Personal Statement

In 1978 my parents, immigrants from Palestine, had no clue what to do when they arrived in Syracuse, NY. A language barrier was a challenge along with no employment. My parents are the reason why I am dedicated to helping local refugees in Syracuse. I started volunteering at age of 18 with local organizations that help people with opportunities to a better living. I started my own not-for-profit organization in 2016 called "Community Care of Syracuse" to help local refugees with the basic necessities to help families feel welcomed in Syracuse. I have collaborated with different organizations to gain a better communication of the community's needs. Starting my own organization has encouraged me to become an advocate for local refugees. My goal is to build bridges with local services that can provide resources to refugee families. Community Care has helped hundreds of families settle in Syracuse. Families that came from Syria, Somalia, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Congolese, Sudan, Iraq, Jordan and Puerto Rico. Starting in the Spring '19 semester, Community Care of Syracuse will be working with Onondaga Community College to provide service-learning opportunities for students. I feel blessed I found my calling to become a part of making a difference in our society and encouraging our community to care goes a long way.