A movement of neighbors and friends dedicated to welcoming new arrival families into our community through inspired crowdsourcing solutions.
MIRY’S LIST 2022 ANNUAL REPORT
MIRYSLIST.ORG @MIRYSLIST
“When we arrived in Los Angeles, one of my friends referred us to Miry's List. After our enrollment in the program, we received welcome packages from Miry's List nearly every day. Those packages included welcome letters from American friends and families, kids' toys, and first aid kits to protect against COVID-19. Friends of Miry's List sent kitchen appliances, beds, mattresses, TV, computer, couch, and many other things a new family needs. With Miry's List, our resettlement experience in the U.S. was very good. They invited us to concerts and sports games and introduced us to Afghan and American families from different cultures and backgrounds who made us feel at home. My wife learned English through Miry's List's SANAH program, and I am very thankful. This experience supports my dreams of getting my Master's degree in accounting and becoming an eligible candidate for CPA in 2023.” -Sediqullah Reshtin, New Angeleno from Afghanistan
HOW TO GIVE:
JOIN THE WELCOMING CIRCLE Your monthly donation helps Miry's List plan for the future. At Miry's List, we envision a kind and helpful experience for new arrival families in the United States. With practical support and community joy waiting to welcome them, Miry's List ensures that families resettling as refugees are set up to thrive. We're building cultural bridges, nurturing new friendships among neighbors and transforming the way American people engage in welcoming new arrival families, through wrap-around programs that extend long beyond government support. Miry’s List started with a very simple ask: A "Jumperoo" bouncer chair for a new arrival baby from Syria. Today we’re still making a very simple ask: Can you be a friend to our newest neighbors? Thank you for joining the monthly welcomer's circle with Miry's List. With your support, we can continue the momentum.
give.miryslist.org
Mission Statement
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2022 Dedication to Ana Huna
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A Letter from Miry
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Who We Support
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Welcome to Miry’s List
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Miry’s List Impact by the Numbers
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The Good in People
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Thank You In Your Own Way
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Approach
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Our Language
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Program Highlights
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Our World is a Family
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Miry’s List in Hollywood
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A Day in the Welcome Workshop
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2022 Financials
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Saffy’s Blend Spice Kit
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The Great Equalizer: Food
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Why we’re here
By Evan Kleiman
Thank you for your friendship
Supporting newly arrived refugees
Survive-Hive-Thrive
A snapshot of what we accomplisted in 2022
CONTENTS
By Sara Gomaa
TABLE OF
By Yin Zhen
How we do it
Affirming and encouraging
From mental health to rapid response
A picture book about welcoming
Bringing our message to the stage
With Born This Way Foundation
A hardworking investment
Chef Ori Menache invites Miry into the kitchen
Raghad’s recipe for Honeycomb Pull-Apart Bread
Photo by Ricardo Gomez Angel
THE MISSION
WHY WE DO THIS Miry's List provides a mechanism for people to directly help new arrival refugee families with the incredible challenge of resettlement in the United States. With practical support and joyful friends waiting to welcome them, resettling families are set up to thrive through Miry's List's wraparound programs that extend long beyond government support.
Writing Welcome Latters to new arrival families
Our culture of welcoming: A bulletin board at one Woodland Hills, California elementary school following a school-wide fundraiser to set up homes for 12 Miry’s List families.
2022
DEDICATION
“Best-Teas”, by Evan Kleiman, Advisory Board, Miry’s List
In my work as a chef, restaurateur and host to KCRW’s Good Food, I’ve spent basically my entire adult life t r y i n g t o c re a t e c o n n e c t i o n s between people through food.
like meeting a force of nature. She’s someone who has such belief and trust in all of us that we’re going to do the right thing for the right reasons.
On my show we talk a lot about making fabulous food for one another and getting the hard-to-get reservation at the hippest restaurants. But deep down, that’s really not what it’s about for me.
I immediately began shopping the lists. I loved the idea that I could create a connection with no middle person. Such a profound and simple way of connecting. I knew that Syrian families who were coming to a new place would want to have the food of their home. And that would involve Kibbeh. And to make Kibbeh, you need a good meat grinder, for falafel, too…a meat grinder is a must.
It’s really about creating hospitality in our lives. It is about welcoming people, however we’re able, in whatever space we’re in at any given time. Several years ago, I had closed my restaurant and I was feeling a bit adrift. I had some friends who were opening a restaurant and they were looking for staff and having a hard time. I remembered I had read about an event that was happening in the backyard of somebody’s house in Los Angeles. An event to welcome newcomers into our community. It was called the New Arrival Supper Club (the very first one!) and for some unknown reason I felt compelled to go. I’m so glad I did. I brought my friends because I thought maybe they could meet a young person who needed a job. And in fact, they did! They ended up hiring a young man they met that day with whom they have had a long relationship. That was the day I met Miry. And here’s what it’s like to meet Miry: It’s MIRY’S LIST ANNUAL REPORT 2022
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I noticed on the lists that meat grinders were kind of expensive and nobody was really buying them. This called to me and I thought, I’m going to make this my mission. Whenever I’m able, I will go on a list and I’ll buy a meat grinder for somebody. As time went on, I noticed I was even more drawn to the list whenever I personally felt alone or isolated. I would go onto the lists and read about the families and see what was left. This is just a miracle, such a wonderful thing. Who doesn’t love shopping for somebody else? While I browse the lists, there’s a connection I feel to people I’ve never met. I can purchase something as simple as a tea kettle, for example, along with some cups 8
The aroma of the brewing tea leaves, the feeling of that warm cup in your hand, that first tentative sip, it’s the mark of home and hospitality.
Evan Kleiman serves tea as part of “Miry’s List Live: Our World is a Family” at The Ford in Hollywood. Photo by Christina Gandolfo, courtesy of LA Phil
and silverware. And then a family is able to make tea, even if they don’t have furniture or all of their cooking equipment yet. I really understand what tea means for many families. It’s not just a beverage. For millions of people across the globe, the aroma of the brewing tea leaves, the feeling of that warm cup in your hand, that first tentative sip, it’s the mark of home and hospitality. As I press that little “purchase” button, I go off into a fantasy reverie, much like what happens when you buy a lottery ticket and you get to spend two or three minutes in your car dreaming about what you’ll do with the wealth that will come to you.
they go to the door, or maybe the children go and open the door. And there waiting for them is a present from somebody they’ve never seen, from a state far away from them. I imagine them opening the box, finding a tea kettle, rinsing it out, filling it up with fresh water, bringing it to boil, finding some tea leaves, and throwing it in a teapot then pouring the boiling water over the leaves. The aroma fills the air of a house that may not even be furnished yet. The opportunity to give somebody this moment of exhalation, that feeling like they’re at home…that’s everything. Thank you for being here for new arrival families.
I dream about how boxes arrive to people who I’ve never met. How 9
Thank you for being here for new arrival families.
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The smile before a big Syrian lunch with the Kanjo family at Participant Media, 2022. Photo by Cyndi Otteson.
A LETTER FROM
MIRY
“We and the moon are neighbors” – Fairuz
Hello friend! Miry here, founder & executive director of Miry’s List. Everybody we have ever known lives on a spinning rock in an endless ocean of nothing orbiting a fireball. We are tiny, temporary beings who spend our moments bouncing between survival and contentment. If we are lucky, we connect with others who see us during our precious time on the spinning rock. Not just physically, but really see us. Someone who understands our life experience, the lens through which we see the world. As my friend Brian Stefan, a grief counselor, says, “The opposite of grief is not ‘no grief.’ The opposite of grief is connection.” The lines that connect your heart to mine. Those connections are the power to notice, bear witness, and accept someone just as they are: imperfect and changing. All 7.8 billion people on planet Earth, everyone in history who’s ever breathed air, and everyone who will exist in the future face difficult emotions. This shared experience ties us together as humans: Managing a full range of feelings. Our connections to one another allow us to face the pain that life brings us. Through Miry’s List, I’ve learned that every ounce of compassion I find for myself becomes two ounces of compassion and understanding I can have for somebody else. In this way, when we care for ourselves, we also care for the whole world. I’ve also learned that one of the most important points for people to understand about resettling refugees is this: Though the refugee crisis is happening globally, resettling families in our communities is a local issue that each of us has the opportunity to participate in, and positively impact. Imagine the global impact we’ll have when we move the focus from the scale of the crisis into the mindset of “How can I help the families resettling in my neighborhood?” Miry’s List is committed to supporting and assisting refugees who have fled their homes due to conflict, persecution, and violence. As we look to the future, we envision a world where resettling refugees have access to the resources and support system we all need when facing hard times. We’ve developed a plan, goals, objectives, and strategies to achieve this vision. But these are just a small part of what’s necessary to realize our vision. What we need more than anything else to make our ideas into reality is connection and friendship. Be with us. Stand by our sides. Show up with your time, talent, and treasure. Be the smiling person in the room. Be the strong leader your community and family need. To the Miry’s List families who have bravely jumped into the unknown: I am so proud of you. You have taken courageous action toward advocating for yourself and your family. It takes emotional fortitude to look after your well-being. I am impressed by you. When you arrived with your family in the United States, you entered a new chapter in your life, filled with new adventures, memories, and relationships. Know that we are people who care about your future. We are your cheerleaders, your pals, and your extended family. Wherever you go, as you grow and achieve and learn and share your light and brilliance with the world, we are here for you, and we are proud to know you and have a part in your life. May you always remember to love yourself like a dear friend. You deserve it. Thank you for your friendship.
Miry Whitehill, Founder & Executive Director, Miry’s List MIRY’S LIST ANNUAL REPORT 2022
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Our great adventure: Team member Zabehullah Tajik loves exploring California’s gorgeous natural landscapes with his family.
THE PEOPLE
WHO WE SUPPORT Miry’s List supports newly arrived refugees in the US who have limited social and professional networks in their new communities. The majority of our families have resettled from Afghanistan and Syria, and we have supported families from Iran, Iraq, Egypt, Ukraine, and Moldova as well. Social isolation and racial, ethnic, or religious discrimination critically impact refugees' well-being. Poverty is a key factor in social isolation. Wealth and equality gaps are widening and also follow racial disparity lines, which further impacts refugees’ ability to achieve financial stability. Existing refugee resettlement services are not oriented to alleviate refugees’ social isolation and discrimination against them. Social welfare systems within the US, including those for refugees, are underfunded and overworked and cannot provide for new arrivals’ basic needs, let alone connect them to meaningful economic opportunities.
Writing Welcome Latters to new arrival families
WE BELIEVE THAT I N T E N T I O N A L , INDIVIDUALIZED, AND INTENSE SUPPORT PROVIDED TO RESETTLING FAMILIES IN THOSE D I F F I C U LT F I R S T 1 2 - 1 8 MONTHS LEAD TO BETTER O U TC O M E S F O R T H E COMMUNITY AT LARGE
MIRY’S LIST IS AN INVESTMENT IN FAMILIES, IN HUMAN BEINGS, IN NEW AMERICANS. IT’S ABOUT INVESTING IN THEM UPON ARRIVAL BECAUSE THE NEED IS SO GREAT AND THE IMPACT IS SO REAL. TOGETHER WE ARE A M A Z I N G
Miry and Ayman Issa are building a new stroller for a new arrival family outside their apartment complex in El Cajon, California.
Welcome to Miry’s List: Survive/Hive/Thrive Our three objectives of the Survive/Hive/Thrive program are to help new arrival families: 1. 2. 3.
Integrate into their new communities Successfully adapt to their new environments Become engaged in their new communities
12-Month Wraparound Support Miry’s List core programming assists newcomers in 5 key areas as they navigate their first year in the United States: • Celebratory personal welcoming call and packages consisting of essential items, such as toiletries, baby formula, cleaning supplies, and welcoming items, like toys, handmade blankets and handwritten welcome cards • Essential household items to get the home safe, functional and comfortable for the family, with the autonomy to select items based on taste, preference, and comfort. These gifts are also sent directly from neighbor to neighbor, infusing the process with community and bridge-building. • Conversational English classes and social support to develop communication access and bridge locals and newcomers. • Career development and tech access, enabling integration and self-sufficiency as newcomers enter the workforce in their local communities. • Mental health programming for resettling youth 15-25, addressing trauma and mental health self-care in ways that are accessible and culturally relevant.
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Nowruz is a holiday celebrating new beginnings and new life. This Afghan-American family celebrated their first Nowruz in a new country and as new parents in 2022.
The Good in People By Sara Gomaa, Welcome Workshop Coordinator, Miry’s List
I remember the day when I first arrived at LAX Airport on January 26, 2017, at 1:15 pm. I was thinking, "How can California be my last destination when I was informed before I would take a flight that lands in Columbus, Ohio? Not only have I lost all links I made in Ohio before traveling to America, but how will I face a blurry future in California where I know nobody?" Then, a few hours later, waking up in a motel, I opened my eyes to the breaking news on TV saying that f o r m e r P re s i d e n t D o n a l d Tr u m p declared a Travel Ban on all refugees.
“America isn't only the negative news we hear from the outside but has a lot of good that I’ve seen and felt firsthand.”
A few days later, I met an American lady named Miry Whitehill. I was initially skeptical about trusting a volunteer coming to offer help at a motel in Glendale full of recently resettled refugees, mostly from Muslim communities. But seeing her warm, smiling face and receiving the warmest hug made me think this was just one person's act of kindness. But, two days later, another American couple called me and offered me a home to stay in for thirty days at no charge. They asked for nothing even though they gave me a priceless experience of being and feeling welcomed in their home. I told myself, "These are rare humans who happened to connect with me to counteract the hateful atmosphere looming over the United States after the Refugee Ban. With time, I met more and more Americans through Miry's List New Arrival Supper Clubs who want nothing but to say welcome and offer a helping hand, whether by helping to connect to a social network or seek employment opportunities. Since then, I've acknowledged that America isn't only
the negative news we hear from the outside but has a lot of good I’ve seen and felt firsthand. In 2021, I officially joined the Miry's List Dream Team as the Welcome Workshop Coordinator. I've seen more and more goodness from the team members who represent so much diversity of backgrounds and cultures to the Volunteers of all ages who love to welcome our new arrival families. They write Welcome Cards, make sweet drawings of affection, sort and deliver donations, and pack Welcome Kits with love. They take the time to ask for a family's specific needs, translate, act as an ambassador to help crowdsource and fulfill a wishlist, assist with tutoring, and donate clothing and useful items for our families. All these efforts allow families to function comfortably so they can focus on starting a new life without worrying about basic needs.
To all those who have supported Miry's List's work, I LOVE YOU. I THANK YOU for every action you've taken to spread love. The word "thanks" seems too tiny and inadequate to communicate how much goodness you've added to the world to support our cause and our new neighbors. And thank you for answering the very first question that I had when I landed at LAX. Now it's clear that I was meant to come to the Golden State because I was meant to witness the good that you've all shown and continue to show. I was meant to meet everyone who's helped at the Welcome Workshop and their continued generosity and love. God Bless you All,
2022 IMPACT
458 167 1,248 BABIES AGE 0-2
CHILDREN AGE 3 to 17
538
ADULT SERVED 18+
INDIVIDUAL HUMANS
THANK YOU, in your way By Yin Zhen, Chief Operating Officer, Miry’s List
Sunday mornings back in China were spent with my grandfather at the local dim sum house, crowded around a communal table, enjoying hot tea and loud conversations. My ye-ye always saved me the last shrimp dumpling and I always ate it up to show my appreciation. Years later and thousands of miles away, I found myself spending another Sunday morning at tea, in an elegant house set a g a i n s t a p i c t u re s q u e m o u n t a i n landscape. My American friend served me generous trays of dainty finger sandwiches and warm scones and I echoed “thank you” over and over to show my appreciation. My feeling of gratitude was the same in both memories but, more notably, the impact of my expression was also the same. Expressing gratitude is an experience as unique as the country you’re in. While the words “thank you” translate easily from one language to another, they carry with them the weight of centuries of tradition. In China, “thank you” is a formal term; to use it between friends implies that we are so distant in our connection, that we must be proper in our conversation. When I immigrated to America, I learned that saying “thank you” bridges the distance between two people and to forget is what causes a rift. Today, my work at Miry’s List connects me with people from all over our country and the world. I have learned so much more about food, friends and gratitude from the members of our cherished community and, one day, I hope we can sit together for a cup of tea so I can thank you, in your own way.
“Today, my work at Miry’s List connects me with people from all over our country and the world.”
OUR APPROACH
M
i r y ’s L i s t p r o g r a m m i n g i s intentionally designed to give newcomer families the comfort of a track to follow and the flexibility of customization to curate their experience to focus on their unique needs. Our program prioritizes autonomy, wellbeing, and camaraderie, qualities that are hard to find in the refugee services landscape. Here we have detailed each of these three focus areas, including examples of what is sounds like in our day-today interactions with families:
PEOPLE ARE NOT PROBLEMS
AUTONOMY
COMMUNITY POWER BUILDING
“What color do you like?” Autonomy is crucial for people who have experienced trauma because it is healthy for them to retake control of their lives, make their own decisions, and recover their sense of selfworth and agency after losing so much.
As we grow Miry's List, our duty is to recognize that we're not here to make poverty easier to endure. Rather, we are here to solve a systemic issue that has a beginning, middle and an end. We envision a lasting culture of welcoming in the United States and dismantling the systems that perpetuate the "othering" of immigrants and refugees.
WELLBEING “How are you feeling?” Shifting focus and thoughts from survival to comfort, rest, and new relationships transfor mative for newcomer families who have been through so much
Our goal is that when new arrival families arrive, they are welcomed by an enthusiastic community of friends ready to ease their discomfort and improve their experience. By investing in the community we are here to help, not only through crisis support, but through employment, professional development, and opportunity access, we ensure that Miry's List is part of the solution and not a perpetuator of the problem. 65% of staff and senior leadership at Miry's List are individuals who have graduated from our program and have lived experience coming to the United States as refugees.
CAMARADERIE “I hope to meet your family soon.” Demonstration of prioritization, friendship and caring. Families feel lifted up by a community of new friends who care deeply about their needs and comfort.
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OUR LANGUAGE W
hen we welcome resettling refugees with open arms, there is a benefit to society overall. Our entire community is postively impacted. Let’s be leaders in using words to refer to new Americans in a way that is affirming to their experience and encouraging to their power as unique individuals. People who have been refugees don't necessarily want to be called "refugees” before, during, or after resettlement. Futher, it isn’t necessarily accurate to use the word “refugee” to describe anyone who has ever resettled. A refugee is a person seeking refuge. Once a family arrives to the U.S., we can say the refuge has been found. Therefore, it isn't necessarily accurate to use the word “refugee” to describe anyone who has ever resettled. Here are some more accurate words to describe families in the Miry's List program:
New neighbors, new Americans, new arrivals, newcomers or resettling family. All of these are true and correct.
WORDS AND TERMS WE AVOID Adopt
Resettling families don’t need to be adopted. Adopt is not a synonym for “help” or “give gifts.” Instead, use “show up for” or “help out.”
Charity
The work of Miry’s List is not charity work. It is a moral obligation. The spirit of welcoming benefits our community as a whole. At some point in life, everybody gives and receives help. We can dismantle the power dynamic of charitable endeavors by acknowledging the partnered, shoulderto-shoulder approach of our collective vulnerabilities and interdependentness.
”Illiterate” or “can’t read” or “can’t write”
There are various reasons someone wouldn’t have the opportunity to learn to read or write, including access, neurodivergence, and disability. The ability to read is not an indicator of intelligence, work ethic, or maturity. There are places in the world where women have to risk their lives to attend school, for example. When we attribute more value to literate people, we reinforce shame or stigma without acknowledging the systemic barriers. Use language to lift, not lower. Instead, use: “preliterate,” “learning to read and write,” and “doesn’t yet read or write.”
“New lives” or “starting a new life”
Starting over in a new country is hard. Moving, even under “perfect” circumstances, can be extraordinarily difficult. Miry’s List does not give new lives to people. We support people who are continuing their lives after the experience of fleeing their home country due to violence and persecution.
“Saving Lives” or “Help save families lives”
We are not saviors. Families experience traumatic events, and their bravery, hard work, hope for a brighter future, resilience, and other qualities get them through it. Instead, use: We are helpers. We are showing up for our neighbors.
Serve
Serve implies a power dynamic. Instead, try “support” or “prioritize.”
Story
A lived experience is not a story. Referring to someone’s life experience as a “story” can come across as dismissive, especially if they are new to the English language. Instead, use lived experience, life experience, or memories. It’s good to be aware: All people classified as “refugees” when arriving in the United States have a path to citizenship. For example, the families we enrolled in 2016 are now American citizens, so “New Americans” is appropiate.
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PROGRAMS
FATIMEH
FEELINGS, ACTIONS, THOUGHTS IN MENTAL & EMOTIONAL HEALTH
A 12-month mental health training and support group for resettling youth that teaches mindfulness, self-care, and empowerment within the resettling community.
F
ATIMEH is a mental health program created in partnership with Born This Way Foundation’s Kindness In Community Fund. The program focuses on the human rights of resettling young people: The right to be seen and heard, the right to feel okay in our bodies and minds, and the right to have the tools and support systems to weather whatever storm life throws at us. FATIMEH guides more than mental health skills; it provides leadership development to empower young people to be confident leaders within their families, communities, and classrooms. Together, we further validate the emotions of young people, connect them with accessible resources, and eliminate the stigma surrounding mental health. In 2022, we provided free, accessible, community-informed mental health support for resettling youth in coordination with Lady Gaga’s The Chromatica Ball 2022 Summer Stadium Tour. u
“It helps me a lot with my mental health, how to feel more in control, love myself, enjoy my life, and help others.” -FATIMEH 2022 program participant
Lilly Singh smiles ear to ear with arms full of gifts for a Miry’s List family Welcome Kit at our Los Angeles Welcome Workshop. Photo by Steinar Engeland Photo by Injinash Unshin
PROGRAMS
BED FUND FOR REFUGEES
Providing mattresses, bedding, pillows, bed frames and cribs to families resettling in the United Sates as refugees.
R
esettling refugee families have sacrificed so much to be here. They often arrive physically and mentally exhausted from their long and difficult journey. One of the most important things our families need is a bed. Over 90% of our families request beds, bedding, mattresses, and cribs on their wishlist. We created the Bed Fund to p ro v i d e t h e s e e s s e n t i a l s . Refugees who are new arrivals to the United States have enough to worry about. This Fund allows families who are starting over to rest their minds and bodies as they navigate their new lives. It’s simple and effective. u
Thank you to our partners and matching sponsors for Bed Fund for Refugees: Shapiro Foundation Together Rising Welcome.Us Rachel Bloom & Dan Gregor Milana Vayntrub Chianese Family IRUSA
Without a bed, you can’t work, you can’t play, you can’t do chores. Sleeping in a bed is very important to refresh your brain and rest your head. I won’t have enough energy to focus and learn new things if I don’t have a bed to refresh my brain. For me, as a student, I say that’s important. - Rahaf Abedy, age 10, new Californian from Iraq
WHY A BED FUND? Imagine walking into a job interview or the first day at a new school, trying to put your best self forward, but your back hurts because you've been sleeping on the floor. This is the reality for many resettling refugee families in the United States. Government agencies provide limited assistance that does not always meet the families' needs and comfort. 90 percent of new families enrolled in Miry's List don't have enough beds or bedding in their home for each family member to sleep safely and comfortably.
The Bed Fund for Refugees fills a major need and prevented over 1,400 resettling people from sleeping on the floor in 2022.
Pick up a copy today >>>
OUR FIRST CHILDREN’S BOOK:
Our World is a Family By Miry Whitehill & Jennifer Jackson
Our World Is a Family is a picture book written by Miry Whitehill and Jennifer Jackson, and illustrated by Nomar Perez. Filled with child-friendly messages about hospitality, compassion, refugees, and immigration, its story is fueled by the earnest belief that we each can change the world with local acts of love, reaching beyond all barriers of race, culture, nationality, and language. The book champions human connection and inspires children and adults alike toward meaningful action in their own neighborhoods. When we see someone new in our neighborhood, how can we help them feel safe and loved and important? Learn how to welcome new neighbors into your community, particularly when they might be far from home, in this uplifting and diverse picture book that champions human connection and inclusivity.
Miry reads Our World is a Family to a room full of welcomers-in-training during an author visit to a Los Angeles elementary school in Boyle Heights in April 2022
Iranian-American electronic music producer & performance artist ASADI performs in July, 2022, as part of Miry’s List’s live stage production “Our World is a Family.”
BRINGING OUR MESSAGE TO THE STAGE:
Miry’s List Live: Our World is a Family at The Ford Photos by Christina Gandolfo
Miry’s List brought their message to the stage at The Ford in Hollywood, featuring a night of storytelling, comedy, and live music. Written and directed by Miry Whitehill and Jennifer Jackson, Our World Is a Family explored the refugee journey from survival to community building to learning how to thrive in a new land. Inspired by the work of Miry’s List, the evening included special guests including Iranian-American scholar of sociology of religion, writer, and television host Reza Aslan, entrepreneur Jessica Jackley, actor Adhir Kalyan, and KCRW’s Evan Kleiman, with a live score by composer Vafa Samiei and a headlining set from Iranian-American music artist ASADI.
Actor Adhir Kalyan, known for his work on the TV show The United States of Al, joins the ensemble cast on stage.
Cynthia Germanotta, Co-founder & President of Born This Way Foundation with her daughter Lady Gaga, said packing welcome kits for Miry’s List families in August 2022 was one of the most fulfilling volunteer experiences she’s ever had. Hard agree, Mama G! Photo by Miry Whitehill
THE HIVE IN ACTION:
A Day in the Welcome Workshop with Born This Way Foundation
“Individual acts of bravery and compassion can change the world." - Lady Gaga We had a wonderful day with the good folks at Born This Way Foundation packing welcome kits for our new families at our LA Welcome Workshop. The care and thoughtfulness that went into every package for each family was inspiring: clothes for every family member, ageappropriate books and toys, and handwritten letters inside each box. Thank you, Born This Way Foundation, Cynthia Germanotta, and the whole team for showing so much compassion and being ready to help.
Born This Way Foundation joins team Miry’s List at our Los Angeles Welcome Workshop for a volunteer day of community service packing welcome kits for new arrival families in August 2022.
100% of Miry's List dollars go to accomplishing our mission, which includes our programming, managing our funds, and raising capital. Miry's List operates with high efficiency. With cash expenses of $1.5 million in 2022, we distributed goods and services valued at $2 million, an incredible 28% value-add return on social investment! The following charts illustrate the sources of Miry's List’s funding and expenses in 2022 by category including in-kind (goods and services value) and cash donations. Miry's List is grateful to the thousands of people who supported our work in 2022.
FINANCIALS:
A HARDWORKING INVESTMENT
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Writing Welcome Latters to new arrival families
Miry Whitehill joins chef Ori Menache at Saffy’s on Fountain in Los Angeles. Photos by Ryan Gobuty
Saffy’s Blend
with chef Ori Menarche In 2022, Miry’s List teamed up with renowned Chef Ori Menashe, chef at three of LA’s hottest restaurants, to create a special Spice Kit featuring a one-of-a-kind spice blend and three more signature spice varieties. All proceeds from the Spice Kit support new arrival refugee families in 24 states across the United States. Chef and co-owner of Los Angeles’
Bestia, Bavel, and Saffy’s restaurants, Menashe
carefully composed the Spice Kit to introduce bold middle eastern flavors into home cooking. The Kit features Saffy’s Blend, a proprietary blend of Cumin, Sumac, Cinnamon, Allspice, Fenugreek and Black Pepper, created by Chef Menashe and used in his restaurant, as well as three additional spices central to Middle Eastern cuisine: Za'atar, Aleppo Pepper, and Sumac. Raw ingredients are sourced fresh from Syria by Annoush USA, a local Syrian-owned restaurant supply company.
Miry's List Spice Kit FOOD IS L VE IN ACTION The perfect gift for the home cook! Each purchase treats an adventurous home cook to unforgettable flavors and also gives the gift of community support to those in need.
Sumac
Saffy's Blend
HOW TO USE: In salads and Middle Eastern BBQ dishes.
HOW TO USE: Ideal for chicken, beef, lamb, potatoes, and other hearty vegetables.
Aleppo Pepper
Za'atar
HOW TO USE: Use this spice on everything!!
HOW TO USE: Mix with some olive oil and dig in with some pita bread.
Four spice varieties - Saffy's Blend, Za'atar, Aleppo Pepper, and Sumac housed in beautiful reusable widelittlespread.com/products/miryslist mouthed jars (1.75oz) invite home chefs to explore these robust, aromatic culinary essentials. Spices provided by Anoush Mediterranean Product fulfillment from Little Spread
littlespread.com/products/miryslist
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2021 ADVISORY BOARD
Providing intentional, individualized, and intense support to families resettling as refugees in the U.S. is the core of our work at Miry's List. To keep up with the growing need for support for new arrivals, Miry's List asks for your contribution to our Annual Fund. This is one of the most important ways to sustain our core programming and ensure Miry's List is here to help resettle families long into the future. A donation of $800 will fund the programming cost to support one new family for the entire year. A monthly donation of $67.50 will allow us to plan ahead and potentially reduce the overall cost of family support. Miry's List is an investment in families and communities.
Amarjit Dass Basil Hakmeh Brian Stefan Evan Kleiman Josh Kun Loren Rochelle Mackenzie Kessab
give.miryslist.org
Enjoy this delicious bread with brunch and a hot cup of tea. Photo by Ahmed Abedy
THE GREAT EQUALIZER:
FOOD
CHEF RAGHAD AL AWADI
HONEYCOMB PULL-APART BREAD Soft and tender rolls filled with gooey chocolate that brings the whole family together. Enjoy with cardamom coffee or ceylon tea for the perfect sweet breakfast or after dinner treat.
INGREDIENTS
DIRECTIONS
2 cups warm milk 2 tbsp yeast 1 tbsp sugar 2 egg whites* cup oil 5 cups flour 1 tbsp baking powder 1 tsp salt
Mix warm milk, yeast, and sugar and let sit for five minutes.
Optional: Nutella or cheese
Leave it for an hour to rise.
*Reserve the egg yolk to brush on top before baking
Take the dough and shape it into little circles; stuff each one with Nutella or cheese.
Add oil, egg whites, flour, baking powder, and salt to a mixing bowl. Mix by hand or with an electric mixer until it becomes dough.
Brush oil lightly on a baking dish and place the dough balls closely together into the shape of a beehive. Brush the tops with egg yolk wash and sesame seeds. Bake in oven on 350 degrees for about 15 minutes.
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MIRY’S LIST ANNUAL REPORT 2022
MIRYSLIST.ORG
Dream Team Reunion: Following more than a year of Safer-at-Home measures, newly vaccinated Miry’s List front liners, Miry, After comes the sunshine. There is always something Rafid,the andrain Christy, embrace for a long-awaited hug. Photo by you Anna Boyiazis can do to brighten someone’s day (and your own) at miryslist.org