What is the Adopt-A-Family Program?
MYPI’s Adopt-A-Family Program is a resource for refugee families within the community and families who are in need of assistance. We uphold the value that helping the underprivileged is the responsibility of the local community and we aim to instill this in our youth by giving them the opportunity to live this value.
Our goals
Empower youth to be ambassadors of positive impact in their involvement of the Adopt a Family Program. The youth assist refugee families with making the transition to becoming self-sufficient and eventually get on their feet and integrate into the community.
Offer family assistance to our refugee families and community members in need.
Operate Hunger Relief efforts to families affected by Covid-19 crisis and help them put food on the table. This will be in collaboration with the Colorado Muslim Food Relief efforts that MYPI has been a part of since May 2020.
MYPI Adopt-A-Family Program ensures the refugee families within our community are supported and receiving the resources they are eligible for.
Our youth support the needy by giving back and empowering new community members.
Adopt a Family IMPACT Report
for Round 2022 - 2023
Adopt-A-Family Programs Impact
How You can Make an Impact
Meet the
Adopt-A-Family Team
Mina Hashem
Program Manager
Lailey Hashem
Project Coordinator | Refugee Integration Coordinator
Zainab Hashem
Project Manager
Reading Buddies | Tax Credit | Covid Education
Meena Ashraf
Project Coordinator
Youth Impact Leaders | Leadership Cohort | Digital Literacy
Swita Omar
Project Coordinator
Legal Services | Dari & Pashto
Dawud Marquez
Community Resource Officer
Quran, 76:8-9
“(The righteous are those) who feed the poor, the orphan and the captive for the love of God, saying: ‘We feed you for the sake of God Alone; we seek from you neither reward nor thanks.”
An interview with MYPI Youth Ambassador, Reda and his Assigned family
Adopt-a-Family Ambassadors
Who is the AAF Ambassador?
The Adopt a Family youth ambassador is the main point of contact for a refugee family to help ease their transition into the new community. Youth Ambassadors will focus on the refugee’s English acquisition, socialization of American Culture, guidance toward community resources, as well as integration into the local community. Commitment of 4-5 hours a month.
Duties/Responsibilities
Community Navigator
First point of contact for assigned refugee families
Help guide families towards community resources
Answer any questions
Respond/escalate any need requests to project coordinator or case manager
Outreach
Reaching out to community to create network for the adopt a family sponsorship
Coordinate assistance as needed
Coordinate family sponsorships
Assist in food drives, booths, fundraising, events, etc
Required Skills/Abilities:
Family Engagement
Coordinate activities with assigned families monthly
Build relationships
Build Trust
Monthly check-ins with assigned families
Education and Experience:
1 year of community engagement experience
Be in the age ranges or 14-26 (candidates under 18 years of age will need a parent to co-sign as well as attend all trainings)
Excellent verbal and written communication skills
Excellent interpersonal skills
Excellent time management skills
Ability to prioritize tasks and to delegate them when appropriate.
Bilingual (a plus)
Compensation:
Position is until June 2024
$500 Stipend at the end of term
** MYPI VIRTUAL READING BUDDIES **
Winter/Spring 2024
Reading Buddies Program
What & Why
Are you a Reader enthusiast and looking to empower other members of the community? Sign up to become a Virtual Reading Buddy Volunteer and mentor!
What: The “I Have A Dream” Foundation of Boulder County (IHDF) and the Muslim Youth For Positive Impact (MYPI) organization are excited to renew a reading buddy partnership. We are looking for volunteers ages 16+ to become Reading Buddies and empower youth. The volunteers will be paired with Elementary Aged students in grades k-6.
Why: The purpose of this partnership is to connect Afghan refugee students who recently arrived in the United States with more exposure to the English language through conversation and read-alouds. This program is an opportunity for you as a youth to develop your leadership skills, reading skills, and cultural awareness and appreciation. Additionally, this program will allow you as a volunteer to integrate your volunteering skills and develop a love for community engagement.
As a volunteer you will be required to attend a Diversity, Equity & Inclusion training to learn more about Afghan culture and customs, and important information to guide your reading buddy sessions.
How
Once you sign up you will be paired with a local student of the same gender and your preferred age group to read to them One or Twice a week for 30 minutes sessions (the number of times per week is based on your interest). During the sessions you are expected to engage in a brief exchange of greeting, and check in, then introduce the book, topic you are reading. You will then engage in at least 20 minutes reading session and possibly engage the student/mentee with a conversation about what you had read to them. (keep it fun and light. This is not an assessment but rather an opportunity for your mentee to develop language skills and confidence in expressing themselves in English).
The reading sessions run for 30 minutes either from 5:00-5:30 PM or 5:30-6:00 PM on days you select Monday-Thursday.
Where & When
Where: These reading buddy sessions will take place remotely. Our preferred tool will be zoom or Whatsapp video chat. (Once you are matched with a student, you will receive their contact info to schedule the sessions and begin the program).
When: We are asking that you select your most preferred day and time to read with your buddy. Please select your most available times and days and NOTE that you can have more than one mentee/student to read with if you choose to. The program will run Monday through Thursday between 5:00-6:00 pm for a 30 minutes session. More details in the questions below!
INDEED our COMMUNITY Needs YOU!
Be Part Of The Impact!
If you have any questions, please email: adoptafamily@mypi.org contact@mypi.org
Legal Clinic Program Volunteers
AAF- Legal Clinic Volunteers
We are currently seeking committed high school / college youth with experience or interest in the legal field.
WHAT: Support the Muslim Community with Legal Immigration support. This is a volunteer position and training will be available. Amazing experience
WHO: Enthusiasts and interested youth to help run legal clinics and workshops related to immigration law.
HOW: up to 5 hours / week support to run workshops, clinics and legal support to the legal team
Priorities are given to youth who are already in the field of law or wanting to get into that field so they get that exposure and experience. But do not hesitate to apply if you are passionate and interested in helping and learning.
Clinics will be on Saturdays beginning in May (1st clinic is scheduled for Sat, May 13th)
Registration is Closed Check back in March for more info
Food Drives
Food Drives in partnership with Colorado Muslim Food Relief
MYPI’s Adopt-A-Family has been working with other local organizations to provide our community with monthly food drive-ups. These food drive-ups help in different locations around the Denver Metro Area. MYPI has been able to help hundreds of family get access to groceries with these Food Drives.
Family Assistance
Some needs we have met…
Some Answers from MYPI Family Assistance Applications. Thanks to all our donors for enabling us to help meet these needs.
what is it?
Do you know anybody who may be facing financial hardships or currently struggling to make ends meet? MYPI's Adopt-A-Family program is proud to present our Family Assistance Application. This application is open to all community members who may currently be struggling to buy groceries, paying bills, or may be facing any other financial hardship. If you or anybody you know may currently be in this situation, please apply at MYPI's Family Assistance Application.
MYPI’s Family Assistance has helped a number of families within our community get immediate financial assistance. We have been able to assist families with grocery assistance, rent assistance, utility bills, etc. MYPI is here to assist in any way we can for our community.
Interested in sponsoring a refugee family in our community?
What is it?
MYPI's Adopt-A-Family Program is in full swing and the youth have met their families. We are so proud of our youth providing support for the needy families in our community. Help our youth support their families; we are taking applications for monthly sponsorships for the families in need within our own community. All our families are identified through our partnership with the International Rescue Committee (IRC).
Apply to be a sponsor today and help a family in need.
Interested in Becoming a Foster Family for the currently unaccompanied minors among the recent Afghan Refugee arrivals?
Information Session on how one can become a foster family. Please email adoptafamily@mypi.org if you have questions.
MYPI not only helps refugee families in our community but all community members as well with the Family Assistance Application which is open to all of the community. Family Assistance is available to help any community members in dire need of assistance with food relief, housing, utility bills, or any miscellaneous bills. Due to the effects of COVID-19 we moved this project up from our initial plan of 2021 and we have added a Hunger Relief- COVID-19. MYPI has partnered with Colorado Muslim Food Relief and is holding a number of food drive-ups for those who need assistance throughout the year.