Mission Statement
We welcome, accompany, and partner with Latino immigrants in building a safe and sustainable life.
“Open Arms” is more than just a name. As followers of Jesus, it describes our experience of God’s love and, in turn, how we attempt to extend his love to people in our communities. More specifically, we assume three primary postures in our relationships with Latino immigrants:
Welcoming. Our arms are open wide to receive people seeking to make a home in our communities. Our paid and volunteer staff create safe, judgment-free spaces where people can land and settle, caring for immediate and emergent needs. We offer translation and immigration services, access to housing and healthcare, and financial assistance on a case-by-case basis.
Accompanying. Our arms are around the shoulders of people who are taking steps to establish themselves in the United States. We assist with job placement, learning English, childcare and education, access to transportation, and connection with local churches as they seek to integrate and settle into their communities. All of these services are carried out with an emphasis on relationships that make people feel loved, encouraged and resourced.
Partnering. Our arms are linked with people who share our vision, regardless of whether or not they are part of our organization. We acknowledge the power imbalance that is a regular experience for immigrants, particularly when they are in positions of need, and we are committed to “leveling the field” by empowering Latino immigrants to serve, support and lead within the initiatives of Open Arms.
Vision Statement
We exist to see a safe and welcoming community for Latino immigrants.
We believe that God has created all people – different yet equal, and deserving of great dignity and value simply for being human. We also believe that God has gifted every person for good and beautiful work, so that society is at its best when all of us are contributing to its well-being.
Unfortunately, those beliefs are not realized by many Latino immigrants in our communities. Challenges associated with immigration, literacy and education, cultural differences, employment and housing prevent them from living the full life for which God intended them. Their day-to-day experience is often marked by fear, isolation and the unknown.
It doesn’t have to be this way. We see a future in which all people have space to call home – space to live and work and rest alongside their neighbors, space free of judgement and discrimination, and space to be who God created them to be.