A Guide for Immigrants, Refugees and Other Newcomers
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A guide for immigrants, refugees and other newcomers Photo By Katharine Kimball Welcome Home.We believe that relocating to a new city can be a wonderful and exciting time but also adjusting to a new place and perhaps a new language and culture can seem overwhelming at first. We hope that by providing basic information about your new city, as well as listing agencies in the area that provide many varied services that may be beneficial, you will soon come to feel at home in the city of Beaverton. This guide lists only a sampling of the variety of resources available to you; it is not an extensive list and is not meant to recommend any one resource over another. It is intended to help you explore the city and all that it has to offer. Beaverton is the sixth most populous city in the state of Oregon. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, as of July 2017 Beaverton’s population was 97,514. One in five Beaverton residents was born outside the United States, and more than 100 different languages are spoken by families in the Beaverton School District. Beaverton was incorporatedd as a city in 1893. Beaverton officially became a Welcoming City in 2015, expressing its commitment to welcoming newcomers from all This guide was compiled by backgrounds and promoting cross-cultural relationships. In 2017, two committed volunteers the City Council also voted unanimously to declare Beaverton a who live in Beaverton and Sanctuary City. believe that every person is welcome in this diverse community and should have the opportunity to find the services and support they need to feel truly at home in the city of Beaverton. Comments, questions or suggestions on this guide may be emailed to: WelcometoBeaverton@gmail. com Page 2 Introductory Edition- February, 2019 4 TABLE OF CONTENTS 4 The City of Beaverton’s Helpful Information .....................................................Page 4 Language Access at the City of Beaverton and English Classes ...................Page 4 5 Life in America ......................................................................................................Page 5 Connect With People From The Same Heritage ...............................................Page 5 Getting To Know Your City ...................................................................................Page 6 5 Utilities ...................................................................................................................Page 7 Emergencies, Medical, Mental Health & Dental Care .....................................Page 8 Public Transportation .........................................................................................Page 9 6 Food Assistance ................................................................................................ Page 10 Markets, Grocery & Specialty Food Stores ................................................... Page 11 7 Places of Worship .............................................................................................Page 12 Banks & Financial Institutions......................................................................... Page 14 Clothing, Household Goods, Furnishings & Thrift Stores ............................. Page 15 8 Agencies Providing Immigrant and Refugee Services ................................. Page 16 9 FOR OTHER INFORMATION NOT FOUND HERE • Dial 211, • Or check website: http://211info.org, 10 • Or http://therefugeecenter.org. 11 12 14 15 16 City of Beaverton Helpful Information The City of Beaverton provides a myriad of information on its website (BeavertonOregon.gov) as well as links that direct you to other information that may also be very helpful. Their site is available in over 100 languages by using Google Translate (look for the button on the bottom right of the screen). A good place to begin on the City of Beaverton’s website is the tab at the top of the Home page in the blue bar labeled “Community.” Under that tab you will find information about the city itself, local businesses, cultural events, parks and recreation, employment, neighborhoods, and more. A link called “New to Beaverton?” will lead you to a page with community resources, partner agencies and other services you may need as a newcomer to Beaverton. The City website also has information about its Cultural Inclusion Program (BeavertonOregon.gov/ equity), which is designed to help strengthen ties between local government and communities of color, immigrants and refugees. The program’s newsletter provides updates relevant to the city’s diversity, equity and inclusion work and other relevant happenings in Beaverton. Staff also act as a point of contact for newcomers from these communities to provide information and help with navigation of city services. For more information, call 503-526-2503. LANGUAGE ACCESS AT THE CITY OF BEAVERTON The City of Beaverton is dedicated to providing equal access to services and benefits for all, regardless of English proficiency. Free translation and interpretation services are available to the public at all locations upon request. Language access was outlined as one of eight key priorities in the city’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Plan (available online), adopted by Beaverton City Council in 2015. Where to Find English Classes (ESL/ESOL): Beaverton Literacy Council: www.beavertonliteracy.org Bethel: www.bethelbeaverton.org/esl Friends of Refugees: www.pdxfriendsofrefugees.com/about-us Goodwill: http://goodwilljobconnection.org/esl/free-classes Portland Community College: www.pcc.edu/esol/other-ways Portland ESL Network: www.portlandesl.com Sisters of St. Mary: www.ssmo.org/esol-and-citizenship-classes Village ESOL: www.villagebeaverton.com/home/ministries/english-classes-esol Page 4 Introductory Edition- February, 2019 Connect with people Life in from the same heritage America One site we find particularly It might be a good idea to connect with people from the helpful is “The Refugee Center same heritage who live in Oregon. Most of the time, people Online” are willing to help and give suggestions. Thanks to the (www.therefugeecenter.org) for internet, we can search for our community in the comfort of refugee resources, available our living room. However, don’t just make a connection in in 45 languages through the a virtual world, go out to gatherings of cultural or musical Google Translate app. Under the events, professional groups, small conferences, and listing “Life in America” on this meetups to find other “likeminds.” site, very detailed information is provided for someone new to A SAMPLE OF WHERE TO LOOK FOR PEOPLE this country. FROM THE SAME HERITAGE: • Cultural associations and non-profits A sample of topics covered are: • Student groups at the college, university • Learning to drive and • Informal groups on social media, e.g. Facebook, obtaining a driver’s license • Meetup.com • Free education and • Faith-based institutes such as churches, mosques, citizenship classes synagogue, temples • How to find doctors and health care • How to use social media Where to get a passport safely • How to open a bank Beaverton City Hall account, make a budget 12725 SW Millikan Way, Beaverton • Typical American values and BeavertonOregon.gov/355/Passports cultural norms of behavior Walk-ins only U.S. Post Office 4550 SW Betts Ave, Beaverton USPS.com/scheduler By appointment only Citizenship Classes: Beaverton City Library: Beavertonlibrary.org/372/Citizenship-Classes Lutheran Community Services Northwest: lcsnw.org/program/citizenship-program Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon SOAR Program: emoregon.org/soar-legal/citizenship-classes Sisters of St. Mary SSMO.org/esol-and-citizenship-classes U.S. Citizen & Immigration Services Field Office 1455 NW Overton St., Suite 1, Portland | 1-800-375-5283 By appointment only; Scheduling at: my.uscis.gov/appointment Getting to Know Your City City of Beaverton: Beaverton City Library: Beaverton School District- By subscribing to the A great resource for accessing Multilingual Dept: City’s e-newsletters books, dvd’s, audio books, Provides information on student (BeavertonOregon.gov/list. free classes in classroom and programs, learning options, aspx), and accessing the online, information on jobs and equity and inclusion, special City’s Facebook, Twitter, career choices. Also check out education programs and and Instagram social media the cultural passes (free passes more. www.beaverton.k12. accounts. By attending City for six museums in Washington or.us/depts/tchlrn/Pages/ Council and Advisory Board and Multnomah Counties). MultilingualDept.aspx meetings, Welcoming Week The main library is located Capital Center, 18640 NW and Beaverton International at 12375 SW 5th St. and the Walker Rd, Suite B Celebration in September. Murray Scholls Branch Library 503-356-3755 Attending annual Beaverton is at 11200 SW Murray Scholls Night Market and Beaverton Place, Suite 102 Farmers Market on Saturdays. BeavertonLibrary.org BeavertonOregon.gov 503-644-2197 503-526-2222 Beaverton Social Neighborhood Association Tualatin Hills Park & Security Office: Committee (NAC): Recreation District Information on possible benefits Attend your monthly NAC (THPRD): that you may be eligible for. meeting where representatives Activities organized at parks www.socialsecurityoffices.info/ from the police and fire and recreation centers. Many city/or-beaverton 11975 SW departments, city, present of these activities are family 2nd St.; 800-772-1213 updates. oriented and are free or low Beavertonoregon.gov/ cost. www.thprd.org Neighborhoods (depends on 503-645-6433 your location)