“Supporting Refugee Communities from the Middle East in Albuquerque”

Summary: United Voices for Newcomer Rights (UVNR) is a community-led organization that was founded in 2019. UVNR works to improve the lives of newcomers by addressing both immediate needs as well as longer-term systemic change. Recognizing the commonalities in resettlement challenges, UVNR uses the inclusive, non-stigmatized term “newcomers” to encompass refugees, immigrants, asylum-seekers and other migrant groups to emphasize the importance of building solidarity among these groups.To do this effectively, UVNR believes in working with newcomer Community Advocates and building the capacity of local communities to address issues concerning them. UVNR works towards social justice, racial equity and inclusion, leadership development, and policy and system change that promotes the well-being of newcomers, while also providing direct services that address newcomers’ urgent needs, and facilitate their engagement in their communities and in social change efforts.

Bio: Jessica Goodkind studies the mental health of recently resettled refugees and immigrants from around the world; she puts that expertise to work in New Mexico and around the country by advising newcomer organizations and resettlement agencies on how best to build on the strengths of refugees and immigrants to promote their well-being and enable them to contribute their knowledge, skills and ideas to American society and how to create system and policy changes that support newcomer well-being. Jessica is also the Co-Director of DEI Curricular Development for the UNM School of Medicine, a role in which she uses her expertise to develop and implement health equity and culturally effective health care curriculum for medical students, faculty and staff. Finally, she is a Board Member of United Voices for Newcomer Rights and provides evaluation consultation to community-based organizations and tribal communities in New Mexico.

Jessica is the director of the Refugee & Immigrant Well-Being Project (RIWP) at UNM, through which much of this research and community engagement is run. For more information, go to the RIWP website.