On Wednesday, January 25, 2023, USCRI Vermont Field Office Director Amila Merdzanovic and Afghan Resettlement Case Manager Sayed Khalilullah Anwari provided testimony to members of the Vermont State House Committee on Commerce and Economic Development on the status and trends of refugee resettlement in Vermont as well as specific challenges and a few notable successes […]
Category: USCRI Vermont
Staff Profile: Julianne DeGuardi
USCRI is excited to welcome Julianne DeGuardi as our new READY4Lify Program Coordinator at USCRI Vermont. “My favorite part of the job so far has been working directly with and learning from clients, as well as collaborating with and learning from all of the staff members at USCRI. As I continue implementing the READY4Life program, […]
Staff Profile: Ali Mahdi
USCRI is excited to introduce Ali Mahdi, who has been a Case Aide at USCRI Vermont since February 2022. “I provide help wherever the office needs me, including working events, client transportation, and most importantly helping with client meetings. Every day at USCRI Vermont is an exciting new challenge and I do my best to […]
USCRI Vermont Resettlement Story: Ode Mbilizi
Hello, my name is Ode Mbilizi and in June 2022 I fulfilled my dream of becoming a U.S. citizen! In 2015, my wife Tawusi Turinabitu, our 7 children, and I came to Vermont from the Democratic Republic of Congo. Before arriving in the U.S., I was a refugee in one of the Congolese refugee camps […]
Meet USCRI Vermont’s new Coordinator of Interpretation and Translation Services Sonali Samarasinghe
USCRI Vermont would like to welcome Sonali Samarasinghe as our new Coordinator of Interpretation and Translation Services. Sonali is an award-winning journalist, human rights activist, lawyer, and former diplomat. A native of Sri Lanka, Sonali practiced law there for many years and worked as a journalist focusing on human rights, including government corruption and women’s […]
Welcome to USCRI Vermont
Hello, my name is Casey Reese. I am excited to join the USCRI Vermont team as the new Employment Counselor / Job Developer. Originally from Massachusetts, I attended Salem State University where I received my undergraduate degree in Psychology and minor in Social Work. Following graduation, I spent time working in the field of Applied […]
Meet USCRI Vermont’s new Reach Up Case Manager, Lilian Mute
Hello there, my name is Lilian Mute and I am the new Reach Up Case Manager here at USCRI Vermont. The Reach Up program is one that helps families to overcome barriers and explore available opportunities, gain new skills, find employment, reach financial goals, and much more. I have always enjoyed being involved in various […]
Meet USCRI Vermont’s New Case Manager
Hello, my name is Georgette Niyokindi, one of USCRI Vermont’s new Case Managers. My role here is multifaceted; when new refugees come from overseas, I am the first person they usually see at the airport. Another aspect of my role is to be in touch with refugees and immigrants once they begin to settle, and […]
Help Us Extend a Warm Welcome to Afghan Allies
All of us here at USCRI Vermont would like to extend our gratitude to the Vermonters in all corners of the state who have contacted us asking how they can help Afghan families. We are expecting to welcome 100 Afghans to Vermont and are working hard to prepare for their arrival in the coming months. […]
Meet USCRI Vermont’s New Interpreter, Baudouin Mandaba
Hello, I’m Baudouin Mandaba, USCRI Vermont’s full-time Interpreter. As a pentalingual Interpreter-Translator, my role at USCRI is to serve as a bridge of communication between the whole community of French-Swahili-Lingala-Kikongo-speaking immigrants and USCRI staff and outside service providers who only speak English. I myself am an immigrant from the Democratic Republic of Congo in Africa, […]
