Riverview International Center

Community care advocacy: empower our new american neighbors to acquire benefits, access better healthcare, enroll in school, grow in relationships with staff, volunteers, and other new americans, increase cultural competency by answering any questions about life in the u.s., decipher communications and mail, and receive referrals and help during life crises. Riverview International Center (ric) is well-positioned to implement access, intervention, and stabilization for people in crisis, because ric provides life-changing, essential services for new americans in the neighborhood where they live. Our office is located in an apartment on Riverview drive, with most of our clients walking to receive services. Nearly all of our clients have come to us by word of mouth, which shows that ric has a high level of trust and rapport in the community.

Educational programming: improve english speaking, listening, reading, and writing skills through adult english classes. We collaborate with columbus non-profit the godman guild association to offer four beginner classes for adults per week (totaling 12 hours). We also have two Riverview volunteer- led classes that meet weekly, as well as a partnership with myproject usa to offer a weekly english class for men from afghanistan. Additionally, our office staff assist community members to enroll in english classes from outside of our Center, at columbus state, columbus libraries, and online. Each of these programs addresses the critical need of newly arrived immigrants and refugees to learn english. Both godman guild and myproject usa provide their own staff and materials for the classes they lead, and the ric provides materials and support for our volunteer-led classes. Costs are learning materials (books, flash cards, etc.) And supplies (pencils, notebooks, white boards, etc.). Educational programming for children is also offered throughout the year. When school is in session, homework help is offered three evenings per week. During summer break, reading programs, field trips, and craft and science fairs supplement learning for children from preschool through 12th grade.

Workforce development: prepare our new american neighbors to enter the workforce, assist them in maintaining long term, living-wage employment, and accomodate the specific needs of secondary household wage earners, who are primarily women. Also help those new americans with more u.s. work experience move into higher-level career pathways. Services include: individual career counseling, resume and cover letter writing and training, digital literacy skills class, mock interviews, language assistance at job interviews, access to higher education, education equivalency applications, transportation to job interviews, bus training, help completing applications and onboarding paperwork, and job referrals to trusted employers.