Agency Details:

Somali Bantu Community Association of Vermont, Inc.

Our mission is to facilitate the resettlement and integration of the Somali Bantu Community through providing educational, cultural, and life-skill training programs. We seek to promote English literacy, promote awareness of American culture, and encourage self-sufficiency within and among the individuals and families comprising the Somali Bantu community in the United States, especially in Vermont. As part of our mission, we also support not only the Somali Bantu community, but also any individual or family who could benefit from our programs and services.

Description:
The Somali Bantu Community Association of Vermont, Inc. (SBCAVT) was first established in 2007 with the express goal of facilitating the resettlement and integration of the Somali Bantu refugee community of Vermont, those placed in Chittenden County as a part of a resettlement program initiated in the United States in 1999. The Association provides educational, cultural, and life-skill training programs in an effort to promote self-sufficiency within and among the individuals and families comprising not only the Somali Bantu community, but all refugees, immigrants, and low-income families and individuals in need of service. The Association has focused on education as a means of “bridging the gap” for refugees and as such provides a full range of workshops and classes to meet their needs.

Contact people:

Melissa Smith, Community Development Director, (802) 922-0952, (email) Mohamed Abdi, President, (802) 343-6281, (email)

Office fax number: (802) 264-9633

Address:

130 West Canal Street, Suite 2 Winooski, VT 05404 (See a map)

Web Site: http://www.somalibantuvermont.org.

Miscellaneous Information

1. What target populations does your agency serve?
	The Somali Bantu Community Association works mainly with members of the Somali Bantu refugee community, those resettled in the United States as a part of the resettlement plan initiated in 1999. While many of our constituents were resettled in Chittenden County, our current growth (to well over 600 individuals) has been due to immigration into VT from other settlement cities as a means of reuniting families and in seeking community support in the resettlement process. Many of these individuals no longer qualify for services from other government funded resettlement agencies and rely solely on their Community Association for help.
3. How many paid staff (FTE) do you have?
	0
The organization's main phone number is
	802-658-2683
4. Please indicate your organization type:
	Independent 501 (c)3
How many clients do you serve annually?
	650+
Volunteers for this agency can serve in these county(s):
	Chittenden County

Last updated on October 27, 2009