Somali Bantu Community Association Awarded Major Grant

Group to host open house to announce new program

The Somali Bantu Community Association (SBCA) will hold an open house beginning at 8:30 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 11,  to announce its new refugee employment program. The event will take place at the Somali Bantu Community Center at 302 Burt St.

The SBCA recently receive a $450,000 grant for three years to provide employment support services to the Somali Bantus and other refugees in the Syracuse area.

The grant was award by the Office of Refugee Resettlement.

The program will provide workshops and one-to-one support on topics such as resume writing, job search skills, effective interviewing, etc. More importantly, the program will facilitate successful employment transitions for New Americans by addressing cultural and other barriers.

The program will also work with local employers to understand and support their new employees, including translation services.

The program is open to refugees of all ethnic and cultural backgrounds. The program will also work collaboratively with other organizations that currently provide services to refugees.

“We want to build relationships with local employers who are looking for people who are ready to work,” said Haji Adan, executive director of the SBCA. “Most of the current clients are ready for entry level positions. I am personally inviting local employers to join us on Dec. 11 to learn more about our program.”

The SBCA was founded in 2004 in response to the difficulties Somali Bantu refugees faced upon resettling in Syracuse. Since its establishment, the SBCA has provided cultural programs intended to inform about Bantu life in the United States and programs directed to assisting and aiding the Bantu community in and around Onondaga County in attaining the necessary skills, language competency and resources to overcome poverty and become functioning members of society.

If you are an interested employer, would like to attend the event or would like more information, contact the SBCA at info@somalibantucommunity.org or by calling (315) 214-4480.