Opening Doors

Today, Opening Doors staff gathered for a potluck to celebrate gratitude and connection. The work of welcome is both rewarding and at times challenging, and we took this time to reflect on what we’re thankful for. Staff had the opportunity to write notes expressing their gratitude, and we shared in the joy of recognizing our diverse cultures and the victories we’ve achieved together. #BelongingBeginsHere

Five Star Bank customer, Jessie Mabry, CEO of Opening Doors, said, "Five Star Bank has been an instrumental part of Opening Doors’ growth and expansion, supporting our organization with a variety of lending and banking products, low to no fees, and excellent customer service. When we expanded our microenterprise lending program in 2023, Five Star Bank representatives worked closely with our staff to navigate the Small Business Administration’s many requirements. Without Five Star’s commitment to community service and economic prosperity for all, we would not have achieved these milestones.” Opening Doors began in 1993 as a refugee resettlement organization called the Sacramento Refugee Ministry. In 2002, after a great deal of growth, they incorporated into their own 501(c)(3) non-profit organization known as Opening Doors, Inc. Today, they serve a wide range of newcomers – immigrants, refugees, and survivors of human trafficking – as they establish lives of stability, self-sufficiency, and belonging. Five Star Bank is grateful to support Jessie and her team! . . . #FiveStarBank #2024 #impact #community #communities #sacramento #sacramentostrong #sacramentoproud #CAforAll #California #CA

We are excited to share that our Refugee Program Manager, Neptoune Nilofar Amin, was honored as the 2024 Molina Cares Community Champion yesterday! With over eight years at Opening Doors, Neptoune exemplifies a true commitment to welcoming and supporting refugees. Her dedication extends beyond her role here; she actively volunteers her time to uplift newcomers in our community. As part of this recognition, Neptoune received a $5,000 grant to donate to an organization of her choice. She generously chose to contribute this amount back to Opening Doors, reinforcing her commitment to helping refugees achieve stability, self-sufficiency, and belonging. Congratulations, Neptoune! We are proud to have you as part of our welcoming community.

This week marks the National Celebration of Pro Bono! We applaud the incredible work of legal professionals who volunteer their time to support immigrants, refugees, and survivors of human trafficking on the path to stability, self-sufficiency, and belonging. In 2024, 12 attorneys provided Pro Bono immigration legal services to 26 clients at Opening Doors. We also continued our impactful quarterly pro se clinics with Hanson Bridgett LLP. Recently, three of our pro bono attorneys achieved a major milestone by securing asylum for an Afghan evacuee! There are plenty of opportunities for attorneys looking to get involved with Opening Doors Pro Bono clinics, and no immigration law experience is necessary! Sign up at wkf.ms/3OOICOO or email Melissa at [email protected] for more information.

Last week, Opening Doors hosted a staff picnic to celebrate our diverse cultures and recognize our victories. This gathering provided a wonderful opportunity to engage with colleagues across different teams, fostering connections with those we might not interact with daily. With delicious food, great company, and plenty of laughter, we truly embraced our organizational value of seeking joy. From Human Bingo to bouquet-building, the picnic served as a heartfelt reminder of the warmth and strength of our welcoming community. A big thank you to everyone who contributed to making this event a success! We’re excited for more opportunities to seek joy together as we continue our mission.

Last week marked an incredible week at Opening Doors! Our Spirit Week brought together our amazing team in new and exciting ways, and we couldn’t be more thrilled with the energy and enthusiasm everyone brought to the office each day. ? From Monochrome Monday to Flourishing Friday, this week was filled with so many moments of fun. Spirit Week was a fantastic reminder of what makes our community of welcome so special. ? A huge thank you to all our staff and volunteers who participated, organized, and made this week unforgettable. Your passion and commitment are what drive our mission forward every day. ? Here’s to many more moments of connection, joy, and shared purpose as we continue working towards a brighter future together.

Exciting News! Opening Doors CEO, Jessie Mabry, was recently featured on The Non Profit Podcast Network with Jeff Holden. In this episode, Jessie and Jeff dive into: ?? The mission and history of Opening Doors ?? The journey to stability, self-sufficiency, and belonging ?? Nonprofit collaboration and funding challenges ?? Finding joy in helping others A huge thank you to Jeff for providing this incredible platform to discuss refugees' stories and their journey to safety. Listen to the episode, “Unlocking Hope: Refugees' and Immigrants' Journey Through Opening Doors,” on your favorite podcast app or at the following link: https://lnkd.in/gsk3zaBq

Opening Doors’ Chief Financial Officer, Marilyn Sakai, has received a C-Suite Award from the Sacramento Business Journal! Congratulations, Marilyn, we are honored to walk alongside you in the work of welcome. We applaud your inspirational leadership in driving Opening Doors forward to success. Join us in celebrating Marilyn's incredible achievement!

The July edition of Opening Doors’ monthly newsletter is now available. Opening Doors Masters Life-Saving Skills, World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, and more. https://conta.cc/45ZarKT

Recently, Opening Doors CEO Jessie Mabry was featured on Your California Life. Jessie and Desiree discussed the importance of supporting refugees in our community and how to make an impact in the lives of our newest neighbors. https://lnkd.in/gFR_EpCN