(Los Angeles, CA – 9/22/2021) – As the U.S. and the State of California welcome thousands of Afghan arrivals, the Los Angeles office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-LA) today joined a network of Afghan- and Muslim-led organizations that will work collaboratively to provide necessary legal, housing, mental health, and social services to Afghan arrivals. The American Network of Services for Afghan Refugees of Southern California (ANSAR of SoCal) brings together local organizations in the region that have a track record of serving the Afghan community within the last 25 years.
Learn more: The founding members of ANSAR of SoCal
The objective of the ANSAR of SoCal is to connect new Afghan arrivals with the legal, educational/outreach, mental health, housing, and social services necessary to reasonably adjust to life in Southern California. Additionally, the organizations that make up the ANSAR of SoCal will serve as social connectors for newly arrived Afghan individuals and families.
Organizations within Southern California interested in joining the ANSAR of SoCal can sign up to join one of eight existing subcommittees, while individuals who would like to help can sign up as volunteers or ANSAR buddies.
In a statement, CAIR-LA Executive Director Hussam Ayloush said:
“This is the time for local organizations to come together and work collaboratively to ensure we are providing Afghan arrivals with the support they need as they navigate the trauma and obstacles of uprooting their families and settling into a new community.
We are appreciative of the leadership provided by members of the Afghan American Cultural Center (AACC), Afghan American Muslim Outreach (AAMO), Qazizada Foundation, and other Afghan staff within the Afghan-serving organizations that make up the ANSAR of SoCal.”
CAIR-LA Policy and Advocacy Manager Fayaz Nawabi added:
“After meetings with Governor Newsom and Senator Padilla, CAIR-LA has already seen some progress in securing funding for Afghan arrivals to California. We have also assisted more than 50 of the 200 Afghan individuals who contacted our Immigrants’ Rights Center for legal assistance.
The ANSAR of SoCal will only further our collective efforts to ensure we take a holistic approach to providing the legal, advocacy, and wrap-around services needed to support Afghan arrivals in Southern California.
We look forward to pooling our resources with other Afghan- and Muslim-led organizations in Southern California to better serve Afghan arrivals to our region.”
The ANSAR of SoCal will coordinate with federal, state, and local elected officials and governments, local resettlement agencies, and national organizations to coordinate the network’s local efforts and ensure that the needs of all Afghan arrivals are being met.
CAIR-LA is Southern California’s largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, protect civil rights, promote justice and empower American Muslims.
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CONTACT: CAIR-LA Social & Digital Manager Enjy El-Kadi, (714) 851-4851 or eelkadi@cair.com