A Personal Message

On October 19th, I was deeply moved to witness the Center for Empowering Refugees and Immigrants (CERI) receive the United Nations Global Citizen Award at the UNA East Bay Chapter event, “Beyond Borders: Uplifting and Protecting Immigrants and Refugees.” Being honored on the 80th anniversary of the founding of the UN—and in the company of leaders like Senator Alex Padilla, the ACLU of Northern California, Alameda Health System’s Refugee Clinic, and Soccer Without Borders—was deeply meaningful.

This award belongs to the brave and resilient families at CERI who face hardship with unwavering strength, to the compassionate and committed staff who walk alongside them every day, and to the foundations, donors, partners, and friends who have collaborated with us to defend justice and humanity.

At the same time that we celebrate this honor, I realize that this recognition comes at a critical moment when, across the Bay Area, refugee and immigrant families are under attack. It is also an echo of earlier injustices.

When CERI first opened in 2006, Cambodian survivors of the Khmer Rouge genocide were falsely accused of disability fraud, with government agents knocking down their doors as they were still struggling to rebuild their lives. It took three years of relentless advocacy, along with the intervention efforts of two nonprofit legal agencies and the investigative report of an NPR journalist, to clear the names of these refugees and restore their dignity.

Today, essential benefits are again being stripped from our refugee and immigrant families. ICE raids are separating parents from children, targeting people who have already served their sentences, transformed their lives, and are beloved members of the community. Asylum is being denied for those who have been waiting for years and fled war, political repression, caste discrimination, gender-based violence, and economic hardship. 

Through it all, CERI remains a refuge of safety and belonging. Each year, we serve and stand with more than 1,200 individuals from Cambodia, Afghanistan, Burma, Vietnam, Iran, Eritrea, Nepal, and Tibet—who face fear with courage and continue to rebuild their lives with hope and determination.

The U.N. Global Citizen Award is a light that honors how far we’ve come—and a reminder of how much work lies ahead. We cannot do this without your support. In that spirit, I am reaching out with a heartfelt request.

We are launching our year-end fundraiser to raise $30,000 for our work protecting our communities from deportation. We have until December 31st to reach this goal, and we’d be honored if you join us by sharing with your trusted networks or by making a gift.

This is a moment to stand with refugees and immigrants. I humbly ask you to join us by giving what you can to help us continue our work to defend dignity and keep hope alive.

With immense gratitude,
Mona Afary
Founder & Executive Director
Center for Empowering Refugees and Immigrants (CERI)