Our Impact
Impact Report
2023-2024
MISSION
Hello Neighbor works to improve the lives of recently resettled refugee and immigrant families by matching them with dedicated neighbors to guide and support them in their new lives.
VISION
Hello Neighbor envisions a welcoming, inclusive, and vibrant Pittsburgh and America, whose newest neighbors can realize their dreams of success and prosperity. We aspire to see communities where everyone is valued for their diverse perspectives and are empowered to rebuild their lives with dignity and respect.
Our VALUES
REFUGEE-FIRST MINDSET
We believe that all of our work should start with the best interests of the refugees that we serve as voiced by them.
CROSS-CULTURAL SENSITIVITY
We believe in having a thoughtful approach toward the refugee families we support. We know the best answers come from really listening to the needs of the community and that trauma-informed care impacts programmatic support.
DIGNIFIED STORYTELLING
We believe in protecting the privacy and dignity of refugee families by sharing their stories in a respectful way. We strive to be mindful of and sensitive to the journeys and trauma these stories may represent.
CULTIVATING COMMUNITY
We believe the most important aspect of our program is the human connection and trust that comes from mentor/mentee relationships. Listening and connecting over shared experiences helps to foster a community that transcends cultures.
INCLUSIVE SUPPORT
We believe in welcoming and standing beside all refugees and immigrants— regardless of race, religion, age, national origin, citizenship status or sexual orientation—and honoring their experiences and voices with a spirit of acceptance and belonging.
History
“Hello Neighbor opens up a way to be an empathic being and to connect with people, learn different cultures, and understand how somebody else integrates into a society you’ve always been a part of.”
Jozie D. - Landlord Partner
Letter from Our Founder & CEO
Dear Friends and Supporters,
As I reflect on the past year at Hello Neighbor, I am deeply moved by the collective impact we have made together. This year has been a testament to the strength of our community, the resilience of those we serve, and the unwavering support from each of you.
From our expanded team and innovative programs, to the countless stories of transformation and growth, our journey has been marked by significant milestones. We have continued to forge meaningful connections between recently resettled refugee and immigrant families and dedicated neighbors, creating a tapestry of support that spans across Allegheny County and the United States, through our work in the Hello Neighbor Network.
It is with great pride that I share with you this year’s impact report. In it, you will find highlights of our key achievements and a snapshot of the lives touched by our work. The stories of our mentors and mentees, the successes of our educational and resettlement programs, the work of grassroots organizations from around the country impacted by our national work and the generous support from our volunteers and partners are all woven together to illustrate the heart of Hello Neighbor.
What makes me smile is seeing the incredible resilience of our families and the kindness of neighbors who step up every day to welcome them with open arms.
Our mission remains clear - improve the lives of refugees and immigrants by fostering a welcoming community where they can thrive. Our vision is to see a vibrant and inclusive society where everyone is valued and empowered to rebuild their lives with dignity.
On a more personal note, this is my eighth year since the founding of Hello Neighbor and it is amazing what we have accomplished and what we are excited about as we look ahead. This organization, like many others, was created after the 2016 election seeing a real need for how to stand up and support our newest neighbors. Each year that has passed has brought new successes, challenges, and stories to tell about how love is stronger than hate and what we can do when we are in community with one another.
What makes me smile is seeing the incredible resilience of our families and the kindness of neighbors who step up every day to welcome them with open arms.
Since Day 1, we have seen the kindness of caring neighbors and the resilience of our new neighbors firsthand, and it’s clear how those relationships truly impact communities for the better. The connections formed are life-changing, not just for the refugees and immigrants we serve but for the volunteers and supporters who witness the power of a welcoming, inclusive community.
As we move forward, I am excited about the future of Hello Neighbor and the continued vibrance and resilience of those we have the pleasure of working with.. Thank you for being an integral part of this journey. Your support, dedication, and belief in our mission make everything we do possible.
Forever yours in community,
Sloane Davidson
Founder and CEO, Hello Neighbor
Mentorship
Our flagship program completed its eighth cohort since 2017! This program matches newly resettled refugees & immigrants with Pittsburghers. Each family is matched, and they decide how to utilize their time together whether it be through activities, sharing meals, lesson learning, or spending time together.
COHORT 8: AUGUST ‘23 - JUNE ‘24
Pumpkin Patch
We kicked off with a day at Cheeseman Farms. Pumpkins were picked and decorated, a fall Pennsylvania tradition!
Children's Museum
Over 100 mentors &mentees spent the day at the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh learning and even using some of the experiments provided.
Pirates Game
25 of us gathered to cheer on the Pirates at PNC Park. For some of our attendees, it was their first baseball game!
Pittsburgh Zoo
We celebrated the end of the cohort at the Pittsburgh Zoo. Laughs and smiles were exchanged as they reminisced on the past year full of good memories.
2023
2023
2024
2024
2024
Education
STUDY BUDDY: Refugee and immigrant students in grades 6-12 get personalized, virtual tutoring from local volunteer tutors for two hours each week for sessions. Events including in-person sessions and activities help strengthen the bonds with the students and tutors!
Little Neighbors: One of our new programs connects families to early childhood education resources and helps them navigate the application and enrollment process, which can be a challenge for families who are new to the United States and those with limited English. We address a crucial need for our newest neighbors and their children by helping families foster their children’s development with access to resources and support.
Program
LANGUAGE ACCESS: Ensuring equal access to our services for all refugees and immigrants, regardless of English proficiency or native language. Our staff advocates for our client’s access to interpretation in medical appointments, police encounters, family-school communications, local government, and more. In 2024, we launched our first round of ESL classes!
Program
LANGUAGES SPOKEN BY OUR INTERPRETERS:
- Arabic
- Azeri
- Burmese
- Dari
- Farsi
- French
- Haitian Creole
- Hindi
- Kinyarwanda
- Nepali
- Pashto
- Spanish
- Swahili
- Turkish
- Ukrainian
Resettlement
Our Reception & Placement program through the U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants (USCRI) focuses on directly resettling refugees from all over the world, people with Special Immigrant Visas (SIVs), and Afghan and Ukrainian humanitarian parolees.
“It is rewarding to be part of something bigger than ourselves and to be able to contribute in a small way to a family learning a new language and a new culture.”
Leah Rubenstein, Resettlement Case Aide
Employment Services / Legal
Employment Services: Hello Neighbor provides personalized services for economic empowerment and self- sufficiency, including orientation to U.S. employment norms, resume and interview preparation, job referrals, application assistance, transportation aid, budgeting guidance, interpretation services, and access to Job Club and Office Hours. Case management services aim to overcome barriers to independence.
Program
Legal: In 2024, Hello Neighbor started offering a variety of immigration services to help clients to maintain lawful nonimmigrant status, to secure permanent legal status to remain and thrive in the United States, and to reunify them with family members still living overseas.
“It is an honor and a gift to be able to help clients navigate what is an intimidating system, as they pursue permanent status to stay in the U.S. or to be reunited with their family members.”
Gina Godfrey, Immigrant Legal Fellow
Smart Start
This program seeks to serve at the intersection of birth-work support and immigrant/refugee resettlement services to provide intensive case management for pregnant immigrants and refugees in Allegheny and Washington Counties.
Intensive Case Management + Gaps
This program provides critical interventions, support, and intensive case management for refugees and other eligible populations, with especially vulnerable circumstances who have arrived in the U.S. over the past5 years.
Program
CENTER FOR AFGHAN RESILIENCE
“Omid e Mahajir” (The Hope of a Refugee) Center for Afghan Resilience is a dual-agency program in partnership with Bethany Christian Services through the Office of Refugee Resettlement for Services for Afghan Survivors Impacted by Combat. Through enrollment in this program, families have access to case Management, peer support, physical healthcare coordination, mentorship, community referrals, pregnancy support, and behavioral health counseling.
Program
We hosted our first Language Access Training for mental health providers! They learned how to work with interpreters and translators to make their practice more inclusive to immigrants and refugees.
- Dari/Farsi
- Spanish
- Ukrainian
- Swahili
Hello Neighbor Network
The Hello Neighbor Network, powered by Hello Neighbor, is a coalition of grassroots organizations working with newly resettled refugees and immigrants in the U.S. By connecting nonprofit leaders across the country, the Network provides education and resources to organizations actively diversifying our communities.
“This experience has been invaluable in helping me optimize the resources and systems within my organization, setting us up for sustainable growth.”
Shoshana (Akabas) Barzel, 2022 Network Fellow
Executive Director, New Neighbors Partnership (New York, NY)
Year in Review
BIRTHDAY OF GIVING
In honor of our 7 years of service to the Pittsburgh community, our community raised over $5,500 from our Birthday of Giving campaign!
HOME SWEET HOME
Over 250 people gathered for our largest fundraising event of the year all in support of our mission. We honored Christina Weiss of UPMC Magee with the New Neighbor Champion Award & Angela Chang with the Volunteer Advocate Award.
WORLD REFUGEE DAY
We were the lead organizer for this year’s World Refugee Day celebration in Schenley Plaza. There were cultural performances, 16 citizens naturalized, and 25 local refugee/immigrant owned businesses showcased. PA Governor Shapiro proclaimed the day as “Refugee Day.”
ANNUAL COMMUNITY POTLUCK
We hosted and fed over 400 people at our 7th annual community potluck. Over 250 toys were given away to children thanks to community donations!
Volunteering
Hello Neighbor volunteers span across a majority of our programs. They help out with various tasks including grocery shopping, housing setups, organizing donations, office support, Hello Neighbor events, and so much more. Thanks to our partners from across the Pittsburgh area who have hosted donation drives on behalf of our organization
Volunteer Spotlight
“Discovering an agency whose clients hail from other countries AND are refugees made choosing Hello Neighbor as the organization where I could be of service in the community an easy one. It is gratifying to know that my efforts, and those of fellow volunteers, are helping to ease the transition of recently arrived refugees here in Pittsburgh. And the staff have been so very welcoming.”
Gwen M.
Donation Drives:
- The Ellis School
- LINKS Pittsburgh
- Mila Rao
- Mt. Lebanon Lutheran Church
- Mt. Lebanon United Methodist Church
- National Dental Student Association
- Penn State Dubois
- Sewickley Area Mom’s Club
- Shadyside Academy Primary School
- Shadyside Academy Middle School
- St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church
In the Media
Tap on each logo to see our story!
Financials July 1, 2023 - June 30, 2024
REVENUE
EXPENSES
Board Members
- Katie Le, Chair
- Dr. Ezz-Eldin Moukamal, Vice Chair
- Paul Fermo, Treasurer
- Ekta P Nahata, Secretary
- Alexandra Cavoulacos
- Aliza Haider
- Carissa Slotterback, PhD
- Kelly K. Noel
- Kristen Hemmings
- Matt Zieger
- Sameer Kshirsagar
- Sarah Miley
- Sloane Davidson*
Thank You to Our Funders
- AEO Foundation
- Adams Foundation
- Association of Maternal & Child Health Programs (AMCHP)
- Birmingham Foundation
- Dollar Bank Foundation
- Duquesne Light Company
- Eaton Charitable Fund
- Evan and Tracy Segal Family Foundation
- FISA Foundation
- Good People Fund
- Highmark Wholecare
- Howard and Nell E Miller Foundation
- Jewish Healthcare Foundation of Pittsburgh
- Junior League of Pittsburgh
- Mary Hillman Jennings Foundation
- Massey Charitable Trust
- National Healthy Start Association (AIM)
- NiSource Charitable Foundation
- Nordstrom Cares
- PNC Grow Up Great
- Posner Foundation of Pittsburgh
- Snee-Reinhardt Charitable Foundation
- The Banks-Baldwin Foundation
- The Benter Foundation
- The Harnisch Foundation
- The Jack Buncher Foundation
- The Jefferson Regional Foundation
- The Pittsburgh Foundation
- The PNC Foundation
- The Stand Together Foundation
- The Starbucks Foundation
- UPMC
- USA for UNHCR
- U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants - USCRI
- W.I. Patterson Charitable Fund
- Walmart Spark Good
- Walmart Foundation
- Welcome.Us
Hello Neighbor
6587 Hamilton Ave, Suite #1E
Pittsburgh, PA 15206
Hello Neighbor is a 501(c)(3) | EIN: 82-3695047