Rising Village Foundation

A huge THANK YOU to all of our amazing volunteers and supporters who showed up for last week’s arrival! ❤️

We had multiple Welcome Kits delivered to our office, an incredible group helping set up the apartment, and volunteers ready to greet our newest newcomers at the airport.

We couldn’t do this work without you. Thank you for helping make a new beginning feel a little more like home. Join us in welcoming more families and setting up apartments later this week!

Throwing it back to our very first refugee arrival! ✈️❤️

With new families arriving, this week has been a special opportunity to look back at the many airport arrivals we’ve shared over the past couple of years.

We’ve witnessed tears of joy as families are reunited after years apart. We’ve seen the sighs of relief from those who no longer have to wonder what comes next. And we’ve watched countless people walk through those airport gates and take their first steps into a new chapter.

There’s something incredibly special about being there to welcome someone on their first day in a new country. We’re honored to have the opportunity to be among the first to say, “Welcome. You’re safe. You’re home.”

We have apartments to set up—and we need your help! 📢

As refugee families begin arriving in Tulsa next week, we’re working quickly to prepare safe, welcoming homes for them.

Right now, we have an urgent need for Cleaning Kits, Bedding Kits, and Bathroom Kits.

All of our premade kits are available on our website and are easy to donate! These may seem like simple items, but they make a huge difference when a family walks through the door of their new home for the first time.

👉 Learn more and see what’s needed at risingvillage.org/welcome-kits

We’re excited to be welcoming refugees again!

After a year-long hiatus due to policy changes, Rising Village is excited to announce the renewal of our refugee resettlement partnership with World Relief. In just one week, we’ll welcome our first newcomer to Tulsa!

The renewal of this partnership allows us to once again take part in the important work of refugee resettlement. We’re excited to welcome newcomers at the airport, help prepare their homes, and walk alongside them as they begin building new lives here in Tulsa.

Resettlement is a community effort. We’re grateful for the people and organizations who have helped make this work possible in the past, and we’re excited to once again walk alongside our volunteers and community partners as we welcome new neighbors to Tulsa. We’re looking forward to seeing what we can accomplish together.

Join us in welcoming our newest neighbors!

Learn more and find ways to get involved at risingvillage.org

This week at the Rising Village! We love our people 🫶

June 20th is World Refugee Day. Our friends over at B'nai Emunah are putting on a World Refugee Day celebration!

It's a day to celebrate the strength, resilience, and courage of refugees around the world who have been forced to leave their homes and rebuild their lives elsewhere.

We're honored to know, serve, and learn from so many refugee families here in Tulsa. ❤️

Come join us!

For the past two years, Patricia and Luis Zuniga have been attending Conversation Café almost every week. Over that time they say the participants have become like family to them.

Conversation Café offers a laid-back opportunity for English learners to practice speaking with volunteers in a friendly environment. Volunteers and English learners gather to swap stories about everything from family to traffic in their home country, something that is crucial for people who are learning English.

A lot of the time that can be challenging to find though. “One of the biggest challenges we faced after coming to the United States was finding time to learn English.” Says Patricia. “Many classes are offered during the day, but when you're working, it's difficult to attend. Sometimes the classes were very structured or intimidating.”

Through Conversation Cafe, they found not only a way to practice English, but a way to be a part of a community. “I was incredibly grateful because I quickly realized that this experience was about much more than learning a language.” At Conversation Cafe, we talked about history, holidays, traditions, neighborhoods, and everyday life in the United States. I began to understand not only the language but also the culture. I was learning from others, but I was also able to share my own culture.” Says Patricia.

“The best part is feeling like I belong to a community.” Says Luis. “Everyone wants to feel like they are part of something. At Conversation Cafe, I feel that I belong. These people have become part of my life, and I know we hold a place in one another's hearts.

That is incredibly meaningful.”

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We are starting a new series called Village Voices, highlighting some of our amazing program participants and volunteers. Stay tuned for more stories from our amazing community!

We are excited to officially welcome Marissa Carter to our team as our Associate Executive Director!

Marissa has been serving alongside us in a part-time capacity for almost a year. As she steps into this new full-time role, we couldn't be more grateful! Marissa brings years of experience and a deep passion for serving others.

Since joining our team, she has already made an impact through her care for our clients, support for our staff and volunteers, and with her commitment to serving vulnerable people here in Tulsa. Whether she's helping meet a practical need or building meaningful relationships, Marissa is always ready to serve her community!

We're thrilled to have her and look forward to all that lies ahead. Join us in welcoming Marissa! 🎉

We love our RISE Director! Thanks for all you do Sydney!

For everybody wanting to attend our morning prayer gathering, they will be every other Thursday over the course of the summer. Come join us in sharing each other's burdens by gathering for prayer.