
9
5:30 PM17:30

Valentine Making Party

Valentine's Day is just around the corner! In celebration of this holiday about love and appreciation, WRW is hosting a Valentine card making party.

Refugees, WRW volunteers and any other community members are welcome to come and make Valentine cards together and celebrate the love we share.

Card making supplies, cookies, and beverages will be provided. Feel free to bring any craft supplies you would like to add.

Email WRWHospitality@gmail.com with questions.

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Oct
29
7:00 PM19:00

Volunteer Training

We're excited to announce that we are now an official 501c3 organization and are still doing work supporting refugees in Washtenaw County. Things have been quiet, but we're committed to keeping a ready-to-serve volunteer team to meet the needs of those resettled here in the last few years and stay prepared for future friends. 

We're hosting a volunteer training on Monday, October 29th from 7:00pm - 8:00pm. the training will be held upstairs at Zion Lutheran Church, 1501 W Liberty St. Ann Arbor, MI 48103.

All are welcome at this training, even if you've attended one of the Samaritas/JFS trainings in the past. This can be a good way to reconnect with WRW and get reengaged. If you have never attended a training or been background checked and you would like to have face to face contact with the families we work with, we do ask that you attend a training and complete a Michigan background check (see attached form. If the $10 is an impediment, please let us know). 

Please respond to wrwcommunications@gmail.com:

  • To RSVP for this training. 

  • If you would like to be trained, but this date doesn't work for you (so that we can gauge the need).  

  • If you've been trained in the past and would like to stay at the top of our list for volunteers. 

View background check information

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