The Refugee and Immigrant Well-being Project (RIWP) is a long-standing partnership between UVNR and the University of New Mexico that brings together newcomer families, UNM students, instructors, interpreters, and community advocates for nine months of mutual learning, relationship-building, and community-based advocacy.

Through RIWP, UNM students are paired with refugee and immigrant families to support learning goals, navigate community resources, and better understand the social, cultural, and structural barriers that affect newcomer well-being. The project is grounded in the belief that integration is a two-way process. Newcomer families bring knowledge, experience, and resilience, while students learn how to support community-led advocacy in a respectful and practical way.

The UNM course connected to RIWP, Health and Social Inequalities I and II, is a two-semester, nine-credit-hour course. Students begin with classroom-based learning on migration, social inequalities, resettlement, community resources, and the systemic barriers faced by newcomers. This foundation prepares students to work alongside families in a supervised, community-based setting.

Beginning each November, students and newcomer families meet weekly in Learning Circles. These gatherings create space for cultural exchange, English practice, tutoring, family support, and one-on-one learning. Participants may work on goals such as improving English speaking, reading, or writing; understanding mail and documents; completing job applications; learning about financial systems; supporting children’s schoolwork; or navigating health, education, and social service systems.

Outside of Learning Circles, students spend additional time each week supporting families through advocacy and resource navigation. This may include helping families communicate with schools, prepare for appointments, apply for jobs, understand benefits, access health care, or connect with community services. Students receive supervision and guidance throughout the process to ensure that support is respectful, consistent, and responsive to each family’s needs.

RIWP strengthens relationships across cultures and generations while supporting newcomer families in building confidence, accessing resources, and advocating for themselves. At the same time, the project prepares students to better understand newcomer experiences and contribute to more welcoming, equitable communities.