Asylee Women Enterprise

Asylee Women Enterprise (AWE), journeys with asylum seekers and other forced migrants as they navigate the immigration legal process, begin to heal from past trauma, and rebuild their lives in Baltimore.

Asylum seekers and other forced migrants are thriving instead of just surviving.

Goal One: Ensure all asylum seekers have access to material support to meet basic needs, access medical and mental health services and have representation in their immigration legal case.

Goal Two: Provide additional support to asylum seekers and other forced migrants that experience additional challenges such as single parenting, trauma/torture history, disability, medical condition, etc.

Goal Three: Advocacy for humane immigration policies and access to basic services for asylum seekers and other forced migrants.

Staff are regularly provided opportunities for continuing education, receive reimbursement for professional licensure, are provided clinical supervision to work towards clinical licensure. In addition, staff are encouraged to improve knowledge of a second language and may be eligible for reimbursement of this expense.

1. Expansion of the Distribution of In-kind Material Resources. In 2019, AWE served 437 individuals with 31,600 pounds of food. During 2020, over 2,200 individuals (primarily women and children) received 110,000 pounds of food, toiletries and medication. More than 75,000 diapers and more than 80,000 baby items (cribs, car seats, strollers, clothing, etc.). We also distributed more than 5,000 masks, cleaning supplies, and hand sanitizer. This was done through more than 1,000 no-contract drop offs by a team of 22 volunteers. Delivery was necessary since most of these families could not access public transit, were quarantined or traveling with small children and unable to come to our location to retrieve food or carry it home. To increase our food distribution volume, AWE expanded our partnerships with food providers, particularly with the Maryland Food Bank, and purchased an additional fridge and two commercial freezers. This allowed AWE to accept more perishable donations and to maintain their quality and freshness. 2. Additional Case Management, Crisis Intervention and Resource Linkage. As new families contacted AWE for food and non-perishables through referrals and word of mouth, it became clear that there was a need for additional services such as case management, crisis intervention and resource linkage. AWE is seeking to expand its ability to provide these services. 3. Shift in Day Program to a Virtual Platform. This ensured that outreach for critical assistance related to the well-being of asylum seekers, refugees and other immigrants was able to continue. The program includes English as a Second Language, music, gentle movement, group counseling, social support networking, specialized classes in parenting and breastfeeding, information about resources in the community, and children’s activities, to name a few.