Who is EBRIF

We are a coalition of over 35 agencies, organizations, advocates and community leaders serving immigrants, refugees, asylees, Special Immigrant Visa holders, and others permanently displaced from their home countries by persecution, violence, or war who now seek refuge in the San Francisco East Bay. EBRIF includes government agencies, resettlement and other non-profit organizations, community-based groups, members of refugee and immigrant communities, and individual advocates and community leaders.

As a coalition, EBRIF is dedicated to creating an environment of welcoming and belonging through:

  • Collaborative knowledge and resources sharing among a broad array of impacted communities, service providers, and advocates.

  • Engaging the public in building a welcoming community inclusive of refugees, asylees, and immigrants.

  • Raising public awareness of refugees, asylees, and immigrants on all governmental and societal levels, and identifying the systemic challenges that they face.

  • The East Bay Refugee and Immigrant Forum (EBRIF) was established in 1978 as the East Bay Refugee Forum in response to a large influx of Southeast Asian refugees, changing its name in 2018 to reflect a broader set of shared interests and organizations working with immigrants and refugees.

  • Our Vision

    EBRIF envisions a world of welcoming and belonging for all, where stigma, racism, and discrimination are remnants of the past.

    Our Values

    We acknowledge that many of the individuals, families and communities we support flee persecution for being who they are. Whether it is because of their ethnicity or race, ancestral background, beliefs or religion, sexual orientation or gender identity, globalization, climate change or war, they have had to leave their homelands because they were not allowed to exist as they were. The East Bay Refugee and Immigrant Forum supports all immigrants and displaced peoples and invites organizations and communities to join us in this radical welcoming.

    Person- and Family-Centered 
    We promote culturally responsive person-and-family centered services and supports. 

    Potential
    We are inspired by the individuals and families we serve, their achievements, aspirations, and potential as new members of our communities. 

    Power
    The people, families, and communities we support guide the care we provide, shape policies and practices, and are supported in building their leadership and elevating their voices in society. 

    Partnerships
    We can achieve our mission and progress towards our vision only through mutual and respectful partnerships and collaboration that enhance our capabilities and build our capacity. 

  • Welcoming and Belonging
    We work to create a culture that supports a sense for individuals, family members and communities that “I am welcome here and belong” by fighting hate, racism, homo-/trans- phobia, and pushing back on negative and harmful stereotypes/tropes about immigrants, refugees and asylum seekers that undermine a welcoming community culture. 

    Equity and Access
    Refugees, asylees, and immigrants are able to access culturally and linguistically appropriate services and supports they need in achieving self-sufficiency, health, and well-being in their new community. 

    Resources and Knowledge
    We work to create an environment where resources and information are readily available for refugees, asylees, and immigrants, and those who support their healthy integration into our shared community. 

    Collaboration
    Working together we are most effective in both meeting the needs of newcomers and in modeling community values and shared purpose for the greater community. 

    Opportunities
    We work to create opportunities for newcomers to our community in support of their participation in community life. 

    Thriving
    We work to create a community where refugees, asylees, and immigrants thrive and contribute to community life in every aspect. 

    Advocacy
    We work to make visible the needs, challenges, and value of refugees, asylees, and immigrants in our community, and to insist on necessary changes that reduce barriers to their healthy inclusion in our communities. 

  • EBRIF has an active Volunteer Steering Committee that determines the strategic direction of the Forum. Current Steering Committee members have expertise in the realms of primary resettlement, education, employment programs, arts, health care, behavioral health, trauma-informed care, legal services, workforce development, advocacy, and public safety net delivery pertinent to the refugee and immigrant populations in the East Bay. The Steering Committee will review any input received at each quarterly meeting to help drive the course of work undertaken by EBRIF.

    EBRIF is fiscally sponsored by Lao Family Community Development, Inc.

Land Acknowledgement

The East Bay Refugee and Immigrant Forum acknowledges that we are on the unceded ancestral homeland of the Ohlone who are the original inhabitants of the East Bay Area. As the indigenous stewards of this land and in accordance with their traditions, the Ohlone have never ceded, lost, nor forgotten their responsibilities as the caretakers of this place, as well as for all peoples who reside in their traditional territory. As guests, we recognize that we benefit from living and working on their traditional homeland. We wish to pay our respects by acknowledging the Ancestors, Elders, and Relatives of the Ohlone community and by affirming their sovereign rights as First Peoples. This is especially important to remember as we welcome newcomer refugees, asylees, and immigrants, some of whom are displaced First Peoples.