Our Executive Director Ravi Ragbir will be leading and engaging with volunteers as part of a three-level training process designed to strengthen our work, improve coordination, and build a more sustainable and effective system.

The Training Structure

This is a three-part / three-level process:

Level 1: Orientation & Foundations

• Who we are and our mission
• Roles and expectations (for both volunteers and friends/clients)
• Understanding boundaries: what we do and what we do not do
• Building a shared culture and accountability

Level 2: Team-Based Work

• Assignment into functional teams:
  • Translators
  • Interviewers / transcribers
  • Tech and support
  • Legal coordination
• Learning how to operate within a structured system
• Clear communication and workflow

Level 3: Coordination & Leadership

• Developing coordinators from within the teams
• Managing clinic flow and supporting others
• Preparing for court accompaniment and expanded responsibilities
• Strengthening leadership and consistency across the clinic

Why This Matters

As Ravi emphasized, this structure is not just about efficiency; it is about building community.

We are creating a space where:

• Volunteers feel connected, supported, and purposeful
• Friends (clients) feel guided, respected, and accountable
• People stay engaged and continue returning to the clinic
• Our work becomes more organized, impactful, and sustainable

This is also part of a broader shift in how we operate, moving toward a more coordinated, team-based model that allows us to better support people while maintaining clear roles and expectations.

What to Expect

• A more structured clinic environment
• Clear team assignments
• Defined roles and responsibilities
• Opportunities to grow into leadership positions
• Stronger collaboration and community building

All volunteers will be expected to participate in this training process, whether you are new or have been with us for some time.

We are excited to take this next step together and look forward to seeing you on Monday.

Please confirm your availability if you are able to attend.

Trained volunteers, people seeking help with paperwork, and translators (especially fluent Spanish speakers), please arrive at 5:45pm.

Walkers gather at the front entrance of 26 Federal Plaza (Broadway side) at 11am. Early-comers can join us at the Federal Gourmet deli across the street (325 Broadway) in the upstairs seating area.

We will walk seven laps around the Federal Plaza building, stopping each time for a brief silent prayer. After the last lap, we will recite the Jericho Prayer.

Download the Jericho Walk flyer

We are now holding weekly meetings. Join us!

Thursdays at 5:30pm

Brooklyn Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers)
110 Schemerhorn St
Brooklyn, NY 11201

Join us to learn how we stand with people who are pursuing legal immigration status while facing a hostile system. During Accompaniment, we join respondents (whom we call Friends) for their hearings and check-ins by appointment. Court Witnessing means going into courthouses as groups to meet people for the first time in waiting rooms. We give Friends useful information, help them with paperwork, stay present with them before, during, and after their hearings, and connect them with immediate and ongoing resources to help them fight deportation and detention.

Our Executive Director Ravi Ragbir will be leading and engaging with volunteers as part of a three-level training process designed to strengthen our work, improve coordination, and build a more sustainable and effective system.

The Training Structure

This is a three-part / three-level process:

Level 1: Orientation & Foundations

• Who we are and our mission
• Roles and expectations (for both volunteers and friends/clients)
• Understanding boundaries: what we do and what we do not do
• Building a shared culture and accountability

Level 2: Team-Based Work

• Assignment into functional teams:
  • Translators
  • Interviewers / transcribers
  • Tech and support
  • Legal coordination
• Learning how to operate within a structured system
• Clear communication and workflow

Level 3: Coordination & Leadership

• Developing coordinators from within the teams
• Managing clinic flow and supporting others
• Preparing for court accompaniment and expanded responsibilities
• Strengthening leadership and consistency across the clinic

Why This Matters

As Ravi emphasized, this structure is not just about efficiency; it is about building community.

We are creating a space where:

• Volunteers feel connected, supported, and purposeful
• Friends (clients) feel guided, respected, and accountable
• People stay engaged and continue returning to the clinic
• Our work becomes more organized, impactful, and sustainable

This is also part of a broader shift in how we operate, moving toward a more coordinated, team-based model that allows us to better support people while maintaining clear roles and expectations.

What to Expect

• A more structured clinic environment
• Clear team assignments
• Defined roles and responsibilities
• Opportunities to grow into leadership positions
• Stronger collaboration and community building

All volunteers will be expected to participate in this training process, whether you are new or have been with us for some time.

We are excited to take this next step together and look forward to seeing you on Monday.

Please confirm your availability if you are able to attend.

Trained volunteers, people seeking help with paperwork, and translators (especially fluent Spanish speakers), please arrive at 5:45pm.

During this “express” online training, we will give you the tools you’ll need to help our young Friends (under 21) who have been abused, neglected, or abandoned acquire lawful permanent residence in the U.S. No previous experience necessary.

Our goal at the New Sanctuary Pro Se Clinic is to expand our capacity to assist these vulnerable children.

Please join us! All are welcome, and Spanish speakers are especially in need.

Space may be limited, so please RSVP soon if you’re interested in joining us. 

Link will be sent via email upon RSVP.

Walkers gather at the front entrance of 26 Federal Plaza (Broadway side) at 11am. Early-comers can join us at the Federal Gourmet deli across the street (325 Broadway) in the upstairs seating area.

We will walk seven laps around the Federal Plaza building, stopping each time for a brief silent prayer. After the last lap, we will recite the Jericho Prayer.

Download the Jericho Walk flyer

We are now holding weekly meetings. Join us!

Thursdays at 5:30pm

Brooklyn Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers)
110 Schemerhorn St
Brooklyn, NY 11201