Stop the Hate Programs Fresno Interdenominational Refugee Ministries (FIRM)

By Felicia D. Roberts l CVV News

December 7, 2024

FRESNO – Commission on the State of Hate, Racial Equity Commission, and Commission on Asian and Pacific Islander American Affairs, joint meeting, held a ”community listening session” to hear ”stories of discrimination, healing and change in Fresno” and
”the views, needs, and concerns in the Fresno community;” other business at the Fresno
Interdenominational Refugee Ministries, 2630 E Weldon Ave. Contact: csh@calcivilrights.ca.gov.

Fresno Interdenominational Refugee Ministries (FIRM) is one of many organizations in response to a rise in hate crimes and at the start of Asian & Pacific Islander Heritage Month, Governor Gavin Newsom, along with the California Civil Rights Department (CRD), today, announced the official launch of CA vs Hate, a new multilingual statewide hotline and website that provides a safe, anonymous reporting option for victims and witnesses of hate acts. CA vs Hate is in direct response to the rise in reported hate crimes in California, which in recent years, reached their highest levels since 2001 – jumping almost 33% from 2020 to 2021.

Facts: Governor Newsom and the Legislature have invested $110 million into anti-hate programs

FIRM is a faith-based non-profit that serves the needs of over 10,000 refugees in the Fresno area of the California San Joaquin Valley, primarily refugees of Southeast Asian, Slavic, and African origin.  In 2017, we served refugees from 22 different countries.  We serve them through holistic neighborhood/youth outreach and enrichment programs, citizenship, advocacy, community gardens, health navigation and policy work, culturally appropriate community organizing, an after-school program and much more.

FIRM was incorporated in January 1994 as a partnership between refugee-led congregations and mainstream white and Western congregations to meet the concrete needs of the many refugee families recently relocated to Fresno County. We trace our history to many years of prior work in refugee resettlement and volunteer services through multiple denominations and in partnership with Church World Service. 

As part of the Wellness and Welcome Program at FIRM, our Stop the Hate team offers services in systems navigation on a case-by-case basis, community resources and services that are available here in the Central Valley, hate crimes, hate incidents, and how to report resources, and peer support group for victims and families of victims of hate crimes.

Reach out to us today to learn more about our services!

Services:

Systems Navigation: advocacy, applying for benefits, accessing healthcare services, etc.

Hate Crimes, Hate Incidents and How to Report

Peer Support Group for victims and families of victims of hate crimes

This resource was supported in whole or in part by funding provided by the State of California, administered by the California State Library via California Black Media as part of the Stop the Hate Program. The program is supported by partnership with California Department of Social Services and the California Commission on Asian and Pacific Islander American Affairs as part of the Stop the Hate program. To report a hate incident or hate crime and get support, go to CA vs Hate.