Asylee Women Enterprise

AWE welcomes dozens of asylum seekers and trafficking survivors through our doors each week. Clients attend classes, share meals, meet with their case manager, and fill bags with groceries, diapers, and clothing to take home. Many clients also access mental health services, including individual counseling, group therapy, and other therapeutic activities like acupuncture, gardening, and yoga. Our clients arrive in Maryland after protracted periods of trauma. Many fled war, persecution, forced displacement, and human rights violations. They often experience additional violence on their journey to the US. In 2020, Doctors Without Borders reported that 48% of forced migrants experienced sexual violence on their way to the US and nearly a third were kidnapped at some point during their journey. But once in Maryland, clients face many barriers to healing. Accessing interpretation for therapy can be challenging, and many providers don’t have experience working with forced migrants. Meanwhile, most clients are ineligible for Medicaid and without work authorization they can’t afford private care. But without treatment and support, trauma can have long term consequences and symptoms can get worse. PTSD and depression can make it difficult to focus on finding housing, securing employment, and navigating the immigration process. Meeting the mental health needs of our clients is a critical component of our work. We recognize that healing looks different for different people, so we provide many different types of support. We also work to remove the many barriers our clients face to receiving the support they need. Individual therapy is a big part of what we do. In 2013 we began partnering with the Intercultural Counseling Connection (the Connection). The Connection, which is collocated with AWE, is a referral network of pro bono mental health professionals that connects our clients to individual counseling. In 2022, we started partnering with HEAL Refugee Health and Asylum Collaborative (HEAL) to provide individual therapy to our minor clients onsite. We also partner with a private, Spanish speaking therapist who provides therapy to youth trafficking survivors. In 2024, 48 clients have accessed individual therapy through our partnerships. Many clients also participate in group therapy. The Connection leads biweekly group therapy sessions for adults and HEAL leads biweekly group therapy for Spanish-speaking youth. Groups provide safe and inclusive spaces where clients can address concerns and develop interpersonal connections with each other. Meals are provided before all sessions and clients leave with groceries, diapers, and toiletries. So far in 2024, 79 clients have attended group therapy at AWE, including 45 minors and young adults. Many clients also access alternative forms of therapy. AWE offers bodywork activities like acupuncture, massage therapy, and yoga, to help clients release stored tension, reconnect with their bodies, and process emotions that may be difficult to access through verbal therapy. Community gardening, nature retreats, and music and dance therapy can help clients decompress and connect with each other. More than 70 clients have participated in alternative therapy in 2024. We make sure that clients can access all these services. We provide bus passes for clients attending daytime group activities and ride shares for evening events. We prioritize working with therapists and group facilitators who share the cultures and languages of our clients, and we always provide interpretation when needed. We do all of this because we believe our services are most impactful when they’re holistic and client centered. Offering different types of mental health services and making sure they’re accessible, ensures our clients have the resources and support to rebuild their lives with safety, trust, and empowerment.

It was a busy summer for our youth program Steps to Success! Between June and August, we held biweekly group therapy sessions led by the HEAL Refugee Health and Asylum Collaborative and we arranged field trips to the Baltimore Museum of Art and the Maryland Museum of History and Culture. We also took clients sailing with Pride of Baltimore and held a nature retreat at Bliss Meadows Farm. Thirty-six teenagers and young adults participated in summer activities. We also continued to develop our Youth Advisory Board. We created the Youth Advisory Board in 2024 to help guide our youth program and make sure it aligns with the needs and interests of our clients. Four trafficking survivor youth agreed to join the board, and we held the first board meeting in April. Over the next few months, board members established the purpose, rules and responsibilities of the board and began to identify ways to improve and expand Steps to Success. They also expressed interest in giving back to the community. After some brainstorming, they pitched the idea of creating a mural in Baltimore which they hope will reflect the presence and experiences of Latino youth in the city. The board will start working with a local community arts program this fall to design and create the mural. Youth Advisory Board members are also encouraged to develop professional development goals for themselves. Recently, when the board members asked for education around personal finances, AWE identified a financial coach to provide one-on-one support and help them develop personal budgets and learn about credit. Board members have also sought out opportunities to share their stories and experiences with the public. One board member participated in a mini documentary about her journey to the US. Another board member was interviewed for an article by the Johns Hopkins Children's Center Magazine. In May, a board member named Anthony participated on a panel at the Baltimore Immigration Summit with AWE and HEAL. Anthony spoke about Steps to Success and how the program is a safe place for him to process the trauma he’s experienced. He could not imagine his life without the program, he told the panel attendees. When Anthony joined Steps to Success in 2023, he was skeptical about some parts of the program, especially the biweekly group therapy sessions. Now, however, Anthony attends almost every Steps to Success event, sits on the Youth Advisory Board, and provides guidance and support to newer program participants. He has quickly become a leader in the program and within the wider, Baltimore Spanish-speaking immigrant community. Steps to Success has grown rapidly since its creation in 2023. Fifty-nine immigrant, Spanish-speaking youth are currently enrolled in the program, including 37 trafficking survivors. The program has organized over 50 activities in 2024 alone. The Youth Advisory Board is a critical part of the program’s success. Board members, who commit to a year of board service, take their responsibility very seriously. We originally planned for the board to meet bimonthly, but members quickly asked to meet every month instead. Members never miss a meeting, and everyone arrives with thoughts on how the program can improve. Outside of meetings, board members interact over an AWE-monitored WhatsApp chat – sharing resources and ideas with each other. The success of the Youth Advisory Board highlights the importance of safe, inclusive spaces where immigrant youth can share their experiences and expertise, develop new skills, and engage as equal partners in the creation and implementation of services. It also speaks to the talent and creativity of the board members, and their dedication to creating a stronger, supportive, and more welcoming city.