Fugees Family

There’s nothing better than making tie-dye shirts and beaded bracelets on a Friday! ✨🎉

Have a great weekend, Fugees Fam! 💚

Fugees Family 🤝 Fun Summer Trainings

It wouldn’t be a Fugees training if there wasn’t some (okay a lot) of fun involved! 💚💛

Big news! 🎉

At Fugees Family, we’ve reimagined our online space to better serve you. Our new website is packed with updates that reflect our dedication to supporting refugee and immigrant youth through innovative education.

Here’s what you’ll find:

Streamlined Experience: Effortless navigation and mobile-friendly access make it easier to explore our work.
Expanded Content: Learn more about our programs, impact stories, and how you can get involved. We’ve made it simpler to find the information that matters most to you.
Get Involved: Whether you’re an educator, community member, or supporter, our new site guides you on how to join us in making a difference.

Check out the new site at http://www.fugeesfamily.org, and let us know what you think! Your input helps us continue to grow and improve.

As always, thank you for your support in making all of this possible. 🙌🏼💚💛

Happy First Day of School, Teranga Academy Bowling Green! 💜📚

The first day of school also marks an important event…the annual House Sorting Ceremony! Students from different languages, backgrounds, and ages were sorted into houses that they will remain with throughout the year. Think Harry Potter but Fugee-fied 😉

Our house system is another way we intentionally create belonging and community at Teranga. Houses are a great way for newcomers to feel welcomed and safe in their new school community.

Throughout the year these four houses will compete in games, activities, and competitions earning them points - whichever house has the most points at the end of the year, wins! 🏆

It's going to be an amazing school year, Teranga! 💜

Happy Friday, Fugees Fam! Today we are highlighting our amazing team member, Maxyne for our Staff Spotlight Series! Maxyne is the Executive Assistant to our CEO, which means she works hard ensuring everything in Fugees is organized, schedules are set, and projects are being completed! ✔️ Maxyne is often the glue that holds our team together and we wouldn’t be the same without her! 🫶🏼 Here are three fun facts about Maxyne:

1. I speak German and lived in Germany for 9 months as an au pair.
2. I love photography.
3. I enjoy DIY from crafting to home projects.

Thanks for all you do for us, Maxyne! 💚💛

By 2025, English Learners will account for 25% of our national school population. Refugees and immigrants make America - and its future.

Help equip our new students with the supplies they need to succeed! A small act of kindness goes a long way and can help advance educational justice for our Fugees.

Your donation supports:

- A new backpack
- A set of notebooks
- Pencils
- Highlighters

Donate via our website or Venmo us @ Fugees Family! 💚💛💚

Happy Friday, Fugees Fam! Up next in our Staff Spotlight Series (we love alliteration) is our wonderful Senior Operations Manager, Julie! 💚 Julie has been a part of Team Fugees for 3 years now and she’s the one who ensures everything runs smoothly, from coordinating programs to managing daily operations, she helps us create a supportive environment for our students. Here are three fun facts about Julie:

“I’ve seen over 250 live concerts (and think I have slightly accelerated hearing loss because of it).”

“At 18 years old, I was the youngest intern recorded in Arkansas Supreme Court history, and I even had to take time off so I could attend my high school graduation.”

“I’ve been SCUBA-certified for 7 years.”

If you see Julie running around our campuses, make sure to say hello and give her a huge “thank you!”. Thanks for all you do, Julie! 💚💛

This summer we will be introducing some of our wonderful team members as part of our Staff Spotlight Series! First up is Leigh Anne Littlefield, our incredible Senior Program Director. Leigh Anne leads our Teranga team and all programming with our partners! Here are 3 fun facts about Leigh Anne:

“I’m very good with my fingers. I can French braid, needlepoint, and make friendship bracelets better than anyone I know. That’s a challenge.”

“I hate coffee. Coffee anything.”

“My pet peeves are mismatched socks, nail-clipping in public, and rude people.”

Thanks for being a part of our Fugees Family, Leigh Anne! 🫶🏼💚💛

We had a wonderful time at in Boston, MA! Team Fugees (Felicity & Hannah) presented on the transformative power that art, music, and movement can have on newcomer and SLIFE youth. We had a lively and emotional discussion with educators and advocates from around the country on how to better serve our students.

Thanks everyone who joined us and we hope to see you there again next year! 💚💛

It’s me, hi! 👋🏼 Join us next week in Boston as we present at the conference with ! Our team will be presenting on the the transformative power of art, music, and movement for refugee and immigrant students, which not only enhance language acquisition but also play a crucial role in healing trauma.

Let us know if you’ll be there! 💚⚽️🎶🎨

Art and music classes provide a space for students to create, explore, and experience language without the fear of being “right” or “wrong”. These classes, much like the soccer field, are vital for healing trauma as they foster a sense of belonging and provide a space for emotional release.

Swipe to learn more about how art and music can help refugee and immigrant youth in our schools.

Today on World Refugee Day, we honor the strength and resilience of over 100 million forcibly displaced people worldwide. This day reminds us to not just acknowledge their struggles, but to believe in their potential and stand with them. Every refugee has a story, a dream, and the capacity to contribute to our global community.

At Fugees Family, we are dedicated to transforming the educational landscape for refugee students in the U.S. We’re on a mission to prove that being a refugee or immigrant is something to be proud of. Through tailored programs, advocacy work, and community support, we equip them with the tools they need to succeed.

Whether in the classroom or on the soccer field, all Fugees belong here.

Today, we honor Juneteenth—a day that commemorates the emancipation of enslaved African Americans in the United States. This day is a powerful reminder of the ongoing journey toward freedom and equality.

At Fugees Family, we celebrate the resilience, strength, and heritage of our community. Let’s continue to build a future where everyone is free to thrive. 💚

This Pride Month, we celebrate the courage to be our true selves, the journey to self-acceptance, and the power of love in all its forms.

Order ‘From Here’ by Luma Mufleh at the link in our bio ✨

Join us for an Info Session to learn about our Teranga Academy newcomer program! ✨

Learn how your district can partner with Fugees Family to create a holistic, rigorous newcomer program that prioritizes athletics, arts, and English immersion for newcomer and SLIFE students.

🗓 Date: Tuesday, June 18th
⏰ Time: 2:00 PM ET

This session is a fantastic opportunity to explore how our program can support immigrant and refugee students, providing them with a welcoming environment to thrive and succeed.

Register here: https://fugeesfamily-org.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_hSozV9JbSvW84ZjbFqQ9Ng

Our partners in Bowling Green, Ky are hiring. Best place to work.

Teranga Academy Bowling Green has the following job opportunities for 2024-2025:
🌎 Teacher: Reading/Social Studies
📚 Cultural Liaison (Swahili Preferred)
⚽️ Assistant Soccer Coach

Visit www.bgreen.kyschools.us/employment to view all current openings and apply!

Still thinking about this day 💜💛 Our teachers nurture, inspire, and empower our Fugees every day. Thank you for being a part of our Fugees Fam! ✨

This morning at Fugees Academy in Atlanta, we witnessed our students’ remarkable growth as they moved up in levels! 🌱📚 Their dedication and achievements have been nothing short of inspiring. It was a joyous occasion with families cheering on their loved ones, creating unforgettable memories. We’re excited to see how they succeed and grow next year! 🎉

Happy National Immigrant Heritage Month! 🎉 At Fugees Family, we celebrate the rich cultures and stories of immigrant families and students, recognizing their incredible resilience and contributions. Our mission is to advance educational justice for refugee and immigrant youth through intentional programming and relationship-building. We believe in creating opportunities and providing resources to help every immigrant student thrive and reach their full potential. Join us in honoring their journeys and the vibrant diversity they bring to our nation! 🌎

As a teenager in Jordan, Luma Mufleh knew her feelings were dangerous to share. Coming out could have meant losing her family, or even her life. But she found the courage to live her truth and now encourages others to do the same.

Every day Luma inspires us to embrace our true selves and honor the beautiful spectrum of identities that make us unique.

🌈 Happy Pride Month from the Fugees Family! Don’t forget to pick up a copy of Luma’s memoir, From Here, this month in honor of celebrating and honoring q***r voices.🏳️‍🌈

They did it! 🎉

All of our students at Fugees Academy come from refugee and immigrant backgrounds and have overcome so much to get to the graduation stage today. Our ceremony celebrated their cultures, families, and new life here in America. We couldn’t be prouder! 💚

Tomorrow is the big day! Excitement is in the air for our seniors & their families who will be gathering at our Fugees Academy in Atlanta for graduation tomorrow 🎓

Each graduate is wearing a sash that represents their home countries and honors their culture. We are proud to recognize students home countries in our ceremony while also embracing the opportunities of their new home, America.

Supporters like you make it possible for these Fugees to receive the education and resources they need for a successful future.

This year all donations received in May and June will directly support our College & Career programs in honor of the Class of 2024 🎉

✨🎓 Celebrating our incredible Fugees Academy graduates this week! Your hard work and dedication have brought you to this moment, and we couldn’t be prouder. As we honor the Class of 2024, we’re committed to supporting your future dreams.

🌟 Help us continue empowering these bright minds. Donate today—every contribution in May and June goes directly to our College & Career programs. Together, we can make a lasting impact.

“I’ve always disliked endings, but I think I’m so lucky to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard.” - Briseida Flores, Teranga Class of 2024

Teranga Academy Bowling Green celebrated “Moving Up!” with 15 students completing all three levels of coursework and now advancing to Bowling Green Junior High, Bowling Green High School, or graduating BGHS on Sunday.

Each of the 15 students leaving Teranga shared a brief speech to fellow students and their families.

Lizeth said, “I still remember when it was my first day here at Teranga. I could only say hello. I couldn’t have a conversation with my teachers, but now look at me. I’m in front of all of you talking and I’m about to graduate!”

Congratulations, Teranga Class of 2024! We are so proud of you 👏🏼🎉🎓

⭐️ New Staff Spotlight ⭐️

Meet Joseph (he/him/his), our newest Development Manager! We’re so excited Joseph has joined our Fugees Family. Here are three fun facts about him:

1️⃣ He can name all of Mariah Carey’s 19 #1 songs from the Billboard Hot 100 charts! 🎶
2️⃣ He’s lived in four countries: the Philippines, Spain, Germany, and the USA. 🌏
3️⃣ Zac Efron’s mom from the High School Musical movies, Mrs. Bolton (played by Leslie Wing-Pomeroy), is a good friend and former co-worker - and was even a guest at his wedding! 💒

Give Joseph a warm welcome in the comments below! 👏🏼

🌞📚 Summer's almost here and what better way to spend it than reading Luma Mufleh's "Learning America" by the pool! Join EL educators from around the country as we launch our first community book club and meet the author event on June 20 for part one ✨ Register here to reserve your spot: https://fugeesfamily-org.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_uVGaiGZ8TwSmc_iVaKaAwQ

It's time to bust myths about family engagement for newcomer students! 🌍💬 From language barriers to cultural differences, let's address and overcome these misconceptions together. Swipe through to learn more about common misunderstandings and how we can foster inclusive, supportive environments for all families. Let’s listen, support, and learn from each other to make our schools welcoming for everyone!

Happy Teacher Appreciation Week! 🍎 ✨ To all the educators who inspire, guide, and nurture our futures—thank you for every lesson, every smile, and every moment you invest in us. Your impact extends beyond the classroom and into the hearts and minds of every student you teach. Here's to celebrating your dedication and passion! 🎉