Catholic Charities Diocese of Fresno helps refugee families from around the world into a better life. This endeavor is first accomplished through the assessment of refugee needs. This includes individual of obstacles to employment, such as health, English ability, eduational/occupational background, transferable skills, and attitude.

Program Community Builder serves as an advocate for refugce and immigrant communities by voicing their concerns and bringing these concerns to community light. The program serves to build capacity within refugee and immigrant communities leading to both individual and community empowerment.

Services provided though the program include free immigration consultation and services, along with presentations that discuss citizenship facts. Citizenship classes are then coordinated and taught. The program works to develop immigrant leadership within the community with the aim of encouraging ultimate civic involvement.

The program works to foster awareness of thc issues confronting Southeast Asian communities. In particular, the Hmong Education Task Force was implemented to increase thc number of Hmong youth successfully completing a higher education. The task force attempts to foster community awarencss through the input of both parents and youth in advancing and advocating for Hmong representation and recognition within and outside the University. The Task Force attempts to prepare Hmong youth for a higher education in the elementary and secondary schools, and attempts to increase Hmong teachers, professors, and administrators in our educational institutions.

Building from within Southeast Asian Community strengths and needs, the "Beyond Hunger: Community Gardens Project" assists in developing self-sufficiency and food security. The community demonstration garden located adjacent to our agency provides local families the opportunity for training in micro-enterprise, agricultural techniqucs, and pesticide use.