When talking about helping refugees from Africa settle into the United States, Justin B. Mudekereza takes special care to meet them where they are. Through his nonprofit organization New Neighbor Relief, he helps refugee families settle into their new home in America.
Now that many call City Heights their home, he worked to bring refugees from different African countries together in one place to talk about their diversity and challenges.
Justin made sure that attendees had transportation, childcare and interpreters so they could get the most out of the first annual African Youth Empowerment Conference (AYEC).
Committee members personally contributed to make this conference possible. Many agencies promised to help, but in the end, New Neighbor Relief sponsored the conference. Plans for the next AYEC summer conference are already in the works.
New Neighbor Relief would like to thank the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, the Alliance for African Assistance, and Nile Sisters.
To learn more about the Justin’s work and the next African Youth Empowerment Conference, visit https://www.newneighborrelief.org
Read more at Speak City Heights http://www.speakcityheights.org Produced by Ha Uyen (Ammie) Phan, Media Arts Center San Diego https://mediaartscenter.org
Speak City Heights is a media collaborative with partners KPBS, The Voice of San Diego, The AjA Project and Media Arts Center San Diego with funding from the California Endowment, aimed at amplifying the voices of residents in one of San Diego’s most diverse neighborhoods.