Kim Peasley

Needed: New school supplies & backpacks for NAC families. Drop off donations between 10-2 daily. Our office is located at 233 Harrison, Suite B5 (behind the stage). Thank you. We also need books for young children to start a home library. And, we always welcome financial contributions.

Leadership in giving by our Gala Sponsors enables Newcomers Access Center to host a successful gala that raises money to help newcomers in our community. We appreciate  the generosity of our sponsors in supporting NAC’s gala and helping those less fortunate start new lives in Southern California. Visit our Gala Sponsor page to see a list of all our sponsors. 

Nabila Painda gives a firsthand account of escaping the harsh rule of the Taliban in Afghanistan in a three-part series “Nabila’s Journey,” that was published in the Claremont Courier. She begins her story when she was 8 and the Taliban took over and barred girls from school. Her mother joined other brave women to start an underground school for girls, but one day Nabila watched in horror as the Taliban came and shot the women. Her mother survived, and the family fled to Pakistan for five years, returning to Afghanistan after the Taliban was removed from power. Nabila became a teacher and then a principal of a school for girls.  But in 2021 when U.S. forces left Afghanistan, the Taliban returned. In the Courier articles, Nabila writes about how her family escaped again, eventually ending up in the Inland Valley.  NAC helped the Painda family when they arrived in Claremont, and we are proud of its accomplishments. We hope you will read all three parts of Nabila’s powerful story of courage and determination. Her story represents one of the many families NAC serves.

Sunday, March 31, 2024, is the last day to buy Early-Bird seats to the Newcomers Access Center’s gala. After that date, regular ticket prices will be $125 each. Bring friends to fill a table for eight. Buy tickets at newcomersaccesscenter.org/gala/.

Newcomers Access Center’s Gala will be held Sunday, April 21, 2024, at the Doubletree Hilton in Ontario. The memorable evening includes sizzling Latin jazz by the Susie Hansen Latin Band, interactive magic by magician and emcee, Aaron O’Brien, and silent and live auctions with fabulous items donated by supporters. (Auction donations still welcome!) Last year NAC’s gala sold out, so take advantage of early prices and get your gala seats now.

Proceeds directly benefit refugees and immigrants in the community.

Get your business’s name in front of a diverse and influential audience while supporting a worthy cause! You are invited to donate an auction item to Newcomers Access Center’s Gala to be held Sunday, April 21, 2024, at the Doubletree Hilton in Ontario. The memorable evening includes sizzling Latin jazz by the Susie Hansen Latin Band, interactive magic by magician and emcee, Aaron O’Brien, and silent and live auctions with fabulous items donated by supporters. Last year our gala sold out, and this year we anticipate a crowd of 250 influential community members. Benefits of donating to the auction include recognition at the event as well on our website, newsletter, and social media. Learn more about sponsorships, auction donations, and tickets on the Gala Page on our website.

Sizzling Latin Jazz to Spice Up NAC Gala April 21

Newcomers Access Center is pleased to announce that the Susie Hansen Latin Band will provide entertainment at our fundraising Gala held Sunday April 21, 2024, at the Doubletree Hilton in Ontario! Gala goers will be treated to swinging salsa music featuring the fiery Hansen on electric violin backed up by all-star band members who blend Afro-Cuban and straight-ahead jazz. The memorable evening also includes interactive magic by magician Aaron O’Brien, who will emcee the event, and auctions where you can bid on fabulous gifts.

Gala tickets are $125 per person. Early Bird tickets are $100 per person until March 31, 2024. Sponsorships and auction donations are welcome. Visit the Gala Page on NAC’s website to learn more and to purchase tickets or sponsorships.

The Rotary Club of Claremont learned about how Newcomers Access Center helps refugees and immigrants in the community at a lunch on Friday, January 18. The club invited NAC president Anne Thorward and client Iuliia Blakytna, a newcomer from Ukraine, to speak. Anne gave a slide presentation with examples showing how NAC works with partner organizations and volunteers to help newcomers as they start new lives in the U.S. Iuliia spoke to the group about her personal experience leaving Ukraine after Russia invaded. She shared how NAC has helped her family which includes her 13-year-old daughter and her mother, Tetiana Korotkova. Iuliia’s husband remains in Ukraine caring for his elderly parents who cannot travel. The Rotary Club presented a $500 check to NAC for which NAC is most grateful.

A big shout out to Claremont Rotarians who purchased, delivered and installed two new storage cabinets for the NAC office. These talented volunteers helped NAC get better organized. From L-R, thanks goes to Mark Carson, Tom Shelley, Gerald Goldman, and John Howland. You really have made a difference.

In Memoriam: Sandra Hester Newcomers Access Center recently lost a founder and long-time board member, Sandra Hester. She is already greatly missed by the board, staff, donors and friends of NAC. In addition to her significant financial support for NAC, Sandy served as Board VP and a Finance committee member, stepping in whenever needed. Her

This summer, NAC welcomed Claire, a Junior at Pomona College studying Public Policy Analysis, as a Development Intern. While with us, Claire was instrumental in strategizing, drafting, and submitting two important grant proposals to help NAC expand its services to refugee and immigrant families. She also helped create a survey to help NAC better understand and support client families’ needs and aspirations. Her internship was generously funded by the Kolibri Internship Program and administered by Pomona College Internship Program (PCIP). Claire is continuing to help NAC grow in its capacity to serve newcomer families this fall through funding opportunities. She recently attended the Association of Proposal Management Professionals (APMP) Western Region Conference, where she had the opportunity to hear presentations from and network with professionals in the business development field, and is looking forward to applying what she learned to this internship. NAC is grateful for our continued partnership with Pomona College and the hard work of all our college interns!

If you must take Required Minimum Distributions from IRA accounts, consider making a direct transfer from your IRA to NAC. By doing so, you may reduce your tax liability in the year of the gift. Contact your broker about how to transfer your distributions. Or, call NAC for information. NAC receives such donations every month. Thank you.

Angel Choukeir has been appointed to NAC’s board. Angel is a dedicated person with a passion for both fitness and scientific research. He owns a personal training business taking pride in helping people achieve their health and fitness goals. He conducts biochemistry and molecular physiology research for a local university, merging cutting-edge research into application. He is currently a premedical student intending to pursue a medical degree with a focus on global healthcare. His goal is to work with Doctors Without Borders and provide medical services in underserved communities around the world. He says that he is “forever grateful for the opportunities I have made within the community.” Angel has certainly demonstrated his volunteer service as a terrific multi-talented, energetic worker at NAC doing various tasks over the years with clients, staff and other volunteers.

Will you donate school supplies to Newcomers Access Center refugee students (K-12)? Please deliver new backpacks, notebooks, and other school supplies to the NAC office at 233 Harrison Avenue, Level B (via elevator), between 11 am – 2:30 pm weekdays. Please donate by July 26. Thank you.

NAC Speaks at Solid Rock Church On Saturday May 27 Solid Rock Church in Claremont hosted a dinner and discussion panel regarding the refugee and immigrant experience in the US.There was a delicious Halal dinner provided by an NAC family from Syria, followed by the discussion panel. NAC president, Anne Thorward, spoke oncurrent issues facing

Newcomers Access Center (NAC) is pleased to offer a free Immigration Workshop called Know Your Rights, focused primarily on the status of pathways for Afghan and Ukrainian nationals. The workshop will take place on Tuesday, March 14, from 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm, in the Sumner Room at the NAC office building at 233 Harrison Avenue in Claremont. Enter in the front of the church building, not the NAC office.

This workshop will be presented by an immigration manager and a legal representative from the International Rescue Committee of Los Angeles. A limited number of private, personal consultations with an IRC accredited representative will be available after the formal presentation. Pre-registration is required to attend the event and also for the limited slots for consultation. To register, email office@newcomersaccesscenter.org as soon as possible.

January 2023
“If I cannot do great things, I can do small things in a great way.”  Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

These words from the late civil rights activist Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. inspire us to do whatever small things we can do during these troubled times.  As we enter a New Year, I would like to take a moment to thank our volunteers, donors, partners and friends for all those things you “do in a great way” for Newcomers Access Center. Your small acts added up in 2022, enabling us to serve more  families. We are humbled by their accomplishments. (read more)

Tickets to Newcomers Access Center’s Gala are now on sale on the Gala Page on our website. Our Gala Benefit Dinner and Silent Auction will be held on Sunday, February 26, 2023, from 4 pm to 7 pm at the beautiful Padua Hills Theatre in Claremont.  Enjoy good company, new friends, delicious food, live music and a silent auction.  You may buy individual tickets, a table for 8 or 9, or a sponsorship (which includes a table). The event includes a delicious Mediterranean dinner, live music,  opportunity drawing ticket(s), and participate in a Silent Auction. Bid on many valuable gifts during the Silent Auction donated by NAC‘s supporters. All proceeds benefit programs for refugees and immigrants in our community.

Newcomers Access Center (NAC) has moved!

233 W. Harrison Ave., Suite B5, Claremont.

NAC is located in the Claremont United Church of Christ building.

To reach NAC’s office do one of the following:

Go through the church building, go past the church office, and take the elevator and press B.

Or

Enter off 6th Street (free parking lot across the street), then take walkway to outside elevator and press B. 

Our phone number remains (909) 455-3248.

For Giving Tuesday, consider donating to Newcomers Access Center. We help refugees and immigrants in the Inland Valley area of Southern California. We serve families in Los Angeles, San Bernardino, and Riverside counties. In the last year, we have helped many Afghan and Ukrainian families forced to flee violence in their homeland. Learn more about donating on our website. Thank you!

How You Can Help Ukrainian Refugees in Claremont CA How You Can Help Ukrainian Families Do you want to help Ukrainian refugees living in Claremont? The Russian invasion of Ukraine in February forced more than 7 million Ukrainians to flee. Most are living in Europe, but some 100,000 came to the US. Newcomers Access Center (NAC) helped settle

Volunteers are at the heart of the success of Newcomers Access Center (NAC). In appreciation, NAC held a Volunteer Appreciation lunch on Sunday October 9. The event was hosted by NAC board members and held at Edelweiss Premier Ballroom in San Dimas, owned by Alex and Alla Novikova, who generously donated space for the event.

NAC board president Anne Thorward presented Certificates of Appreciation to volunteers, and guests enjoyed lunch and a quick demonstration of dance techniques led by Alex. NAC volunteers help newly arrived refugee families set up and get settled into temporary apartments. They also help with school enrollments, homework, transportation, shopping, job sources, organizing and much more. Tutoring refugees in English is one of the most important tasks NAC volunteers perform. Beyond providing practical help, volunteers strengthen the courage and resilience of refugees as they rebuild lives in a new country. Thank you to all our fabulous volunteers. More photos of the event can be viewed on the luncheon photo gallery.

Meet two refugees living in the local area being helped by NAC in a recent episode of the Claremont Speaks podcast. Nabila fled from Afghanistan last August with her family, and Hannah fled Ukraine in September 2022 with with her two daughters. NAC board president Anne Thorward interviews the two women about the challenges they face as refugees living, for now, in temporary housing arranged by NAC in Claremont.

Grace Lutheran Church in Upland and Newcomers Access Center (NAC) in Claremont invite you to a Benefit Concert for Refugee Relief. Listen to the classical music of Tatiana Thibodeaux & Rachel Better-Huang and, at a reception following the concert, meet friends, enjoy wine and cheese, and learn about how NAC helps refugees in the local community. The concert will be held Saturday, November 12, 2022, with the concert starting at 4:30 pm and the reception following at 5:30 pm. Grace Lutheran Church is located at 2108 N. Euclid Avenue in Upland CA 91784. Tickets may be purchased for a $20 donation to Newcomers Access Center.

Newcomers Access Center is seeking restaurant or catering sponsors who will donate a a Tasting Table at our Gala on Sunday, February 26, 2023, at the Padua Hills Theatre. Your generous contribution allows us to put on a fabulous event and supports an underserved vulnerable population in our community. Please contact Gala@newcomersaccess.org for more information. Benefits include.

• Signage at your Tasting Table
• Name printed in Gala Program
• Public recognition during the program
• Your donation may be tax deductible
• Align your business with a worthy cause
• Listed as a Catering Sponsor on NAC website

NAC hosted a free Eye Exam Clinic on Saturday, August 20 at the NAC office. NAC families from Afghanistan, Syria, and Ukraine with a total of 15 clients, got their vision checked by ophthalmologists Peter Bekendam and Brian M. Alva, who donated their services. Thank you, Dr. Bekendam and Dr. Alva!

Mark your calendars for Sunday, February 26, 2023. Newcomers Access Center (NAC) will hold its fundraising gala at the beautiful Padua Hills Theatre in Claremont. Enjoy good company, new friends, delicious food, live music and a silent auction to benefit NAC families. Tickets will be on sale soon. You may buy individual tickets, a table, or a sponsorship (which includes a table). Your ticket includes entrance to the event held at the beautiful historic Padua Hills Theatre, dinner, music, an opportunity drawing ticket, and a chance to meet friends and supporters of NAC. It also includes a Silent Auction where you can bid on many valuable items donated by our supporters. Learn more on our Gala page.

Do you speak Russian or Ukrainian? If so, you can help local refugee families. Newcomers Access Center is helping recently arrived Ukrainian refugees living in the Inland Valley. While they do speak English, at times a translator who speaks Russian or Ukrainian would be helpful. If you would like to be on our list of translators, please contact office@newcomersaccesscenter.org.

If you cannot help translate, there are other ways you can help. For example, one of our families that arrived last week is a mom with her two daughters. The mom would like to learn to drive. We are looking for donations to help pay for driving school.  If you can help, please make a donation. Thank you!

August 1 is coming soon. Two NAC families need at least $800 rental supplements.  One couple are Afghan professionals working low wage jobs that barely support family basic necessities. The second family arrived in the U.S. one month ago, and dad is waiting for his work permit. Other NAC clients paid his security deposit and July rent. Now NAC wants to send at least $800 to each of their landlords. Another family needs a $1,000 security deposit for permanent housing. Will you help them? Thank you. The first of next month is almost here!

Any help you provide will be most appreciated! You can donate on the Donate Page on our Website. Your support keeps NAC clients in their homes.

President Anne Thorward spoke to members of the Claremont United Church of Christ (CUCC) via Zoom in June. She shared stories about how Newcomers Access Center (NAC) started and described its mission of helping refugees and immigrants in the Inland Valley. She talked about how volunteers from the community help refugees with learning English, transportation, signing kids up for school, shopping and so much more.  She explained how donations are used to provide things like rent subsidies, furniture, driving lessons, household items, new shoes, baby items, diapers, car seats, college tuition and textbooks, gift cards, down payment for a car or van  . . .  some of the things refugees and immigrants need to get settled and become independent. Anne thanked CUCC for its support as one of NAC’s partners. To view the talk visit the CUCC YouTube link.

Newcomers Access Center hosted a booth at the City of Claremont’s 4th of July festival in Memorial Park.  Thank you to all our volunteers and supporters who helped out and to the refugee families who attended. We received many visitors at the event and some signed up to donate or volunteer. Support from the local community is vital to our success, and we appreciate all who want to lend a hand in welcoming refugees to the Inland Valley.

A year ago, MP and his wife, NP, were a successful career couple in Afghanistan raising three lovely daughters, now 5, 2, and 1 year old. All that changed in August, when the Taliban took over the country, forcing the young couple to flee as refugees. We left everything in Afghanistan,” Mrs. P said. “We took only some of our documents and some diapers and formula for our kids… we left our house, our car, and our money in the bank, and we weren’t able to bring anything with us.” Also fleeing with them were Mrs. P’s older brother, his wife, three children, and their parents. Now the three families are starting from scratch, living in temporary housing in Claremont. The local mosque has organized a Go Fund Me to raise money toward the purchase of a car. We invite Newcomers Access Center supporters to contribute. Read more about this family on the Go Fund Me link.

Refugees are some of the most vulnerable people in the world. Faced with war, persecution or terror, they leave everything behind to rebuild lives in a new country. NAC’s goal is to welcome refugees, connect them with services and resources, and enable them to become self-sufficient and integrate into the larger society. June 20 is World Refugee Day, and we would like to take this opportunity to thank those who support us in our mission

Thank you to our volunteers. We could not fulfill our mission without you! You assist with shopping, transportation, tutoring ESL, school enrollments, job sources and much more. You also inspire those you help, nourishing their resilience and determination. Each of you deserves an award! We have dozens of volunteers, but we can always use more. If you are interested in becoming a volunteer, please complete our Volunteer Application on our website.

We would also like to thank our partners, a wide assortment of community and faith-based groups that work with us to help refugee families. If you are a member of an organization that might want to partner with NAC, please complete our Partner Application on our website.

Donors are the lifeline of our work, giving us the resources we need to provide rent subsidies, furniture, driving lessons, household items, new shoes, baby items, diapers, car seats, college tuition and textbooks, gift cards, down payment for a car or van  . . .  some of the things refugees and immigrants need to get settled and become independent. Thank you donors for your generous support. To learn more about the many ways to make a contribution, please go to our Donate Page on our website.

The Rotary Club of Claremont recently awarded NAC a grant to help with transportation. The money will be used to purchase bikes and bike locks and to help pay for driving lessons. Thank you to Claremont Rotary for your generous donation! Your grant will help our refugee families get to jobs, school, ESL classes, medical appointments, grocery store and more.

They are here!  Refugees from several countries have joined English Classes at NAC.  Come meet newcomers from Afghanistan, Egypt, Haiti, Dominican Republic, Mexico, China, Brazil and Ukraine. In addition to NAC clients from Syria, Iraq and Jordan, new families living on the Claremont School of Theology (CST) campus are part of United Methodist Disaster Response Mission.

NAC needs you!  Become a tutor.  It’s fun and heartwarming. Other volunteer opportunities abound:  help with shopping, transportation, office support, school enrollments, employment team, and much more. Sign up here.

Thank you for sharing your time, talent and treasure with NAC families. You will be glad you did.

One of our Afghan refugee families is expecting a new baby on May 22. He will brother to another boy, almost 2. Newcomers Access Center (NAC) is asking supporters to help us to provide the family with needed items. We have put together an Amazon Wish List. You may shop off the list and the items will be sent to NAC. We can also accept items that are dropped off at the NAC office.  Thank you for your support.

Would you like to help refugee family pre-schoolers? Newcomers Access Center (NAC) has a need for volunteers to play with pre-school children in our children’s room while their parents learn English. Come one or more days each week from 1:30 – 2:30. If you are interested, please email our volunteer organizer, Janet Lin or call (909) 455-3248.

Our office is located at 1401 North College Ave, Building F.  Go halfway up the driveway toward the Botanic Garden and we are on the left.

NAC volunteers who work with refugees must complete a background check ($20). NAC Covid Policy: Everyone who works, visits or volunteers at NAC or attends any in-person function or drives clients must be fully vaccinated, wear a mask indoors, and wear a mask when inside any car driven by a NAC volunteer. Children under 4 excepted.

Come help Newcomers Access Center with Spring Clean Up on Wednesday April 27  from 2:30 to 3:30 in the afternoon. We need volunteers to help with weeding, dusting and vacuuming. Help us keep the NAC office area nice and tidy for our refugee families and volunteers. Bring your garden gloves and wear comfortable clothes.

Our office is located on the School of Theology campus. The address is 1401 North College Ave, Building F.  Go halfway up the driveway toward the Botanic Garden and we are on the left. 

NAC COVID POLICY: Everyone who works, visits or volunteers at NAC or attends any in-person function or drives clients must be fully vaccinated, wear a mask indoors, and wear a mask when inside any car driven by a NAC volunteer.  Children under 4 excepted.

Do you have an hour or two to spare each week to volunteer?  Newcomers Access Center (NAC) in Claremont has volunteer opportunities for English tutors and drivers to help local refugee families.  You can apply to be a volunteer on our website or call us at 909-455-3248 for more information.

Tutoring English takes place at our office on the campus of the Claremont School of Theology (CST) 1:30-2:30 every weekday afternoon. You do not need experience in teaching English as a Second language (ESL) as we will provide guidance and materials.  We tutor refugee family members of all ages and levels of English. This is a great opportunity to help refugees assimilate into society and empower them to become independent.

NAC also needs drivers who can help with transportation to and from adult school at 8:30 am and again at 12 noon or who can be on call to help take refugees to medical appointments.

All our volunteers undergo a simple background check ($20).

NAC COVID POLICY: Everyone who works, visits or volunteers at NAC or attends any in-person function or drives clients must be fully vaccinated, wear a mask indoors, and wear a mask when inside any car driven by a NAC volunteer.  Children under 4 excepted.   (Revised February 2022)

Did you know that if you are age 72 or older and have an IRA account, you can donate to Newcomers Access Center directly from your IRA account and save on taxable income? If you already filed for 2021, do this now for 2022. Check with the firm that has your IRA. Or, call Anne Thorward,  who has done this several times at (909) 455-3248.

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

NAC‘s first Afghan American baby born in 2022.  Welcome this 6.3 pound
healthy boy to the world. Congratulations to his parents.

Temple Beth Israel (TBI) has invited NAC Board President Anne Thorward to speak at the temple for Refugee Shabbat March 4, 2022, at 7:30 pm. You may attend in person or by Facebook Live or YouTube.  Anne will talk about how NAC helps refugees in the community. TBI is located at 3033 N. Town Ave in Pomona.  The talk is part of Refugee Shabbat, determined by the international refugee nonprofit HIAS (www.hias.org)

Newcomers Access Center was featured on the Kelly Clarkson Show on Wed, February 23, 2022 on NBC and Peacock Television. You can view the segment on Youtube.

Newcomers Access Center welcomed Danny Hsu as a new board member in January. Danny and his family immigrated from Asia to Los Angeles when he was 7 years old. After trying out many majors as an undergraduate at UC San Diego, Danny decided to focus on history and eventually took a PhD in history from UCLA. He has conducted research in China as a Fulbright scholar and has published on various topics related to China. He recently finished editing a four-volume anthology of classical Chinese prose that will be published in 2022. Danny loves working with first-generation college students to help them reach their full potential. Danny enjoys good hikes, the challenge of rock climbing, and working on his jazz guitar chops.