At Refugee Artisan Initiative, we partner with refugee and immigrant women as they build new paths in the United States. Sewing serves as our shared language—bringing women of many cultures together, creating connection through creativity, and offering a safe space to grow. Here, artisans strengthen their skills, confidence, entrepreneurship, and sense of purpose.
At Refugee Artisan Initiative, we partner with refugee and immigrant women as they build new paths in the United States. Sewing serves as our shared language—bringing women of many cultures together, creating connection through creativity, and offering a safe space to grow. Here, artisans strengthen their skills, confidence, entrepreneurship, and sense of purpose.
Mission
RAI partners with refugee and immigrant women to foster an inclusive, prosperous transition to the U.S. through artisan skills training and microbusiness development.
Vision
A community that values and invests in refugee and immigrant women as they achieve economic independence.
Mission
RAI partners with refugee and immigrant women to foster an inclusive, prosperous transition to the U.S. through artisan skills training and microbusiness development.
Vision
A community that values and invests in refugee and immigrant women as they achieve economic independence.
With a strengths-based approach, our programs meet women where they are and honor the talents they already bring. Flexible, at-home work helps artisans overcome barriers such as child care responsibilities, transportation, and language—creating clear pathways to fair income and long-term stability.
Each artisan receives ongoing support tailored to her experience level. This includes skill-building in sewing and tailoring, practice with English, guidance on obtaining a business license, and continued mentorship as she develops her home microbusiness.
RAI diverts thousands of pounds of textiles and materials from landfills every year by transforming them into one-of-a-kind, handcrafted products. Artisans create innovative designs that give a second life to items such as coffee sacks, fire hoses, billboard vinyl, and other hard-to-recycle materials.
RAI is a welcoming, supportive space where women can build meaningful relationships and feel rooted in their new home. We also serve the broader community as a resource for learning about upcycling, the circular economy, and the lived experiences of refugee and immigrant neighbors.
