Mission
N NOVEMBER 2016, A GROUP OF LOCAL VOLUNTEERS ORGANIZED TO HELP REFUGEES WHO HAD ARRIVED IN THE INLAND VALLEY COMMUNITY. THIS FOUNDING GROUP RAISED MONEY AND WORKED DIRECTLY WITH MANY REFUGEE FAMILIES. VOLUNTEERS MET TWICE A MONTH IN A VOLUNTEERS HOME TO COORDINATE EFFORTS. IN 2017, THE LATE BARBARA ASWAD, A FOUNDER OF THE ACCESS CENTER IN MICHIGAN, INSPIRED COMMUNITY ACTIVISTS TO ESTABLISH A MORE FORMAL ORGANIZATION. THUS, THE NEWCOMERS ACCESS CENTER (NAC) WAS BORN. THE MISSION OF THE CENTER WAS LATER EXPANDED TO INCLUDE IMMIGRANT FAMILIES. NAC EMPOWERS REFUGEES AND IMMIGRANT FAMILIES IN LOS ANGELES, SAN BERNARDINO, VENTURA AND RIVERSIDE COUNTIES TO BECOME INDEPENDENT. THE NEWCOMERS ACCESS CENTER, A 501(C)(3) NONPROFIT, CENTRALIZES VOLUNTEER EFFORTS, ADMINISTRATIVE TASKS, AND WORKS WITH PROFESSIONAL STAFF TO BETTER SERVE CLIENTS. THE CENTER IS AVAILABLE TO STAFF, VOLUNTEERS, CLIENTS AND DONORS FOR WORKSHOPS AND EVENTS.