On June 4, President Biden announced a Proclamation that will expedite removal processes and enhance enforcement against unlawful crossings along the southern border, effectively denying immigrants from seeking asylum in the United States. This policy undermines the fundamental human right of asylum seekers to seek …
Changing the Narrative: Conversations on Improving the Wellbeing of Immigrants
On May 2nd, the Northern California Grantmakers (NCG) held its 2023 Annual Conference on the theme ‘Mapping Our Collective Future’ in San Francisco. PTR Executive Director Leah Spelman spoke as a member of the panel, along with Lauren Markham of Oakland International High School (OIHS), …
Gathering for Immigration and Social Justice
On Friday, April 16th, PTR’s African Communities Program, in partnership with the University of San Francisco and African Advocacy Network, facilitated a conference on Immigration and Social Justice with influential students, educators, and leaders in the African community. The conference was an all-day event, and …
How Remote Learning is Impacting Immigrant Children
PTR Board Member Dr. Sita Patel was featured in a NY Times article on how remote learning due to COVID-19 is particularly a challenge for English Language Learners. “For English-language learners, if you’re not having those casual, informal, low-stakes opportunities to practice English, you’re really …
Prop 20 Would Reverse California Justice Reforms
The following Op-Ed appeared in the Orange County Register. Prop. 20 would be a major setback for re-envisioning our criminal justice system By Leah Spelman As the executive director of a trauma recovery center that serves crime survivors, calls to “defund the police” in the wake of the …
De-Stressing and Shaping Peace Together
The Greater a Community’s Loss in Common Ground, The Greater the Resulting Gain in Violence By Jean Pierre Ndagijimana, PTR African Communities Wellbeing Coordinator On September 21st of each year, the United Nations observes the International Day of Peace. This day marks the UN’s declared …
Jean Pierre Ndagijimana Shares Thoughts on COVID-19, Historical Trauma, and Resilience
PTR African Communities Liaison, Jean Pierre Ndagijimana, is a Rwandan psychologist born in the Congo. In a recent piece published by Global Campaign for Peace Education, Ndagijimana shares why COVID-19 is particularly challenging for people who have experienced historical trauma. Ndagijimana explains that the idea …
PTR’s Clinical & Training Director Featured in NY Times
Dr. Annika Sridharan, PTR’s Co-Founder and Clinical & Training Director, was recently featured in the New York Times article, “Trouble Focusing? Not Sleeping? You May Be Grieving,” describing common responses to the challenges posed by COVID-19. While anxiety or fear may be the emotions we …
Report from the U.S./Mexico Border
Last month, PTR Co-Founder Monika Parikh visited the U.S./Mexico Border in El Paso, Texas to connect with front-line advocates who support asylum seekers. We invite you to learn more about her trip in her blog post Journeys of Struggle and Hope at the U.S./Mexico Border …
Journeys of Struggle and Hope at the U.S./Mexico Border
By Monika Parikh We woke up early that morning at the overflow migrant shelter and joined approximately 20 young men who were looking out the window above the cots where they had slept the night before. In the distance were the pink, orange and gold …