Programs

We work to serve and equip refugees from all parts of the globe who have resettled in the Dallas, Texas area. Through our efforts we seek to be a friend, teacher and a voice to the refugee community. We engage refugees through collaboration with local and international refugee agencies. Along with these relationships it is our mission to facilitate personal, long-lasting and authentic connections between FCI volunteers and those who have fled conflict zones.

*For more information email contact@freecity.org or call 214.295.5504

Refugee Mentorship

We work to empower refugees to rebuild their lives, restore their sense of dignity, and fully participate in their new communities by connecting American volunteers to refugee individuals and families. Read More

Download Refugee Mentor Handbook

Effective mentors reflect an attitude of openness and accessibility. You want your refugee friends to feel they can ask you questions and that you will treat their beliefs and concern with respect. This relationship building is especially significant because you provide the invaluable friendship and trustworthy moral support that a newcomer needs.

Some of the things you will do as a mentor/mentor team member are:

  • Attend the Mentor Training Workshop
  • Complete the application process
  • Attend additional equipping/training classes (optional)
  • Determine the amount of time you can commit to your refugee family each week
  • Learn about and respect the home culture of your refugee friend/family
  • Learn a "travel-amount" of the heart language of your refugee family
  • Be a Friend
  • Be a Teacher
  • Be an agent of peace and an advocate for justice

As refugees arrive in the United States, there are varying degrees of needs ranging from job training, to English skills, to simple acclimation to American culture. There are key competencies that each refugee needs to learn.

You can help by:

  • Inviting your refugee friend or family over for dinnerInviting your refugee friend or family over for dinner
  • Teaching the family about minor household repairs
  • Helping the adults practice driving
  • Taking the family to a local clothes closet
  • Initiating a furniture/household supply drive through your work, civic group or church
  • Showing them how to child proof their home and identify safety hazards
  • Helping them with the process of buying a car
  • Read a book together. Let the mentee select the book (if his/her English is not very good use a children's book - after all, that how we all learned to read!)
  • Talk about different careers or attend a local job fair together
  • Go to the park together
  • Talk about educational opportunities
  • Teach him/her how to cook American meals; have him/her teach you how to cook some of their traditional foods
  • Complete job applications; talk about the differences in American job places and those of their home country
  • Play a board game
  • Discuss finances and paying bills - help him/her create a budget
  • Visit a local museum
  • Go to the library
  • Take him/her to your office, give them a tour and show them what you do
  • Go to the movies
  • Explore other cultures at attending a concert, a fair or eating at an ethnic restaurant
  • Take a tour of the city
  • Spend time together and talk

Expectations

  • FCI training session.
  • 2 hours per week personal involvement.
  • Commitment to be respectful and loving to all people regardless race, gender, religion or age

Successful Entry Program (SEP)

The SEP works to equip refugees by educating them on specific topics related to health, education, business, financial literacy, and conflict resolution. Read More

Download SEP Workbook (coming soon)

Education is one of the key elements for successfully navigating and adapting to American culture. What is more, understanding how to interact with and in the American system will bring each participant in the SEP to a high-functioning level of social and cultural competence. The SEP is an annual series of mentored workshops taught on a monthly basis over the period of ten months. Each SEP workshop is taught by an active professional in their related field of expertise and is designed for both the refugee and their FCI volunteer mentor to attend together.

Health, education, business, financial literacy and conflict resolution, once combined over a ten month period, taught by active professionals, and tutored by personal mentors will equip each determined refugee to successfully navigate their new life in the United States.

Workshops: (See Event Calendar for exact dates.)

  • Health
  • Workshop 1
  • Workshop 2
  • Education
  • Workshop 3
  • Workshop 4
  • Business
  • Workshop 5
  • Workshop 6
  • Financial literacy
  • Workshop 7
  • Workshop 8
  • Conflict Resolution
  • Workshop 9
  • Workshop 10

*This project is currently in its planning phase. If you would like to volunteer your time and skills for this project please contact Jonathon Phillippe at jcp@freecity.org

Unaccompanied Refugee Minor Mentorship

We have partnered with Catholic Charities Fort Worth in order to mentor refugee minors in foster care with a goal of providing a safe, nurturing, and culturally sensitive environment that equips and empowers them to reach their full potential. Read More

This is an amazing opportunity to cultivate a relationship by helping refugee youth with their studies, social life and by simply pouring into them for the sake of their future.

Services are designed to meet the needs of each unaccompanied refugee minor (URM) and may include tutoring, mentoring, independent living skills, cultural activities, legal assistance, mental health services, intensive case management and education/ESL classes. These youth are usually 15-17 years old and are in very vulnerable situations. As you can imagine, their stories of survival can be painful to hear, yet they are full of faith and determination.

Please consider what part you can play in helping these children.

Free City Football League (FCFL)

Sudan, Iraq, Burma, Nepal, and Congo. These are just a few of the countries that will be represented in the FCFL. Connect with guys from all corners of the globe through the game of soccer as we seek to create community with those who have found refuge in our back yard. Read More

The FCFL provides a chance for Americans in the Dallas area to respectfully engage refugees and internationals through the mutual interaction that transpires through the game of soccer. During the FCFL refugees are engaged through a non-aid giving platform that affords for social and cultural interaction with U.S. nationals. As was reported in the New York Times article: Where Refugees find a Place to Fit In, "soccer has since become a critical assimilation tool" in regard to refugees beginning to feel at home in the U.S. and connecting with Americans and people from other cultures.

1 Where Refugees find a Place to Fit In, NYTimes.com
By FERNANDA SANTOS Published: October 21, 2006

Goals

  • Build personal connections between volunteers and refugees
  • Create a common ground where community can naturally flourish
  • Foster positive social and cultural activities for refugees
  • Create a sense of belonging for refugees
  • Provide opportunities for teams to serve the community together

Expectations

  • Commitment to the entirety of the league (Each game)
  • Commit to game and team time being a personal priority
  • Take an active role in building friendships with fellow team members
  • Actively search for ways to serve others
  • Desire to understand and learn from people with different cultures, traditions, beliefs and values.

Needs

  • Players: Men, ages 15 - 40
  • Fans: Friends and family are all welcome, community groups encouraged to adopt a team, serve refreshments and cheer for them every week.
  • Referees: If you are a soccer referee or have had some experience and would like to donate your talents please contact us.

Details

  • 10-week league including play-off games.
  • Cost: $50 per American player - there is no cost per refugee player.The fee provides a jersey for each American and a refugee/international teammate. Fee is to be paid online on the donation page (Select "FCFL" when submitting your donation.)
  • League set to being in early spring of 2012

Dates/Location

  • 04.21.2012 - 06.16.2012
  • Anderson Bonner Park
    12700 Park Central drive
    Dallas, TX 75251 (behind Watermark Church) See Map

Winter Clothing Drive

Every fall FCI partners with the local community in order to collect new or gently worn winter clothing. Due to the fact that most refugees are originally from warmer climates and that most arrive a little more than the clothes on their back, it is imperative that the community at-large assist these new Americans as the season turns cold. Check the Events calendar, The Briefing or simply send us an email to find out how you can help keep refugees warm this winter.