Supporting Newcomers
The faith community always finds ways to support those in need, and many new to the county rely on faith communities to help them get started in their new home. This page will share a few resources available within our county to help in those efforts.
For those working with immigrants (current trends include Afghan, Ukrainian, Haitian, Cuban, and other nationalities) make sure you start by connecting with local resettlement agencies to see what resources are available.
For supporting migrants from the southern border coming from Texas and Arizona:
Montgomery County Resettlement Working Group
On the last Wednesday of the month at 7 pm, faith and community leaders meet virtually to discuss their experiences supporting newcomers in the county. This is a call to allow for networking and sharing resources, connecting those in the county passionate about supporting newcomers with opportunities and ways to be involved.
This group is open to all to join. It is a casual meeting for networking purposes, and no one is appointed to any specific role or assigned duties. To join future meetings please email interfaith@montgomerycountymd.gov.
Gilchrist Immigrant Resource Center
The Gilchrist Center is a gateway for Montgomery County's immigrants. Our center provides information and referrals to programs and services offered by government agencies and community organizations. Our aim is to:
strengthen immigrant communities' life skills through English and basic computer classes, and
increase their knowledge to prepare for civic life and/or U.S. citizenship.
The Gilchrist Immigrant Resource Center is a community where residents can contribute their talents to help others. It is a testament to Montgomery County’s commitment to building one of the world’s most welcoming communities.
The Center is part of Montgomery County's Office of Community Partnerships (OCP). We work together with the County's Community Liaisons to the Latino, African, Caribbean, and Asian communities. Modeled after Welcoming America's national welcoming framework, we have created a Welcoming Framework for Montgomery County, MD.
Bienvenidos Institute
Montgomery County initiative developed to support and connect newcomers in the County with information and services.
Spanish WhatsApp group:
Apúntate a nuestro grupo de WhatsApp enviando "Hola" al 240-447-1862.
New Neighbors Interfaith Alliance
The New Neighbors Interfaith Alliance (NNIA) works to join the efforts and resources of Montgomery County and Prince George’s County faith communities to support the local immigrant community in all areas necessary for them to have a healthy and productive life in Maryland.
Visit NNIA’s Resource Library which provides many documents to help you and your faith community in addressing the needs of our immigrant community.
Solutions and Hometown Connections
Since its inception in 2017, Solutions in Hometown Connections (SHC) has been dedicated to providing steadfast programs and solutions tailored for refugee and immigrant families. Our focus shines brightly on wives, mothers, and daughters, who often encounter hurdles in accessing English programs and workforce opportunities compared to their male counterparts.
Through SHC's comprehensive offerings, families are enveloped in an inclusive community, fostering growth and integration. SHC holds in-person programming at locations in Montgomery County; including the Gilchrist Immigrant Resource Center at the Gaithersburg Library and at the Gwendolyn E. Coffield Community Recreation Center in Silver Spring. Online programming is also available for Montgomery County residents.
At the state level, SHC is a partner organization of the Maryland Office for Refugees and Asylees (MORA) administering the Refugee Family Engagement Program. At the Federal level, SHC is a USCIS awardee supporting vulnerable populations with naturalization services.
Contact us for more information
© 2023 Faith Community Advisory Group
