• Profile a local refugee or immigrant.
• Feature a specific refugee or immigrant crisis.
• Write a “letter to the editor” stating your opinion on current immigration issues.

Advocate!
Call or send letters to your local legislator regarding current immigration issues.

Reach out to refugees and immigrants in your local area!

• Volunteer at a local agency that works with refugee and immigrant populations.
• Invite immigrants and refugees to school, church or community events to teach about their country of origin and culture, and teach words or phrases in their native language.
• Tutor local refugee and immigrants in life skills; help them learn how to navigate their new communities (i.e. where to purchase household items, where to repair things).
• Host a community-wide multicultural event featuring international foods and music.
• Host an “English conversation group” to assist new refugees and immigrants in developing and using their English language skills.
• Be a mentor to a person who is attempting to gain citizenship.
• Prepare “welcome baskets” for new refugee and immigrants families.
• Make posters and banners for schools and community centers with words in a variety of languages, Ex. Hmong, Somali, French, Spanish

Increase awareness of refugee and immigrant issues!
Invite a speaker to present on refugee and immigrant issues at a local school, community or church group. Speakers could include:  

• A local immigrant or refugee—possibly a panel of newcomers;
• A person who works with refugee and immigrants locally.
• Someone who has worked in a refugee camp or with refugees in another country.

Form a refugee/immigrant club within your school or neighborhood with others interested in these issues!  Possible club activities include:

• Discuss current refugee and immigrant issues.
• View films and read books dealing with refugee and immigrant issues and discuss.
• Host a fundraiser i.e. raffle, car wash or “Native Cultures Art Fair” (use art to express feelings on refugee and immigrant issues) to raise money for a local organization that works with refugees and immigrants.

“The International Connection:” helping refugees and immigrants around the world!

• Begin a pen pal program with refugees in a refugee camp overseas.
• Initiate international contacts to develop “classroom to classroom” communication with refugees and immigrants via the Internet or programs (i.e. U.S. Peace Corps World Wise Schools).
• Raise money for humanitarian organizations (like UNHCR or UNICEF) that work with refugee and immigrant populations.