Nah We Yone – a grassroots community‐based organization in New York City: successes, challenges, and lessons learned

Abstract

Purpose -This paper aims to discuss the development of a unique, grassroots, community-based organization, Nah We Yone (NWY), designed specifically to provide support to African refugees and asylum seekers, with a history of refugee trauma, war, and human rights abuses, who have fled to the New York City area.Design/methodology/approach -The paper reviews the background to, the challenges faced and the services available at NWY.Findings -Described in this paper are the rationale for developing this type of organization; specific programs designed to promote well-being; and various challenges faced and lessons learned, while offering an alternate type of therapeutic intervention.Practical implications -NWY demonstrates the importance of drawing on cultural and community strengths and resilience when using limited resources to serve traumatized and displaced peoples who are struggling to adjust to a new cultural setting.Originality/value -This paper seeks to contribute to the literature on culturally informed therapeutic interventions developed by community-based organizations to enhance well being in forced migrants.

Health-related integration interventions for migrants by civil society organizations: an integrative review

“…13 articles have been identified that describe 12 different interventions or initiatives. The articles included four qualitative case studies (Birman et al, 2008 ; Dhillon et al, 2020 ; Rich et al, 2015 ; Spaaij, 2012 ), four interventions presented as practice examples (Akinsulure-Smith & Jones, 2011 ; Gonzalez et al, 2012 ; Hála, 2017 ; Whitley & Gould, 2011 ), three programme evaluations (Gerber et al, 2017 ; Hashimoto-Govindasamy & Rose, 2011 ; Whitley et al, 2016 ), one conceptual paper that used an intervention programme as a clarifying example (Mwanri et al, 2012 ) and one exploratory study describing different programmes (Block & Gibbs, 2017 ).…”

“…The interventions comprised four sports-based programmes (Block & Gibbs, 2017 ; Rich et al, 2015 ; Spaaij, 2012 ; Whitley et al, 2016 /Whitley & Gould, 2011 ), two support services (Birman et al, 2008 ; Gonzalez et al, 2012 ), one exercise programme that added to a broader resettlement support programme (Hashimoto-Govindasamy & Rose, 2011 ), two programmes aiming for support through physical activity (Dhillon et al, 2020 ; Gerber et al, 2017 ) and three comprehensive programmes covering different areas of intervention. The first comprehensive programmes included a detainee-support programme, therapeutic programmes, an internship programme, educational services and training as well as advocacy (Akinsulure-Smith & Jones, 2011 ). The second comprehensive programme included activities and programmes concerning health, education, employment and training, family values, family, gender roles and women, housing, identity and integration, law, policy and social order, leadership and governance, as well as participation in local government (Mwanri et al, 2012 ).…”

Displaced African Female Survivors of Conflict-Related Sexual Violence

“…An example of this is NWY, a grassroots, community-based organization that offered "Therapeutic Outings." Through community brunches and other activities, NWY's clinical staff incorporated community and culture into clinical work and provided much-needed therapeutic services (Akinsulure- Smith et al, 2009;Akinsulure-Smith & Jones, 2011).…”

“…in the metropolitan New York area from 1997 to 2010 (Akinsulure- Smith et al, 2009;Akinsulure-Smith & Jones, 2011).…”

“…PSOT offers an integrated, multidisciplinary treatment approach to individuals and families subjected to human rights abuses, social and civil unrest, armed conflict, and refugee trauma (Akinsulure- . NWY, a community-based, grassroots organization, served forced African migrants in the metropolitan New York area from 1997 to 2010 (Akinsulure- Smith et al, 2009;Akinsulure-Smith & Jones, 2011).…”