Mission Statement
Empowering Burmese refugees toward sustainable self-reliance
2020 WRAP Holiday Video
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Burma Pro-Democracy AdvocatesIn Solidarity with Burma’s Pro-Democracy Advocates – February 2021
As advocates for refugees from Burma and as partners with them in their resettlement in Worcester, MA, we are deeply sad to learn of the recent military takeover of that country. The army generals in Burma staged a swift coup last week, displacing a partially-civilian government and crushing hopes that the country might continue on its nascent path toward democracy. The pro-democracy party of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi won the recent parliamentary elections by 82% of the vote. Seeing their power (and their business interests) under threat, the generals called that election fraudulent, declared a one-year state of emergency, shut down the internet and social media, and replaced the civilian government with army officials. Aung San Suu Kyi has been placed under house arrest (once again) and many writers, student activists, artists, and reporters have gone into hiding. Brave citizens are protesting the coup in street demonstrations, at great peril to themselves. As the WRAP Board, we stand in solidarity with Burma’s pro-democracy forces and, like them, demand an immediate return to civilian rule. May it be clear that WRAP does not stand with the leadership of Aung San Suu Kyi, given the recent genocide in the Rakhine State against the Muslim Rohingya people, and the denial of any wrong-doing by Suu Kyi. We are hopeful that this moment of strife can help the nation move toward ethnic equality and a genuine federal union. Burma is a hugely promising country, which should be thriving, were it not for decades of military misrule and the Burmese army’s appropriation of natural resources for its own benefit. Attacks on ethnic minority regions by the Burmese national army are ongoing. The international community must act to help Burma return to its pro-democracy hopes. Protest on February 12th The Massachusetts Burmese community will be having a demonstration this Friday February 12th, 11:00am -12 pm in front of the State House. (Boston, MA) We will give an open letter to the State Representative to reach to the White House to push for change and support. Please join us in solidarity with the people of Burma to show that they are not alone. Democracy must prevail. Please join us even you are not from Burma, if you care about democracy and human rights. Please call or message to (617) 412 6799 for updates. Black Lives MatterThe WRAP Board of Directors publicly affirms not only that Black Lives Matter but also our support of the mission of the Black Lives Matter movement. The fight for a world free of anti-Black racism is also the fight for a world free of all xenophobia and immigrant oppression. The movement to uplift and affirm the contributions and worth of Black lives directly lifts up the movement for justice for all migrants, regardless of whether they fit neatly into narratives of "good" or "bad" immigrants. The Black Lives Matter movement demonstrates to us at WRAP what this world could be and where we hope to go, and it inspires us to be critical of ourselves and our role, both in bettering the world and in the ways we have not been aware of our positionality in the past.
We are working towards heightened anti-racism training for those in our leadership and ways we can actualize the work of the Black Lives Matter movement in our own work. The change starts with ourselves and the ways each of us can be more aware of how white supremacy has corrupted our thoughts, and then it moves out towards deep reflection on the institutions (large and small) that we support and live within and how we can push for change. Wrap in the NewsGreater Worcester Community Foundation’s support strengthens community connections
Rohingya refugees get screen time as Muppets - Arkansas Democrat Gazette WRAP opens its new doors in style. Learn more with this piece from the Worcester Telegram and Gazette Grand opening of Worcester Refugee Assistance Project Interested in getting involved with providing assistance to Refugees? Check out this article: Ways You Can Help Refugees: Former Obama Chief of Staff Speaks at Holy Cross If you want to learn more about refugee communities in Worcester, take a read through this article is the Telegram feature the work of Susan Rogers with WRAP community members: Professor aims to tell refugees' stories of making a new life in Worcester. Check out these two articles about the WRAP Youth published in the Telegram & Gazette and on Umass Med Now. From refugee camp to Tower Hill: Burmese youth group eases assimilation Creative classes build bridges between cultures, help refugee youth from Burma adjust to new lives WRAP at the 2017 World Summit on Social AccountabilityMedical Students and Youth Coordinator Courtney Temple and Mark Fusunyan present WRAP Youth programming at the 2017 World Summit on Social Accountability in Hammamet, Tunisia. Medical students from around the world heard about the youth and their amazing storybook!
Check out our new promoWRAP's Creative CornerCheck out the newest local exhibit of artwork by Hay Reh, featured in the lobby gallery at Tower Hill Botanic Garden in Boylston, MA!
WRAP Speaks at Worcester City Council Meeting |
AnnouncementsNEW BEGINNINGS in 2021!
WRAP has now gone virtual, which means we will be accepting postal mail at the following address: Worcester Refugee Assistance Project (WRAP) PO BOX 1142 Worcester MA 01613 All donations and correspondence should be mailed to the post office box moving forward! Happy New Year! Office hours are by appointment only by contacting the Executive Director, Lesa McWalters, at lesa@worcesterrefugees.org or by phone or text at 774-276-1602. WRAPs New Home Ribbon CuttingThanks to all who attended the Open House Ribbon Cutting on May 10th! We look forward to serving refugees from Burma in the City of Worcester for many years to come!
And a special thank you to Commerce Bank (Berkshire Bank) for your generous donation!
Congratulations Meme!
WRAP community celebrates in their new location honoring long-time volunteer Meme Tran as she graduates from medical school and starts her residency at UMass Hospital in Worcester!
Congratulations Meme from all of us at WRAP! Help us Furnish the New SpaceIf you didn't know, we just moved and are in need of furnishings for our new space. Any help you can provide is greatly appreciated. Please check out our Wish List if you are interested in helping out.
When you go to smile.amazon.com and enter our organization name, for any eligible purchase you make Amazon will donate to WRAP. It won't change the cost for your purchase, it just adds a touch of heart.
 Use Giving Assistant to save money and support Worcester Refugee Assistance Project Inc. Learn about Refugee Mental HealthClick here to watch an episode of A Bridge to Better Mental Health on Worcester's WCCA TV in September 2016 featuring three young refugee women from Burma
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Ways to help and New Volunteer application
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PO BOX 1142 Worcester MA 01613 Please contact us with your questions or comments. |
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