The ERICA office is just one room with three desks . There ’ s one desk for each of the staff members and one desk for me . As far as nonprofits go , ERICA is tiny . But being in that office for the last eight weeks meant that I was a first-hand witness to the enormous impact ERICA has on the lives of refugees and asylum seekers in Baltimore . It meant that whenever participants would come in and meet with Betty , ERICA ’ s executive director , about everything from their application for asylum to their search for a job , I was there . It meant that at any point during the day I could have a conversation with my other supervisor , Zayid , about anything ranging from the progress of my work to the wording of an email to political issues regarding immigration and refugees in the United States . It meant that I developed a new perspective and a profound appreciation for the work that Betty and Zayid do , and a sense of gratefulness that I got to witness and be a part of it .
One thing that stood out to me this summer was that the participants I talked to all mentioned the importance of the personal connections they forged with others through working with ERICA . One man told me about how in the aftermath of the travel ban in early 2017 , he was feeling unwelcome and scared he would never see his mother again . But after he told his story at a march organized by ERICA , he was met with an outpouring of support . People came up to him and told him that they loved his speech , that they were happy he was here , and that they were there for him . He said that this was one of the first times he felt welcome in the US , and it helped him start to feel like this was his home . Another man told me how the thing he was most grateful for was the social support he got from ERICA volunteers , who did things like take him shopping , invite him over for dinner , and bring him to a game at Camden Yards . There is a lot I ’ m going to take away from my summer working at ERICA . It was an incredible experience , and I ’ m leaving my placement feeling more motivated and passionate than ever . But the thing that has stuck with me the most throughout the entire eight weeks and the biggest thing I ’ m going to take away is that when you ’ re trying to make a difference , one of the easiest but most important things you can do is show someone that you care .
• Helped plan and organize ERICA ’ s annual fundraising event
• Helped develop ERICA ’ s social media presence and manage its social media accounts
• Conducted interviews with program participants and volunteers in order to evaluate ERICA ’ s volunteer program
• Recommended new procedures and worked to develop a new volunteer management strategy
Community Partner : ERICA - Episcopal Refugee and Immigrant Center Alliance Intern : Ted Oh Site Supervisor : Zayid Douglas
What is ERICA ? ERICA honors and ministers to the dignity of our brothers and sisters fleeing oppression , persecution , and poverty in other countries . We pledge to provide immediate , practical , and material assistance to refugees , asylum seekers , and other immigrants , regardless of race , religion , or language ; partner with other civic , community , and faith groups to provide direct services such as casework , educational workshops , and referrals for legal assistance , healthcare , and housing ; empower the refugee community ; connect volunteers and civic leaders with refugees and other immigrants ; and provide small grants and zero interest loans for immigration-related legal fees to smooth the journey to stability in the US .
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