Engaging Newcomer and Immigrant Populations in Volunteerism and Community Strengthening Miriam Vargas Volunteer Cory Armstrong-Hoss Associate Executive and Director of Evaluation YMCA of SNOHOMISH COUNTY Andrea Lee, Project Manager, Social Responsibility Initiatives YMCA of the USA

Why the Y? We believe that communities are strongest when everyone has an opportunity to work together on a shared community vision through volunteerism. We believe that social cohesion and a collective sense of responsibility develops from inviting people from different walks of life to volunteer together. The Y engages 9 million youth and 13 million adults each year in 10,000 communities around the U.S. Our history: the nation’s first-known ESL class was held for German immigrants in 1856 at a YMCA in Cincinnati.

Who is in our community? Mapping Immigrant America Search: ‘immigrant dot map’ http://personal.tcu.edu/kylewalker/immigrant-america/

The Community Surrounding the Mukilteo Family YMCA: Median Income

The Community Surrounding the Mukilteo Family YMCA: Hispanic Population

Getting to know newcomer communities in your area: Conduct a Community Inventory

This is about them, not you Listen to and learn what your target community needs. Offer to work with them toward something they need. Your leader needs to interact with the community frequently – not just in meetings. Over time, their leaders will emerge and be apparent.

Miriam’s GED class

Minerva

Leadership: invest and stick around Invest in the community – and demonstrate this. Know names and their children’s names. Share your life. Trust and credibility take time to build. Your org’s leaders must stick around for awhile. Developing these productive relationships can’t happen in 6-12 months.

Embajadores (Advisors)

DOING WITH, not to After identifying needs and a few leaders, find out how to regularly engage. Learn more: what is your group excited about? How would they like to serve their community? Where do those desires overlap with your mission and programs? Discuss: What could we do together? Who do we need to be successful? Decide as a group the best way to communicate and share responsibility. After programs or events, talk with your volunteers about how it went.

Spanish language swim lessons

Volunteer Leadership Structure and Identity: Take it Slow Don’t force your organization’s traditional roles and meeting structures on volunteers. Use care when asking someone to serve in a formal or ‘gate-keeping’ role. Allow the volunteer group to discover its own identity.

Kermes 2016

Kermes 2017

Volunteers of the Year

Thank You! MIRIAM VARGAS, YMCA OF SNOHOMISH COUNTY CORY ARMSTRONG-HOSS, YMCA of SNOHOMISH COUNTY ANDREA LEE, YMCA OF THE USA