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Volunteer Opportunities: Supporting Immigrants & Refugees

February 6, 2017 · by · in

In response to growing anti-immigrant and anti-Muslim sentiments, many students have been seeking opportunities to volunteer in support of immigrants, refugees, and the Muslim community in New York City. Dr. Emily Welty, Chair of the Peace & Justice Department, has compiled the following list of organizations that are currently seeking volunteers and interns to support their work. Please visit the links below if you’d like to learn more about any of these organizations and what opportunities they provide to get involved.

African Communities Together

  • African Communities Together is an organization of African immigrants fighting for civil rights, opportunity, and a better life for our families here in the U.S. and back in Africa. ACT empowers African immigrants to integrate socially, get ahead economically, and engage civically. We connect African immigrants to critical services, help Africans develop as leaders, and organize our communities on the issues that matter.

Arab American Association of New York

  • Our mission is to support and empower the Arab Immigrant and Arab American community by providing services to help them adjust to their new home and become active members of society. Our aim is for families to achieve the ultimate goals of independence, productivity and stability. The Arab American Association of New York counts its volunteers and interns as one of its most valuable assets. Volunteers and interns can help in every aspect of what we do.

Arab American Family Support Center

  • The Arab-American Family Support Center empowers new immigrants with the tools they need to successfully acclimate to the world around them and become active participants in their communities.

Desis Rising Up and Moving

  • DRUM – South Asian Organizing Center (formerly Desis Rising Up and Moving) is a multigenerational, membership led organization of low-wage South Asian immigrant workers and youth in New York City. Our long-term vision is to build the power of immigrant workers in the U.S in unity with all workers and communities for human rights.

Families for Freedom

  • Founded in September 2002, Families for Freedom is a New York-based multi-ethnic human rights organization by and for families facing and fighting deportation. We are immigrant prisoners (detainees), former immigrant prisoners, their loved ones, or individuals at risk of deportation. We come from dozens of countries, across continents. FFF seeks to repeal the laws that are tearing apart our homes and neighborhoods; and to build the power of immigrant communities as communities of color, to provide a guiding voice in the growing movement for immigrant rights as human rights.

International Refugee Assistance Project

  • The International Refugee Assistance Project (IRAP) organizes law students and lawyers to develop and enforce a set of legal and human rights for refugees and displaced persons. Mobilizing direct legal aid and systemic policy advocacy, IRAP serves the world’s most persecuted individuals and empowers the next generation of human rights leaders.

International Rescue Committee

  • The mission of the IRC is to help people whose lives and livelihoods are shattered by conflict and disaster to survive, recover, and gain control of their future. With robust community support, refugees can acclimate quickly to their new environments. They go on to thrive and contribute to their communities, building careers, purchasing homes, and gaining citizenship – and you can help.

Make the Road NYC

  • Make the Road New York (MRNY) builds the power of Latino and working class communities to achieve dignity and justice through organizing, policy innovation, transformative education, and survival services. Make the Road New York carries out its mission through the hard work of our members, staff, interns and volunteers.

National Iranian American Council

  • NIAC Action is a grassroots, civic action organization which works to strengthen the Iranian-American community and promote greater understanding between the American and Iranian people. We depend on our members’ active volunteer involvement to fulfill NIAC Action’s mission to advance peace and champion the priorities of the Iranian-American community.

New York Immigration Coalition

  • The New York Immigration Coalition envisions a New York State that is stronger because all people are welcome, treated fairly, and given the chance to pursue their dreams.

No Ban USA

  • We are attorneys, translators, and other volunteers representing non-profit organizations, private firms, and passionate individuals across the country at international airports. Each airport team will have its own volunteer and support needs. If you are an attorney or other volunteer who would like to help, check the page of the airport you could serve at to find out how.