Siobhan Whalen to join JCA as Refugee Resettlement Manager
The JCA is pleased to announce that Siobhan Whalen will be joining us as Refugee Resettlement Manager in early January 2022!
Siobhan is passionate about social, economic, and racial justice, and works to ensure that every newcomer to our community has access to the resources they need to thrive. In her most recent role as Grants and Contracts Administrator at the Office of Maine Refugee Services, she has become a key and knowledgeable player within the refugee resettlement system in Maine. Siobhan is skilled in organizational leadership, monitoring and compliance, and contracting, as well as direct service work.
Siobhan started her career as a member of the leadership team at the Coalition for Refugees from Burma (CRB; now the Communities of Rooted Brilliance) in King County, Washington, where she helped to develop and implement services for refugee youth and families to equitably engage with education systems, built partnerships with community groups, and trained and supported over 50 volunteers annually.
We are so excited to welcome Siobhan and for our resettlement work through HIAS to begin in earnest – we expect our first families to arrive in mid-January.
The JCA needs your help to make this project a success – if you are interested in supporting this program financially, please consider making a gift today; if you would like to become involved as a volunteer, please contact Adam Seigal at aseigal@mainejewish.org.
Are you accepting clothing donations for Afghan refugees?
Hi
I and my family are so glad because of we’re here in Portland. Our family is really grateful to JCA.
And specifically from Ms Siobhan Whalen for her kindness; She has a great heart.
Are you accepting house hold items for refugees? Do you need clothes?
Hi Phyllis!
Thank you so much for reaching out. We do indeed accept household items, and possibly clothing. We will have our HIAS team reach out to you ASAP.