American Association of Refugee and Immigrant Women

American Association of Refugee and Immigrant Women General Information Contact Information nprofit American Association of Refugee and Immigrant Women Address P.O. Box 95 Nashville, TN 37011 Phone (615) 823-5460 Fax 615 501-7772 Web Site Web Site Email info@aariw.org At A Glance Year of Incorporation 2000 1

Mission & Impact Statements Mission The American Association of Refugee and Immigrant Women is a nonprofit organization of multi-ethnic mutual assistance associations in Nashville dedicated to addressing issues of vital concern as identified by refugees and immigrants and providing services not available through other social service programs. Background The AARIW (American Association of Refugee & Immigrant Women) is a multiethnic, self-help organization, assisting refugee and immigrant women in the Nashville Metropolitan Area to achieve social and economic selfreliance. The AARIW is an outgrowth of the Woman from the Balkans group which began to organize itself in January 2000 with the goal of bringing women to support each other, share information and socialize. other organization has been able to bring together, address and articulate the needs and concerns of such a diverse group of international women. In line with the AARIW vision and objectives to empower women through education, AARIW set up various workshops and classes on topics of importance to its members. These have included: women's health, employment, homeownership opportunity, fair housing rights, domestic violence, Citizenship classes, computer classes, English classes, and sewing classes. On yearly basis AARIW has sponsored the Friendship International Dinner, as a means to bring refugee and immigrant women together with American friends and provide a unique opportunity for networking by experiencing what other cultures stand for. Our most recent focus has been on providing assistance to, and engaging in advocacy on behalf of, refugee and immigrant women experiencing barriers to accessing mainstream resources in Nashville. We are also committed to building trust within and between the participating ethnic groups, which range from Africa to Asia, Eastern Europe and Latin America, and various religions traditions, from Islamic to Christian and Catholics. The organization utilizes the skills and support of American-born women in linking AARIW members to local resources to address the issues we face as we more effectively integrate into the Nashville community. Our membership is comprised of women from over 25 different countries around the world. Since our formation in 2000, over three hundred refugee and immigrant women have participated in the events, workshops and classes we have sponsored to address the critical issues we are facing. Impact Accomplishments: 1) Computer classes have been very successful with more than 120 having completed a course. 2) More than 150 individuals have enrolled in English classes. 3) Held an employment conference in 2005 for refugee and immigrant women that welcomed 150 participants. Needs 1) Establish Train the Trainer program with World Relief to train volunteers to assist others in completing immigration paperwork and naturalization classes. 2) Get funding to expand health services for refugee and immigrant women. Service Categories Primary Organization Category Human Services / Ethnic/Immigrant Services Secondary Organization Category Civil Rights, Social Action, Advocacy / Civil Rights Areas of Service Areas Served TN - Davidson 2

CEO Statement Refugee and immigrant women living in Nashville need to know more about how to help themselves move forward economically and socially in the Nashville community by supporting each other and sharing information regarding available resources and services. Our conference, training sessions and workshops are designed to address this need. As a result, we expect, refugee women will be able to pursue a career, access the necessary education and skills along the way, thus improving our standard of living, our health and well-being and our sense of security and that of our families. The on-going monthly support meetings, workshops and classes are carried out by AARIW in a supportive environment designed to address the emotional, social and economic needs of refugee women through a self-empowerment model. These activities are particularly crucial to refugee and immigrant women because resettlement agencies can only formally work with them for 190 days after their arrival in the U.S. Our work has truly just begun. We have plans to expand our efforts to link AARIW members to better paying jobs, career opportunities and expanded educational credentials during the upcoming year in partnership with the Career Advancement Center and others. Although there may be other organizations emerging in Nashville with an interest in providing similar services and support to refugee and immigrant women, none are in a position to do what we do - to speak for ourselves about our needs and that of our family members and to bring the resources of the Nashville community to refugee and immigrant women in a supportive environment in which we can learn and grow together. We believe this model results in our being able to move forward economically and socially while improving our standard of living, health and well being. However, we believe we deserve support because of our unique approach, our distinctive needs, and our status as a special population of women, refugees and immigrants. 3

Programs Programs Citizenship and Immigration Training Description Category Population Served Ongoing classes for immigrant and refugee women, covering all issues regarding citizenship and immigration. Civil Rights, Social Action & Advocacy Immigrants' Rights Immigrants/Newcomers/Refugees, Female Adults, Health Workshop Description Category Population Served Workshop focused on issues particular to refugee and immigrant women, facilitated by outside speakers. Health Care Patient Education Female Adults, Immigrants/Newcomers/Refugees, 4

Governance Board Chair Board Chair Ms. Aida Brcic Kapetanovic Company Affiliation World Relief Term Jan 2008 to Jan 2009 Email akapetanovic@wr.org Board Members Name Affiliation Status Ms. Sandra Arnautovic Student Voting Ms Zaira Benti Barosso First Acceptance Insurance Voting Ms. Aida Brcic Kapetanovic World Relief Voting Ms. nye Ejiofor Bastion, Inc. Voting Ms. Hanaa Hamed World Relief Voting Ms. Sumedija Jusufovic Real Estate Broker Voting Dr. Emir Kapetanovic Medical Doctor, Consultant Voting Ms. Yadira Santana Catholic Charities - Bridge Services Voting Mr. Veljko Sarenac Centennial Hospital Voting Board Demographics - Ethnicity African American/Black 4 Asian American/Pacific Islander 1 Caucasian 0 Hispanic/Latino 1 Native American/American Indian 0 Other 3 European and Middle Eastern Board Demographics - Gender Male 0 Female 9 Unspecified 0 Governance Board Term Lengths 2 Board Term Limits 0 Board Meeting Attendance % 60% Written Board Selection Criteria? 5

Written Conflict of Interest Policy? Percentage Making Monetary Contributions 0% Percentage Making In-Kind Contributions 0% Constituency Includes Client Representation Yes Number of Full Board Meetings Annually 4 Standing Committees Executive Additional Board Members Name Mr Alen Brcic Ms. Glendora Bright Ms Amy Holt Mr Emir Kapetanovic M.D. Ms Linda Manning Ms. Marla Thompson Affiliation Vanderbilt University Executive Secretary Metro School Teacher Vanderbilt University Vanderbilt University Women's Center GENEC Communication 6

Management Executive Director/CEO Executive Director Term Start Jan 2000 Ms. Aida Kapetanovic Experience Aida's mission to help refugee and immigrant women originates in her own experience as an immigrant. When war broke out in the early 1990s in her home of Croatia, she and her family fled to Hungary and subsequently Austria. Ultimately, Aida and her family applied to come to the United States as refugees in 1997. The adjustment to life in Nashville was very difficult and the family suffered many financial, emotional and physical setbacks. Aida worked diligently to provide for her family and learn English. Her diligence brought her to work at Metro Social Services and eventually World Relief as a caseworker. Like many refugee women, she had little knowledge of where to go for help, how to find resources to improve her family's situation or how to access information. Aida's own experience pushed her to provide support to other refugee and immigrant women. What started in 2000 as Women from the Balkans became the American Association for Refugee and Immigrant Women (AARIW), a group that welcomes refugee women from all over the world. Aida has received extensive training in immigration and citizenship laws and is certified by the Board of Immigration Appeals. She received a Master's Degree in Marketing & International Business and B.Sc. in Economics and International Business Management from the University of Sarajevo. Staff Full Time Staff 0 Part Time Staff 0 Volunteers 25 Contractors 2 Retention Rate 0% Plans & Policies Does the organization have a documented Fundraising Plan? Yes Does the organization have an approved Strategic Plan? In case of a change in leadership, is a Management Succession plan in place? Does the organization have a Policies and Procedures Plan? Yes Does the organization have a ndiscrimination Policy? Does the organization have a Whistle Blower Policy? Does the organization have a Document Destruction Policy? Affiliations 7

Affiliation Year Tennessee Immigrant & Refugee Rights Coalition 2001 8

Financials Fiscal Year Fiscal Year Start July 01 2009 Fiscal Year End June 30 2010 Projected Revenue $63,644.00 Projected Expenses $56,654.00 Endowment Value $0.00 Endowment Spending Policy N/A Endowment Spending Percentage (if selected) 0% Detailed Financials Revenue and Expenses Total Revenue $82,626 $90,114 $137,579 Total Expenses $83,248 $89,669 $136,971 Revenue Sources Foundation and Corporation -- -- -- Contributions Government Contributions $0 $0 $0 Federal -- -- -- State -- -- -- Local -- -- -- Unspecified $0 $0 $0 Individual Contributions $3,392 $2,141 $5,584 Indirect Public Support $0 $0 $0 Earned Revenue $79,234 $87,973 $131,995 Investment Income, Net of Losses $0 $0 $0 Membership Dues $0 $0 $0 Special Events $0 $0 $0 Revenue In-Kind $0 $0 $0 Other $0 $0 $0 9

Expense Allocation Program Expense $66,598 $71,734 $109,576 Administration Expense $16,650 $17,935 $27,395 Fundraising Expense $0 $0 $0 Payments to Affiliates -- -- -- Total Revenue/Total Expenses 0.99 1.00 1.00 Program Expense/Total Expenses 80% 80% 80% Fundraising Expense/Contributed Revenue 0% 0% 0% Assets and Liabilities Total Assets $934 $1,556 $1,111 Current Assets $64 $1,556 $1,111 Long-Term Liabilities $0 $0 $0 Current Liabilities $9,674 $9,614 $9,614 Total Net Assets $0 ($8,058) $8,503 Short Term Solvency Current Ratio: Current Assets/Current Liabilities 0.01 0.16 0.12 Long Term Solvency Long-Term Liabilities/Total Assets 0% 0% 0% Top Funding Sources Top Funding Source & Dollar Amount -- -- -- Second Highest Funding Source & Dollar -- -- -- Amount Third Highest Funding Source & Dollar Amount -- -- -- Capital Campaign Is the organization currently conducting a Capital Campaign for an endowment or the purchase of a major asset? Capital Campaign Goal $0.00 Capital Campaign Raised-to-Date Amount $0.00 as of 0 Capital Campaign Anticipated in Next 5 Years? State Charitable Solicitations Permit TN Charitable Solicitations Registration Yes - Expires Dec 2009 Registration 0 GivingMatters.com Financial Comments Financial figures are taken from the 990. 990 prepared by Wayne Reed CPA. Foundations and Corporations included with Individual contributions. Deficit on Line 18 of 2009 990 ($1,694). Comment provided by Kirsten Joyner 03/2010. 10