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Dear Friends of CERI: Last month we shared an invitation for you to join CERI’s bi- monthly French Café to experience a heartfelt gathering of survivors and staff celebrating life together. Please join us for our next Cafe gathering. Visit with us for coffee, laughter, joy and celebration! When: Friday, March 13th at 4:00 pm Where: CERI’s building located at 544 International Blvd in Oakland. Currently, we are serving Southeast Asian refugees and their families, providing social and mental health services to our elderly community of survivors as they confront geriatric care, offering workforce development, expanding our youth program and supporting ICE detainees and their impacted families. Excited to be part of our movement? Our expanded services necessitate active support from friends like you and we invite you to be in touch with us directly if you are interested in learning more. We are seeking community leaders, organizers, and visionaries who can join our Board of Directors and assist us with fundraising, community outreach, marketing, and legal support. *** This month we want to share with you the reflections of one of our guests, Camille Reed, who attended our October 2019 event celebrating the resilience of the Cambodian survivors of the Khmer Rouge genocide.
A friend of mine invited me as her guest to an evening event that celebrated the work of CERI, an organization I knew nothing about. I expected an evening focused on fundraising for the organization, as these events should and do do. But this evening was one whose emphasis was quite different. This was an evening in which my mind and heart were opened to the work of CERI with the Cambodian community. CERI’s Founder has devoted her professional life in helping survivors of the killing fields and their children and grandchildren. The courage, professionalism and determination of Mona Afary to build an organization to fully provide services is a testimony that one person can make a difference. She and the organization she founded is making a remarkable contribution that simply astounded and astounds me.
CERI is making a remarkable difference. It is in Oakland, a Bay Area treasure. The organization's board and staff are deeply devoted to CERI's mission, and deliver the work with care and professionalism. Its grows as it expands its services. We are all blessed to know that its support is deservedly growing.
It was an evening I will not forget. It came from the heart and it was beautiful.
Camille Reed
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