Community Partner : ERICA – Episcopal Refugee and Immigrant Center Alliance Intern : Shiaomeng Tse Site Supervisor : Betty Symington
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 immigrationrelated legal fees to smooth the journey to stability in the US .
• Organized and processed information from ERICA ’ s annual fundraising event
• Completed an employment workshop for residents of ERICA ’ s new housing program at Gilead House
• Helped provide services and assistance to ERICA clients
• Connected with The Intercultural Counseling Connection and helped with the formation of a new Mother-and-Baby Bonding and Support Group
" Coming into ERICA , I was excited to experience intimate , one-on-one work with clients and what it would be like to work for such a small NGO ( with a part-time executive director being the only employee ). However , little did I know that I would experience and learn much more than what I initially thought . Working with Betty , my supervisor and executive director of ERICA , was an incredible experience . I was able to witness the empathy she had for every one of her clients , the frustration she experienced with the sluggishness and barriers that the system presented , and the passion she had for her work . She was truly inspiring and made me realize that every effort , no matter how small , counted . Although I was able to assist Betty with some client work , my main goal for this summer was to create an employment workshop for a new housing project , at Gilead House in Pikesville , that ERICA is working on . Many of the future residents at Gilead House are asylees or asylum seekers who have not had any work experience in the United States . This employment workshop would introduce them to many aspects of employment in the U . S ., the intricacies of the system , and how they can best navigate their way around with their statuses . Although it was interesting learning about the immigration system in the U . S ., it was also frustrating at times . Many resources are made mainly for U . S . citizens and people who are on a path to citizenship , so it ’ s difficult to find a lot of detailed information for people who are refugees , asylees , asylum seekers , and of similar statuses . During my time at ERICA , Betty was also able to connect me with another organization , The Intercultural Counseling Connection , which provides free mental health services to refugees , asylum seekers , and other forced migrants . I was able to help create a new mother-and-baby bonding and support group for mothers and babies who have gone through trauma . Working with ERICA and The Connection has opened my eyes to the importance of small NGOs . Although larger NGOs have more leverage and funding , smaller NGOs are able to reach out directly into the community to connect people of similar statuses and backgrounds . The foundation that they provide for a new family of people from around the world is incredibly heart-warming and I feel very grateful that I was able to be a part of it this summer ." -Shiaomeng
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