This month features the Organization for Refugee and Immigrant Success (ORIS) located in Manchester, New Hampshire. In September, ORIS was officially renamed from the Somali Bantu Community Association of New Hampshire. Based upon an interview with the organization’s director, Mukhtar Idhow, this spotlight discusses this change and ORIS’ efforts to broaden the scope of refugee communities served by its mission and programs.
History and Context
ORIS was formed in 2006 as the Somali Bantu Community Association of New Hampshire. It was developed as a non-profit to help with the integration of Somali Bantu refugees arriving in Manchester during 2004 and 2005. However, in the last couple of years as new refugee populations with similar needs were resettled in Manchester in increased numbers, a voice from the community began to emerge about how to best assist them. As described by Mr. Idhow, the organization’s programs were receiving positive feedback, but its name was preventing refugees from other backgrounds in need of services to access them. As their funding from the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) was near expiration, the timing was ripe for change.
In December 2010, the organization received on-site technical assistance from Project SOAR on leadership, board recruitment, and skill development. Mr. Idhow reflects very positively on this training and its role in helping start and guide the name and organizational changes.
Recent Changes: New Name, New Board, New Direction
ORIS’ name change became official last month, after collaborating with many partners to decide upon an identity that would best reflect the new diversity of clients being resettled in Manchester and the organization’s openness to help them. The name ORIS gained approval by the board in August 2011. ORIS’ board structure, staff, and programs have also undergone significant transformations. Only two of the nine current board members served on the previous board. It presently includes Nepalese, Somali Bantu, Congolese, and American representatives from the health, legal, social service, business, and real estate sectors. As a result of this diversity, the board has public connections locally and on the state level. As noted by Mr. Idhow, this has had a valuable impact in fundraising, accessing trainings, connecting with community resources, and raising awareness about ORIS’ programs and services. The current board is currently working on strategic planning. As expressed by Mr. Idhow, this is the first time the board has thought about organized development in such a way. He also discussed that although previous members that no longer sit on the board were challenged by the changes at the beginning, they also understood that they were necessary steps for achieving the organization’s goals. Mr. Idhow emphasized that a clear organizational vision, time, communication, and community examples aided this process of transition. Additionally, previous board members still hold connections to the organization and hold meetings with the new board. In regards to staff diversity, ORIS now has Kenyan and American employees as well as Somali Bantu.
Expansion and Impact
In addition to working with clients from different backgrounds such as Iraqi and Bhutanese refugees, ORIS has also seen growth in the number of refugees that they are able to assist and types of programs they can offer. Mr. Idhow articulated that before the transformation, programs and services included case management, advocacy, job training, interpretation, and a small agricultural program. Amidst this period of growth, its agricultural program in particular has expanded and thrived, increasing its participants from 15 to 40 and staff members from 3 to 8. ORIS’ employment program has also progressed, resulting in over 80 people who have secured jobs. In regards to development, increased and diversified funding sources have broadened ORIS’ ability to serve its community. Such resourcefulness to secure funding from both corporations, such as the Bank of America, and federal grants reflects ORIS’ drive to assist the largest number of refugees possible it can reach and include in its programs.
Community Response
In response to these changes, Mr. Idhow expressed that the community of Manchester has been impressed with ORIS’ successes. He admits that they did not want to see the organization close their door once their ORR grant expired, and appreciate the many benefits that have resulted for not only the Somali Bantu but also other refugees facing similar challenges. Mr. Idhow articulated the importance of the community to ORIS and that together, they build upon and share their strengths. In this way, partnerships with other refugee leaders and community members have created opportunities to share programs and collaborate in assisting refugee communities in Manchester become self-sufficient.
The Somali Bantu community is very proud of the organization’s achievements and remains deeply connected. As articulated by Mr. Idhow, a sense of ownership and pride rests within the community regarding ORIS’ successful development and their role in starting the organization that has grown to help many other individuals and communities.
A Future of Inclusion
ORIS’ ability to envision and embrace the opportunity for change reflects their cohesion with the Manchester community and ability to adapt. As recounted by Mr. Idhow, they were able to listen to what the refugee community needed to grow and flourish, and take the further steps to follow through with the transition. To do this, they collaborated with many actors and resources and used collaboration, strategic planning, and technical assistance. For the future, Mr. Idhow hopes the organization can meet the challenges of refugees and immigrants, provide programs that make people happy, and welcome refugees from all different backgrounds. Simply stated, he wants ORIS to be successful in changing people’s lives. Although ORIS fulfilled this goal as the Somali Bantu Community Association of New Hampshire, the recent changes have allowed them to serve a wider group of refugees in need of their services. Such efforts strongly demonstrate the organization’s dedication to their work in refugee integration.
