Impact and Programs
Accomplishments
MORE advances the common good by helping New Americans of all races and cultures become independent, full participants in our economy and community. Our goal is to provide “Empowerment through Access.” Since the very beginning of this organization and still today, we have been tirelessly committed to removing barriers. Whether those barriers are financial, systemic, educational, language/communication, etc., our objective has always been to ensure that MORE’s participants have a better life with greater stability and the ability to choose what happens to them and their families.
The number of individuals served at MORE in FY 2020 was 541 families. By Program: Basic Needs/Case Management – 75 individuals were provided with case management and 479 individuals were provided with food, clothing and household items through 2,271 visits; and Education – 53 participants spent 6,483 hours learning English, Digital Literacy and Work Preparedness Skills. MORE provided almost 9,000 hours of service.
Successful resettlement isn't defined by a certain number of months or years. MORE does not place any parameters around a participant's amount of time in the United States and accessing our services. What we have found especially telling about the need for MORE over the past few years with fewer NEW arrivals is that there has been a significant increase in our Social Services, especially Basic Needs. We have supported multiple generations of New Americans, sometimes at the same event.
Current Goals
MORE is currently in a rebuilding phase with our Education Program. The immigration landscape has changed dramatically over the past few years. Many New Americans are working. Unfortunately, many of these jobs require very few skills and are paid at the lowest wages. When these community members enter the job force, it is very difficult for them to find the time and resources to increase their skills in English and/or workforce readiness that could lead them to better paying positions and out of poverty. It is imperative that our services change to meet the evolving needs of New Americans in our community. We would like to increase our capacity to provide a non-traditional English learning opportunity - Onsite Workplace English Classes. Ultimately, the impact will be that more people build their literacy skills thereby increasing their self-sufficiency. Last year, we began partnering with a produce distribution company, a local employer of many New Americans. We went onsite to the workplace, twice a week, in six-week long sessions and taught English. The employees have access to a class right after or before their work shift, removing some of the timing and transportation challenges to studying English and making it very easy to participate. MORE’s Current Goals are to continue to asses and listen to the needs of our participants, not just in determining the services we offer but also how we offer those services. Our priority will remain making adjustments and modifications to our services in order to be a useful resource to New Americans.
Community or Constituency Served
Refugees and Immigrants
Geographic Area Served
MORE is located in the North End of St. Paul and most participants come from this neighborhood. That being said, we do not have any geographic boundaries related to service.
