April 1, 2022

Two of NAC’s Afghan families transitioned from temporary housing to regular apartments in March. The families had been living in temporary apartments on the campus of the Claremont School of Theology. With NAC’s help, family members were able to obtain employment and find housing, a big step on the road to becoming self-sufficient and integrating meaningfully into the larger society.

The Claremont Rotary Club learned about NAC’s work with refugee and immigrant families from NAC Board President Anne Thorward when she spoke at the club on March 18. Anne brought with a long list of ways to assist refugee and immigrant families. Thank you Claremont Rotary.

We are pleased to announce that Rehana Mowjood has joined our board. Rehana is an American Muslim who is active in various service religious, educational and interfaith organizations throughout California. Rehana was instrumental in setting up the college-counseling program at the City of Knowledge School in Pomona, and she served as that school’s College Guidance Counselor till she retired. She is a long-time member of the Upland Interfaith Council and the Claremont Interfaith Council for Peace in the Middle East. In these organizations she has helped organize various interfaith activities throughout the Inland Empire including the annual Walk for Peace, Interfaith Prayer Breakfast, Interfaith Seder and Walk for the Hungry to name a few. She has served two terms on the board of the Islamic Center of the Inland Empire. She is also on the Advisory Council of the Umma Free Clinic in South Central Los Angeles and a founding member of IMPACT So Cal, an organization that provides housing and rental assistance to the needy. Rehana received her BA in Finance from Cal State San Bernardino and College Guidance Counseling Certification from the University of California, Riverside. She currently lives in Upland California.

Newcomers Access Center invited local elected officials and community members to meet with refugee families and NAC volunteers and board members on March 22 at the NAC office in Claremont. Family members told their stories of coming to the U.S. as refugees, and officials welcomed them. Pictured from left: Alexander Novikov, owner of Edelweiss Premier Ballroom in San Dimas; Rehana Mowjood, NAC Board Member; Anne Thorward, NAC Board President; Andy Winnick, NAC Board Treasurer; Jed Leano, Mayor of Claremont; Tom Thorward, NAC Chief Financial Officer; Janice Elliott, Upland City Council Member.  Read More