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The United States is facing palatable divisiveness about basic choices of wearing a face mask in the heat of a worldwide pandemic to building a wall along our southern borders. Our experiences shape our perception, yet, science reaffirms that we have more in common than we choose to believe. Can it be possible to bridge the gap between “us” and “them”? At CERI, we choose to believe the answer is “YES!” and we say this because of our amazing staff. In this Newsletter, we would like to introduce you to Min Thein, a CERI Outreach Worker, who recently shared: “When I say my community, it is not only my Burmese community even though I am Burmese. My community is the refugee and immigrant community more broadly. The main reason that I do this work is that there’s a lot of resources, but our communities are being unserved or underserved. I love to be a bridge. All my life is about service. All the clients are my teachers too and make me learn something.” Min joined CERI in February of this year and brings over five years of experience in the field of community mental health and victim services. As an immigrant from Burma himself, Min understands firsthand the experiences of leaving behind home for the hope of safety and opportunity in a new country and the tough realities of navigating complex systems in the US. Min aims to be a bridge between cultures and languages, speaking Burmese, Arakanese, and Bahasa Malay, and is tireless about supporting survivors of trauma and violence. During the pandemic, Min continues to offer services such as navigational/case management support, meditation and yoga groups, and immigration clinics to the local Burmese community and Southeast Asian community more broadly. His innovative spirit enhanced CERI’s food distribution efforts by creating a partnership with Kitazawa Seed Company ordering and delivering seeds for people to grow their own food. CERI was able to distribute seeds for peppers, varieties of tomatoes, cucumbers, snow peas, cilantro, bok choy, and other vegetables for community members to not only grow their own food but also boost both mental and physical health. CERI is proud to work with Min as he continues to build bridges.
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