Fox 47's Yes! campaign is our commitment to bringing communities closer by encouraging you to share your thoughts and your stories with us. Another big part of this program is the Yes! grant, where each month a Mid-Michigan non-profit group is selected for a Fox 47 Yes! grant of cash and a special promotional campaign.
We are excited to announce our June 2017 Yes! grant recipient...The Refugee Development Center!
The Refugee Development Center is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting the academic success, social development, and personal well-being of our newest neighbors. Refugees are those who have been forced out of their homes, and are unable to return safely. Of the over 21 million refugees in the world, less than 1% are ever chosen for resettlement in a place like the United States.
"The RDC started 15 years ago, to fill a gap in the community. There is a need to provide some support services to refugees when they arrive to make sure they are able to thrive," said Ericka Brown-Binion, Executive Director of The Refugee Development Center.
The RDC provides many services that are critically important in lifting these individuals out of poverty to a state of self- sufficiency.
"So, the crucial programs that we offer really are our core services. We have English classes for youth and adults, we have after school programs all over the city of Lansing. We have a summer camp that's available to brand new arrivals to help them learn about their community and learn English. We do home visits with all new family's to welcome them to the community, and make sure that they feel welcomed and know what support services are available," said Brown- Binion.
We also asked Erika how the Yes! Grant would make a difference.
"The Yes! Grant is going to contribute significantly to our summer camp this year. We are very excited to be able to take 80 youth all around the city of Lansing and surrounding areas, to museums, and park, and really get to know their community. This Grant is directly going to impact our youth this summer," said Brown-Binion.
Our congratulations to The Refugee Development Center for bring this month's Yes! Grant award winner!
To learn more about our Yes! Grant or to fill out an application for your non-profit, click here.
