Outspoken Allies of Immigrants, Refugees and BIPOC Communities in LA
About:
Immigrants, Refugees, Asylum seekers and BIPOC communities in Lewiston and Auburn Maine face multiple challenges and barriers in accessing crucial services such as Healthcare, Education, Housing, Food, and Economic Opportunities. this members of the community fled their countries of origin seeking better lives for themselves and their children. majority of them still face challenges here in the United States due to multiple factors ranging from limited English language skills, systemic discrimination, past traumas, cultural barriers and inability to navigate new systems.
There are many organizations and individuals who work with this communities to help them meet this needs, with this award AK Health and Social Services an immigrant lead organization in Lewiston and Auburn Maine that also serves the same communities recognizes the efforts and sacrifices this organizations and individuals make everyday to better the lives of the most vulnerable members amongst us.
Categories
1. Inclusivity
Awarded to organizations who make efforts to make their programs more welcoming to members of the immigrants, refugees, asylum seekers and BIPOC communities by adopting new approaches to make their work more accommodating to diverse cultures and religious backgrounds and languages.
2022 Inclusivity Awardee
The 2022 outspoken Allies-inclusivity is awarded to Safe Voices. in 2022 Safe Voices Executive Director took the extra step in collecting feedback from leaders of the immigrant communities in how to make their new office space on Lisbon St more welcoming to members from the immigrant and BIPOC communities in Lewiston and Auburn. Leaders were given access to the new building and their feedback was taken into consideration. it was notable that Safe voice reserved a space for prayers for Muslim participants in their new office space of Lisbon Street. Safe voices has also took the initiative to have welcoming messages in multiple languages for participants from different backgrounds. to make their programs more culturally appropriate they have also developed a strong partnership with Her Safety Net, an immigrant lead organization that has its mission aligns with that of Safe Voice
AK Health and Social Services recognizes safe voices for their willingness to create and inclusive environment for the Immigrants and BIPOC communities in LA.
2. Community Engagement
Awarded to individuals and organizations who engage with immigrants, refugees, asylum seekers and BIPOC communities through projects and programs that prove to have significant positive impact on the community.
2022 Community Engagement Awardee
The Harward center was created to connect Bates Students to the Lewiston Community to provide volunteer opportunity and to integrate students with the Lewiston Community. Darby Ray is recognized for her great leadership during the pandemic connecting students to the immigrant and BIPOC organizations in response to the disproportionate impact Covid-19 was having on this communities. Sudents were able to amplify the CDC social distancing guidelines in multiple languages to reduce the community wide spread of Covid-19. Under Darby’s leadership community organizations also had access to faculties such as Community Engaged Data classes to help with researching and Data analysis. Most of all through the Bates college volunteer program and work study program Community organizations with limited resources were able to have access to tremendous support from Darby’s Team.
3. Leadership
Awarded to individuals who show outstanding leadership skills that bring communities together and benefit the immigrant and BIPOC communities in Lewiston and Auburn Maine
2022 Outstanding Leadership Awardee
Abdikadir Abayle has been the mosque leader of Masjid Salaam Mosque in Lewiston Maine since 2008.
He is a man who thousands of the immigrants and BIPOC communities in Maine trust and listen to.
His initiative to encourage members of the immigrant communities in following the CDC social distancing guidelines and increasing Confidence in Covid-19 vaccines has saved lives. AK Health and Social Services recognizes his strong leadership throughout the Pandemic.
4. Outstanding New Initiatives
Awarded to individuals and organizations who implement new projects and programs that are promising to have a positive impacts on the Immigrants, refugees and BIPOC communities in Lewiston and Auburn Maine.
2022 Outstanding New Initiatives Awardee
Amina Hassan fouded her Safety Net to curb sexual assault, sexual trafficking, and Gender based violence against women and young girls in the immigrant communities in Lewiston and Auburn. Her Safety Nets work in such a short period of time shows an initiative that is promising to contribute to the Immigrant communities in Lewiston and Auburn Maine.