News

“While BCNH as an institution has transitioned, its impact continues to live on—a lasting legacy that we, the resettled Bhutanese in New Hampshire, deeply cherish and uphold. Your leadership, volunteerism, and tireless contribution have not only uplifted individuals and families but also inspired a generation to believe in the power of community.”

October 16  was just another Thursday at BCNH, except for the immigration attorney.

That was new.

Our Haitian and Ukrainian clients are increasingly afraid that ICE could arrest and detain them, even though they are all here legally and have committed no crimes.  Sadly, their fears are well grounded.  So we helped them prepare for that nightmare by developing “caregiver plans:”  legally binding instructions designating a guardian to take responsibility for their kids should the parents be disappeared one afternoon.

Patrick Long, an immigration attorney (and State Rep) from Manchester, was here to walk our clients through the forms and signatures. We were able to retain him thanks to a grant from the NH Children’s Health Foundation. 

Everything that’s great about New Hampshire came together on October 11 when BCNH hired a school bus to take 50 New Americans from Manchester on a field trip.  Participants were from Afghanistan, Myanmar, Ukraine, Congo, Bhutan, and Haiti.  (Sadly, the only Haitian on the trip was one of BCNH’s employees.  The others who were invited no longer dare to gather in groups for fear of attracting ICE agents.  They are all here legally, but they do not feel free to assemble.)

Donors to Granite United Way have provided BCNH with backpacks for refugee kids, Christmas toys, and funds to help us pay our staff. In their February newsletter, Granite United Way features our work as an example of their community impact. Don’t miss the YouTube video linked to this story.

BCNH has served 529 refugees and humanitarian parolees people over the last two years. The graph reveals a little bit about where they came from.

BCNH is here to support Ukrainians, Afghans, and Haitians who entered the United States as “humanitarian parolees,” with full documentation to work and contribute to our communities. They need our help, and BCNH needs YOUR help. Please donate today.

Thank you, Doug Hall!  The Bhutanese Community of New Hampshire honors you for standing with us and making possible our success in America.  

Anis Arifi of Concord is a geologist so he had an expert’s appreciation for the Flume on October 19 when he and about 70 other refugees and humanitarian parolees walked with BCNH.

When New American workers at two regional food processors got layoff notices, they turned to BCNH for help.

BCNH teaches English to Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) in our office on Elm Street in Manchester every Tuesday and Thursday morning. To sign up for a class, please drop in on Tuesday, September 10, at any time between 9 and noon to meet instructor Kathy Higgins Consoli. The photo shows a class field trip in June 2024.