Q&A with Shoshana Barzel

? Your Name: Shoshana Barzel

? Role and organization: Executive Director, New Neighbors Partnership

? Where are you located? New York, NY

? Overall, what is it like being a Member of the Hello Neighbor Network? Being a member of the Hello Neighbor Network gives me a sense of community and access to a group of thoughtful, like-minded individuals working in the same area.

? Has being a part of the Hello Neighbor Network changed your perspective on your work? If so, in what ways did it change? Being part of the Network has helped me realize how much has been done already -- that I don't have to do everything on my own. There are lots of people out there who have faced similar challenges and can support our organization as we grow.

? Please share a story about something valuable you've learned from the Hello Neighbor Network: I've learned so much from the experts who share at online meetings, but I've also learned a lot from other members! Another NY-based member, Leah Cover of Ruth's Refuge, and I have met monthly since we both joined the network a few years ago and have shared resources -- from funding opportunities to staff management strategies -- and I've learned so much from her. I also recently met with Mary Poole's team at Soft Landings Missoula to talk about information and resource sharing with clients and we got a lot of great ideas for our program.

? When thinking about the theme "Heart of Belonging", how would you describe the heart/spirit of your work? The heart of our work is helping refugees build a sustainable network of community support through connections with other families. Feeling like they have family friends they can call on is a crucial step toward feeling a sense of belonging.

? How can people support your work? Sign up for our newsletter to learn more about various volunteer opportunities that can be done from anywhere in the country, like sending Ramadan care packages or back to school supplies directly to a newcomer family.

This is a series of interviews with members of the Hello Neighbor Network powered by Hello Neighbor which is a coalition of grassroots organizations working with refugees and immigrants in the U.S. that comes together to grow and inspire change.

This series was inspired by the work of Welcoming America as part of #WelcomingWeek2024 and an interview series by Suzanne Ehlers of USA for UNHCR.

The Hello Neighbor Network provides a variety of resources and learning opportunities for grassroots nonprofit leaders across the country, just like Shoshana Barzel.

To learn more about the Network and support the vital community building work it makes possible, please visit our Welcoming Week page to learn more about our campaign - “The Heart of Welcoming”.