Refugee Outreach Collective

ROC is a volunteer-run 501(c)3 nonprofit that expands access to education opportunities to those experiencing forced-displacement, advocates for just opportunities to migrate, and organizes outreach efforts to people as they are subjected to object poverty in encampments. Ultimately, ROC amplifies diverse narratives of migrant and displaced communities through alliance and relationship building. We work to make the US a more welcoming place to resettling communities and to eradicate refugee camps as a normative concept. ROC’s work can be understood as having to do with three pillars, those being education, advocacy and outreach. Each of which can be found outlined below - Education - ROC expands access to education opportunities as people experience displacement or resettlement. ROC works with universities to open access to college courses for those experiencing forced displacement along the US-Mexico border and in Malawi and provides tutoring assistance for students who are resettling to Southwest Michigan. Advocacy - ROC organizes regular advocacy efforts across university campuses in Southwest Michigan, and online through our Moving Lines Podcast. Currently, there are seven going on eight ROC chapters, each of which organize regular educational meetings, events open to the public, fundraising efforts and outreach initiatives. Outreach - ROC provides assistance to individuals as they are subjected to object poverty, experience restrictions on their movement and many other socio-political constraints as they live in encampments. All of our outreach efforts are organized and led by members of the community that the initiative is organized to assist.