"Getting Things Done" for Arizona All writing and design by Kyle Lundberg

March 12, 2024 Share Facebook LinkedIn Email Education Forward Arizona’s AdviseAZ program is funded by an AmeriCorps grant. AmeriCorps is a federally funded commitment to strengthening communities through volunteer service. Signed into law by President Bi

Refugee women from around the world sit in a small, underground conference room at Refugee Focus in Phoenix, AZ. They’ve gathered to learn how to be effective leaders in their various communities. The women have been invited to participate in a brand new leadership development program hosted by the Women’s Empowerment Program at Refugee Focus.

Over the past month, Refugee Focus has had the privilege of hosting two events to help the community orient itself toward issues relating to refugee resettlement. The first event was a rotatable discussion from the Department of Homeland Security. On Monday, Dec. 21, law enforcement officials from across the region gathered to discuss how they could better serve the refugee community.

Refugee Focus was able to bless nearly 350 newly arrived refugees with Christmas gifts this year. Our families were overjoyed to receive such a warm welcome for their first December in the United States. We were able to give to these families thanks to the charitable support of church sponsors, community partners and individual donors.

Refugee Focus received more than $4,000 of donated funds and items from Servicemaster. Each year, Servicemaster, which operates several brands including Merry Maids, American Home Shields and Terminix, participates in a service activity. This year, Servicemaster’s Terminix office in Glendale decided to use their service activity to help refugees.

Splashing, dancing, barbecue and free swag were the name of the game at a community event hosted by Refugee Focus at the Biltmore Pointe apartment complex Friday, July 24. The event coincided with the Refugee Focus summer program’s Friday swim class. Throughout the summer, refugee kids have been learning swimming techniques and water safety from professional swimmers, courtesy of the Pitchfork Aquatics Learn to Swim program.

In this blog series, we’re highlighting the refugees, volunteers and community partners who will be given awards at Refugee Focus’s World Refugee Day event on Friday, Jun. 19 at 4 p.m. Join us Friday as we celebrate! When Haseeba Baseer reflects on her experience as a refugee, the word “Arizo” comes to mind.

In this blog series, we’re highlighting the refugees, volunteers and community partners who will be given awards at Refugee Focus’s World Refugee Day event on Friday, Jun. 19 at 4 p.m. Check back this week to hear about our other award recipients. Before arriving in the U.S. at age 17, Dikula Poudyel spent her entire life in a refugee camp.

In this blog series, we’re highlighting the refugees, volunteers and community partners who will be given awards at Refugee Focus’s World Refugee Day event on Friday, Jun. 19 at 4 p.m. This post highlights a refugee family. Check back this week to hear about our other award recipients. The Ntezeyombi household is a busy place.

In this blog series, we’re highlighting the refugees, volunteers and community partners who will be given awards at Refugee Focus’s World Refugee Day event on Friday, Jun. 19 at 4 p.m. This post highlights our community partner of the year. Check back over the next week to hear about our other award recipients.

In this blog series, we’re highlighting the refugees, volunteers and community partners who will be given awards at Refugee Focus’s World Refugee Day event on Friday, Jun. 19 at 4 p.m. The first in the series is focusing on our volunteer of the year. Check back over the next week to hear about our four other award recipients.

Use: Money would go into general fund, though council members say it will be used for public safety. Facing cheers from supporters and jeers from critics, the San Jacinto City Council has agreed to put a 5 percent tax on utilities on a special mail-in ballot in May. The tax is expected to raise about $3.8 million for the city annually.

Trash talking. Taunting. Chest-thumping. All have become an unwelcome part of sporting competitions. “Anyone who’s been involved with sports knows that sometimes it’s less than polite,” said Gigi Johnson, one of the hosts for a FIRST Tech Challenge robotics competition held Monday at West Valley High School in Hemet.

The Hemet man recalls leaving home to explore the world around him, even as a toddler growing up in Orange County. “I remember ending up in a police car and being driven home,” he said. “My mom was frantic, but I didn’t think it was wrong to want to see the world!”. Williams’ restless, wandering spirit recently led him to take a spiritual pilgrimage in Shikoku, Japan.

Ismael “Smokey” Pando saw Hemet go through a lot of changes in more than three decades of working for the city. “We always had more work than we had money for,” said the senior engineering inspector, who retired Aug. 28 after nearly 34 years. “We tried to get the most bang for our buck.”. Pando looks back on his years fondly.