Supporting Immigrants and Refugees

SNJM’s Immigrant and Refugee Fund was established in 2019 to support organizations that directly serve people who live outside their country of origin or have been displaced within their country. On an annual basis, Sisters establish partnerships with organizations to find effective ways to provide resources for migrants and refugees.

Adelante Mujeres

Adelante Mujeres, which translates to “Women Rise Up,” was founded in Oregon in 2002 to serve under-represented communities. The organization’s first adult education program, led by Bridget Cooke and Sister Barbara Raymond, “formed a group that could talk about what they had really always wanted to do, but had never had the opportunity,” said Sister Barbara. That became a theme of Adelante Mujeres work: listening to the aspirations of passionate women and building programs and services to support their efforts.

Approximately 98% of participants in Adelante Mujeres’s programs are low or extremely low-income and an estimated 91% are first-generation immigrants. The “Casa Qui” program and storefront helps Latine women-owned businesses meet capital and financial requirements to enter the market. The “CHICAS” program served over 600 young people in 2024, providing after-school programs, field trips and summer camps.

SNJM’s grant supports Adelante Mujeres’s Leadership and Advocacy programs, including their “Immigration Academy,” which educates participants on immigration policies affecting their communities.

Through education, entrepreneurship and advocacy, Adelante Mujeres continues to create opportunities for Latine women and youth, empowering them to lead and shape a more inclusive community.

Immigrant Resources and Immediate Support (IRIS)

Bellingham, Washington’s Immigrant Resources and Immediate Support (IRIS) provides immediate assistance to immigrants and refugees experiencing a temporary period of crisis. The organization works to get assistance to families as quickly as possible, cutting through the red tape that immigrants often experience attaining resources. Sister Susan Wells, a member of the SNJM Congregational Leadership Team, is a member of the IRIS Advisory Board. “IRIS is unique in that we respond very quickly to urgent situations and provide low-barrier access to support services,” she said.

SNJM’s grant will assist in funding this critical work. IRIS plays a significant role in the network of community services that respect the human dignity of all members of the Skagit and Whatcom County communities. Sister Susan summarized, “The SNJM investment in IRIS has had a tremendous direct impact on the lives of so many immigrants and refugees who often have nowhere else to turn for support.”