North Hills is an ordinary suburb of Los Angeles, but Natalie Jubrail’s journey highlights its unsung communities – the thousands of immigrants resettling in Southern California. As a Valley local, Jubrail transforms personal struggles into community triumphs, championing, especially, the cause of refugees and immigrants seeking safe havens in America.

Jubrail’s mission converges with the March 16 Los Angeles Marathon. Her ambitious goal for running it for the first time is funding the San Fernando Valley Refugee Children Center (RCC), where she works with kids and families displaced by violence and hardship.

“As the daughter of immigrant parents, I’ve witnessed firsthand the challenges faced by marginalized communities,”

“With the ongoing struggles surrounding immigration and the increasing number of children and families seeking safety, the work we do has never been more urgent.”

Jubrail says, whose parents are from Mexico and Syria.

The year 2015 was a pivotal one for the San Fernando Valley, especially North Hills. Pastor Fred Morris established the RCC with three young refugees and a two-person part-time team, galvanized by the influx of unaccompanied minors at the U.S.-Mexico border.

Mayra Medina-Núñez, the center’s Executive Director, remembers that time vividly.

“We were seeing a lot of unaccompanied minors coming to live specifically in this area, and they just needed that support group that would help them transition to life in the United States.”

Later in 2018,

age,Núñez led the center towards becoming an official nonprofit.

Now the RCC reaches beyond just immediate resettlements, offering life-saving support to families and minors navigating immigration and asylum in the U.S, some resettled in the last two years.

Mayra Medina-Núñez, Executive Director

The center’s “zero-tolerance” policies echo broader nationwide struggles, extending protection and resources to immigrant families. Through its Children and Families Department, the RCC distributes essential goods, mental health care, legal guidance, and educational services, like ESL classes, ensuring families and children feel safe within their community.

“Families, children, need social services. They need legal resources. They need basic needs. They also need to have spaces where they can feel safe and really be children.”

Medina-Núñez affirms the center’s holistic, all-encompassing approach.

Maya Medina-Núñez, Executive director

The core tenant around Jubrail’s mission is to build support channels, overcome language barriers, navigating life in a new country.

“It’s very overwhelming and can be difficult for them, especially when you don’t know the language. As a coordinator, Jubrail fondly notes.

Still, community assistance cannot stop at practical needs: feedback has been pivotal to strengthen the RCC’s mission. PDeducating them on potential support resources and methods to mitigate inevitable future challenges, validating their rights, has proven crucial towards personal empowerment.

Several families learn resilience and resilience through the RCC at its Wednesday Night events, welcoming open discussions with specialists revisions on law changes, improvements on community-facing digital platforms, and withet the division, surging importance of holistic services, as children’s cantons with family in protective confinement, and FCC to ensure uniform treatment.

And although such imminent refuge crises arguably conflict over internal American tensions on asylum law, local resources are crucial in resolving on-the-ground challenges.

There seems to be no end to the ideologically charged question of what equitable support for refugees requires of society: whether political debates saturate media headlines. clay contain vital information from viewership, as they still navigate readiness these resources: an apparent paradox to Jubrail.

“I’m very excited to be doing this for the community,” she said. “It’s nerve-wracking, but I’m hopeful and excited!, Statements consistent to overcome

Natalie Jubrail is a community leader and child program coordinator whose parents immigrated from Mexico and Syria. She is running in the Los Angeles Marathon to raise funds for the san Fernando Valley Refugee Children Center (RCC). Her participation highlights the efforts to support refugees and immigrants in Southern California, particularly in hosting and transitioning newcomers into safe environments .

What is the mission of the San Fernando Valley Refugee Children Center (RCC)?

The RCC provides complete support to refugees navigating the complexities of immigration in the U.S.This includes essential goods, mental health care, legal guidance, and educational services like ESL classes.Established in 2015, the center transitioned into a nonprofit association in 2018 to extend its reach and enhance its impact on families and minors facing the challenges of resettlement.

How does the RCC support refugee families and children?

The center implements a holistic approach, offering “zero-tolerance” policies that mirror broader struggles for immigrant families nationwide. Through its Children and Families Department, it distributes essential goods and services, focuses on mental health care, provides legal guidance, and delivers educational services ensuring that children and families feel safe and supported.

What events does the RCC host for refugee families?

Weekly Wednesday Night events at the RCC provide a forum for open discussions and education about law changes and resource availability. These gatherings empower families by validating their rights and teaching resilience, foundational aspects in their journey of personal empowerment and adjustment to life in a new country.

How can individuals contribute to the RCC’s mission?

Individuals can contribute by donating to the RCC through events like the Los Angeles Marathon or by supporting partner organizations like the International Institute of Los Angeles (IILA) which aims to foster independence and strengthen the community for immigrants and refugees .

What challenges do refugees face when resettling in the U.S.?

Refugees encounter numerous challenges including navigating new languages and cultures, accessing social services, and overcoming trauma from past violence. To address these, the RCC and similar organizations provide critical support services and work to understand and meet the complex needs of refugee children and their families.

Why are services like those provided by the RCC essential to refugee communities?

Services offered by the RCC are vital because they not only meet immediate needs but also focus on long-term empowerment and community integration. This includes overcoming language barriers, overcoming past trauma, and securing stable futures for children and families amidst challenging immigration policies and possible deportations.

What role does community involvement play in supporting refugees?

Community involvement plays a pivotal role by providing practical assistance, advocating for policies that support refugees, and fostering an inclusive environment. Community-driven efforts, exemplified by Natalie Jubrail’s marathon participation, are crucial for addressing on-the-ground challenges and creating a supportive ecosystem for refugees.