Elena's Light

This Thanksgiving, we at Elena’s Light reflect on the power of community and the generosity of those who support our mission. Thanks to your contributions, we’ve supported over 300 refugee and immigrant women this year, providing access to education and health programs that open doors to brighter futures for their families. Your support reminds us that together, we can break barriers and create meaningful opportunities. As we gather with loved ones, we are deeply grateful for our shared commitment to building equity for all. From all of us at Elena’s Light, thank you for being an essential part of our journey. Wishing you and your family a warm and joyful Thanksgiving. #Thanksgiving #Gratitude #AdvancingOpportunities #CommunityImpact #Amplify

Dear friends, I had the incredible honor of being invited to the White House last week, where I met with a remarkable team to discuss the critical work of the Welcome Corps, a U.S. Department of State program enabling American citizens and permanent residents to sponsor refugees to come to the United States. This initiative urgently needs sponsors, presenting an extraordinary opportunity for us to step up as a community. For groups applying to sponsor someone they don’t know, there is *no fundraising requirement* to submit an application! Matching groups will have their costs automatically covered through the Sponsor Fund managed by Patchwork Indy and WelcomeNST . To learn more, I highly encourage you to join a special webinar hosted by Welcome Corps on Monday, November 25, at 6 PM ET. This webinar will outline the available resources and walk through the steps to submit an application. You can register here: https://lnkd.in/eaqQ3Zrd. This is a critical moment for action. Our community has already demonstrated its power to welcome refugees and create vibrant, inclusive neighborhoods. Let’s continue building a brighter, more diverse future together. For more details about Welcome Corps and how to apply as a sponsor, visit: https://welcomecorps.org Let’s make a lasting impact—together. Warm regards, Fereshteh Ganjavi **#WelcomeCorps #SupportRefugees #CommunitySponsorship #WelcomeRefugees #DiversityInAction #PatchworkIndy #WelcomeNST #TogetherWeCan #RefugeeAdvocacy #InclusionMatters #USStateDepartment** @welcomecorps @patchworkindy @welcomenst @StateDept @ElenasLight

Join us for the Lighting the Future Speaker Series, where we’ll spotlight the incredible stories and insights of two trailblazing women: Dr. Homeira Qaderi, an esteemed advocate for education and women's rights, and Julia Abratańska, a passionate leader and humanitarian co-founder of Renegade Relief Runners. ?? Date: Thursday, December 5th ? Time: 5–8 PM EST ?? Location: Dwight Hall, Yale University This is a platform for learning, connection, and conversations. We look forward to Dr. Melissa Hazlitt facilitating the session! ?? Sign up now! Visit the link in our bio or scan the QR code in the image to reserve your spot. #RefugeeEmpowerment #Conversations #Empowerment #LightingtheFuture #CommunityLeadership #AdvocacyInAction

Wanda’s words remind us of the power of meaningful dialogue. With an inspiring lineup of speakers and a skilled facilitator, this event is designed to ignite action, foster community connections, and deliver perspectives and solutions. Join us on Dec 5th for a night of discussion and conversations about the impact of war on women. ??? Seats are limited—reserve yours now: [see our bio or comments] ?? Your support matters: Proceeds directly fund our programs which foster opportunities for women to excel through education and beyond. Join us in creating lasting change. Together, we amplify voices, inspire progress, and make an impact. #WomenInEducation #CommunityLeadership #DrivingImpact #CollaborationForChange #InnovativeSolutions #SupportingCommunities #EducationMatter #LightingTheFuture

Join us for the Lighting the Future Speaker Series, where we’ll spotlight the incredible stories and insights of two trailblazing women: Dr. Homeira Qadari, an esteemed advocate for education and women's rights, and Julia Abratańska, a passionate leader and humanitarian co-founder of Renegade Relief Runners. ?? Date: Thursday, December 5th ? Time: 5–8 PM EST ?? Location: Dwight Hall, Yale University This is a platform for learning, connection, and conversations. Don’t miss the chance to engage in meaningful discussions about experiences and persevering, and the power of community to drive change. ?? Sign up now! Visit the link in our bio or scan the QR code in the image to reserve your spot. #RefugeeEmpowerment #Conversations #Empowerment #LightingtheFuture #CommunityLeadership #AdvocacyInAction

Diverse voices drive powerful change. Our PCORI project is a collaborative force, bringing together refugee leaders, community organizations, and researchers to craft research priorities that lead to solutions. At our 11th meeting today, we shared our experiences and expertise. Thank you to all of the stakeholders on this project. We'd like to give a special shout-out to Dwight Hall at Yale | Center for Public Service and Social Justice & Johnny Scafidi for their unwavering support and engagement We are building a stronger, more connected world through listening, shared knowledge, respect, and unified action. #Yale #RefugeeLeadership #EmpowerWomen #ImmigrantVoices #ResearchForChange #DwightHall #CommunityLeaders #RefugeeEmpowerment #InclusiveResearch #WomenInLeadership #GlobalCommunity #SocialImpact #TogetherForChange

??? Save the Date: December 5th, 5-8 PM Join us for an inspiring evening in our Lighting the Future Series. This event brings together Dr. Homeira Qaderi, renowned Afghan writer and advocate for women’s rights, and Julia Abratanska, humanitarian aid worker and founder of Renegade Relief Runners, an organization dedicated to supporting Ukrainian communities in need. More details to follow. Hosted by Elena’s Light, this series is part of our ongoing commitment to empowering refugee women to build self-sufficient futures. Through free, culturally competent programs in ESL tutoring, health education, and legal rights advocacy, we work to break down barriers and foster brighter opportunities. ?? Location: Yale University. Register in our bio! Be part of this powerful conversation on resilience and justice. #AdvocacyForAll #CommunityImpact #GlobalVoices #ResilienceAndJustice #RefugeeEmpowerment #UpliftWomen #LightingTheFuture #WomensEmpowerment

Photos from today’s Celebrating Black and Brown Mothers event at the Dixwell Community Q House. The event had wellness resources for families, free food, children’s activities, and even raffle gifts. It’s not too late @Mindblossom is still raising funds to support their maternal health program. Check out their page and consider giving today! Elena’s Light is proud to be among the sponsors. Other sponsors included New Haven Early Childhood Council, Sankofa Learning Center, Mothers and Others for Justice, NAMI, New Haven Bank. #MaternalHealth #BlackMothers #BrownMothers #CommunityConnection #Dixwell

Joining us for our ESL Permit Course are the New Haven Early Childhood Council and @UnitedWayofGreaterNewHaven. Mansura, one of the facilitators for the course shared, “When the course began a few weeks ago, the students were so shy. Now they are confident to share their questions and aren’t afraid to be wrong. I can see they are working very hard to master the material.” What an eventful day at the New Haven Free Public Library, Ives main branch! Thank you so much. We brought items to share and were blessed to share more items from the parent ambassadors and the early childhood education council. In their presentation, the parent ambassadors shared resources for families with young children. Thank you for listening and sharing your insights. The adult students from the ESL class shared their experiences and suggestions for what would help. For any assistance for children, childcare, and more check their site at nhecc.org! #TheMoreYouKnow #LiveUnited #ElenasLight #Community #NewHaven

Today is National Immigrants Day! It’s a time to recognize the vital role immigrants play in shaping our communities, culture, and economy. Their contributions fuel innovation, drive growth and add diverse perspectives that inspire progress. ?? In New Haven, immigrants have been central to the city’s culture, economy, and community spirit, alongside Indigenous, Black communities, and more. Afghan and other refugees bring valuable skills, traditions, and resilience, enriching the city’s fabric. You can get involved by sharing stories, attending cultural events, or supporting initiatives that uplift refugee and immigrant communities. Let’s honor this day by building bridges and fostering an inclusive environment for all. #NationalImmigrantsDay #NewHaven #InclusiveCommunities #SupportRefugees #DiversityIsStrength