RISSE

Every child deserves a reason to smile. 💛

This Wednesday, Albany Medical College brought so much joy to our after-school program with a Teddy Bear Clinic! 🧸✨ Students were given “injured” stuffed animals and guided through different stations to help nurse their fuzzy friends back to health. ❤️‍🩹

There were smiles, tiny bandages, lots of imagination, and a room full of care and compassion. Moments like these remind us how powerful community can be—and how much children thrive when they feel supported, seen, and celebrated. 🫶

Huge thank you to Ganling, Theresa, and the incredible AMC volunteers who made this day so special! ♥️

Want to help create more moments like this?
Volunteer with RISSE, donate, and contribute to our mission of supporting refugee and immigrant families in our community. Every act of support helps us build brighter, more joyful futures for a diverse Capital Region together. 🌎✨

✨ RISSE Community Connections & Moments of Impact

📚 Throwback to our “Know Your Library” session

We loved partnering with to connect newcomer families to free local resources.

New York State has 1,000+ public libraries, yet many newcomers do not have library cards. During this session, nearly 30 participants signed up on the spot. 💙

Families left with access to books, technology, and programs, and the excitement to make the library part of their everyday lives.

🌱 Growth doesn’t always look the way we expect.
Sometimes, it looks like a room full of people—laughing, learning, and gently stretching together.

This Monday at RISSE, that’s exactly what happened 💛

A huge thank you to everyone who joined our **Volunteer Coffee Hour & Training** ☕
What began as a quiet start (and a stubborn doorbell 😅) quickly turned into a joyful, full room—filled with connection, curiosity, meaningful conversations, and yes… sweet treats.

During the training, Dr. Claudia introduced the **Learning Zone Model**—a reminder that growth asks us to move beyond what’s comfortable:

✨ Comfort Zone — what feels familiar
✨ Learning Zone — where we reflect and grow
✨ Panic Zone — where overwhelm can stop us

And maybe the most important part—growth doesn’t happen alone.

It happens in spaces like this one, where we feel safe enough to stretch, stay curious, and show up for one another.

🌟 Thank you, Claudia, for holding such a thoughtful and powerful space.
💛 And to our volunteers—you are the heart of this work.

✨ Interested in joining us? Stay tuned for upcoming trainings and ways to get involved.

As we welcome the New Year, RISSE celebrates what makes our Capital Region truly special—our people. Togetherness, diversity, and shared experiences continue to enrich our communities, strengthen our connections, and inspire hope for what’s ahead. Here’s to a year of unity, understanding, and collective growth. ✨

Thank you to UAlbany’s Sigma Beta Rho Fraternity for joining us to volunteer last month! We enjoyed having you and the enthusiasm you brought to RISSE! 🌎

❄️ Our second annual RISSE Winter Readiness Fair was a great success, with more than 40 participants joining us! ❄️

Thank you to our amazing partners—, , and —for providing Winterization Home Kits, Emergency Survival Backpacks, and essential information on housing and tenant rights to help newcomer families stay safe and warm during their Upstate NY winter.

Also a warm thank-you to for hosting us with hot chocolate and cookie decorating that brought joy and community to the evening.

Events like this make a real difference, helping newcomers feel equipped, supported, and welcomed in their new home. 🏡 ❄️

*All our outreach events are made possible by our grant provider

AlbanyNY CommunitySupport

Thank you to the residents of South Pine Avenue for their generosity in donating food items on behalf of newcomers in our area. Many of our clients and students have already benefited greatly from your generosity. We are grateful for the continued support from our community!

There’s still time!! ⏳⏱️ Give before the day ends and help RISSE continue the Capital Region’s proud history of welcoming new neighbors.

This GivingTuesday, help newcomer individuals and families find stability, safety, and community.
Since 2007, RISSE has supported refugees and immigrants rebuilding their lives—and your gift makes it possible. 💛
Every dollar counts. Donate today 👉 rissealbany.app.neoncrm.com/forms/donate

Thank you to UAlbany’s Ecuadorian Student Association for volunteering with us last week! We appreciate your hard work. A huge shout out to this incredible group of students for coming in on a snowy November night to volunteer!