Opportunities to Impact Your Immigrant Community

Technology Donations (and Bicycles, too!)

Volunteers from SFVI have started to collect gently used  laptops, ipads, tablets, cell phones and bikes for Afghans to make their  transition to life in the US easier.  

Our team will pick up your  donations and our IT volunteers will wipe and upgrade each item, if  necessary.

For questions about IILA volunteer work or technology donations, please contact:

Janet Elkins, Terry Herkner or Betty Carmona at  sfvindivisible@gmail.com

International Institute of Los Angeles (IILA)

Located just east of DTLA, IILA has been in existence since 1914.  

Originally established to assist women immigrants from Europe and Asia, it has grown to provide child care, transportation, immigration legal assistance and refugee services throughout SoCal.  

SFV has been working with the Institute to help resettle Afghan refugees in the Valley. All refugees have been vaccinated prior to arrival in the LA area, although for some it is still too soon for a booster. 

IILA is seeking volunteers for office work in a Covid-safe environment, and for socially distant assistance in connecting with Afghan families. 

For monetary donations, contact IILA directly:  www.iilosangeles.org 

MILES 4 MIGRANTS

Established in 2016, Miles4Migrants accepts donations of unused frequent flier miles and credit card mileage points to help refugees and asylum seekers to reunite with loved ones and reach safe homes.

This charity will also accept monetary donations and even cryptocurrency. Miles4Migrants is now assisting US government relocation efforts for Afghan refugees by providing flights from 8 military bases to arrival cities all over the country.

Make your donation at www.Miles4Migrants.org

This is a program founded by Judy Rutt, and is run in partnership with Temple Judea and Our Lady of Grace Church. The program assists immigrants who are eligible for the process of becoming US citizens.  This free program provides eligibility and application assistance, and classes with a mentor geared toward passing the citizenship test.  They are looking for volunteers to assist with the application process and mentors to teach immigrants. All mentoring activities are done on zoom, or in a Covid-safe, socially distant environment.

For information contact: Val Katz  sfvindivisible@gmail.com

SFVI’s priority for legislative advocacy is focused on passage of the VISION Act (AB937), which will be coming back to the CA state legislature sometime this spring.

***Our first action item will involve helping to secure 3 more Dem votes in the senate

***Our secondary action item will be aimed at reminding our local assembly members to support the legislation

We will let you know when the time is right to reach out, but until then you can familiarize yourself with the legislation here:  

VISION Act (AB937)

Key facts about parole, release, and the VISION Act (AB 937-Carrillo)

Should you have questions, or if you have contacts with the state senator and/or assembly member in your district, please contact:

Kathy Karlin sfvindivisible@gmail.com

Adelanto is operated by the GEO Group, a private prison corporation, contracted by ICE to imprison adult men and women.  

Although  Adelanto is currently closed to in-person visitation, and there are few  remaining detained persons left, this is nonetheless an excellent time  to sign up for training to become a Pen Pal or an Advocate. 

Advocates  will be trained to follow individual asylum seekers through the asylum  process, from securing paperwork, connecting with legal counsel to  obtaining resources upon release. 

Blanca Malpartida Girard will do the  training for both programs.

For info on the new Asylum Advocate program contact 

Kathy Karlin  sfvindivisible@gmail.com 

For info on the pen pal program contact 

Betty Carmona  sfvindivisible@gmail.com