About us

Who we are and what we believe

We are a group of volunteers who work with refugees and asylum seekers, hoping to ease their transition to life in the U.S. We meet each individual where they are, to learn what they need, and provide support as able to help them adapt to a culture very different from their own. Working in Lexington and surrounding towns, we have supported individuals and families from Africa, the Middle East, and Central America.

We believe that every individual in our care deserves to be treated with dignity and respect. And that the smiling face of a LexRAP volunteer can help counteract the often-faceless bureaucracy that must be dealt with.

Our Mission

The mission of LexRAP is one of welcome and accompaniment of refugees and legal asylum seekers. We seek to meet people in the process of seeking asylum, greet them as new neighbors, and help them settle into their communities. We aim to do this by getting to know them, spending time together, and linking them with needed services. In addition, we seek to publicize our work in our relevant communities, and thereby to engage other citizens and organizations in promoting refugee welfare. Together with our clients, we monitor progress, celebrate successes, and assist as possible to overcome roadblocks. We work towards a goal of self-reliance and an understanding of life’s possibilities in the United States.

Officers/Board

Officers

President: Bruce Neumann

Vice President: Steve Stulck

Treasurer: Laura Tandara

Secretary: Tom Rich

Board

Don Detweiler Elizabeth Ellen Ingrid Klimoff Marianne Boswell

Mary Diaz-Przybyl

Nancy Keswani

Naomi Rosenthal

Pat Moyer

Some brief facts about Lexington Refugee Assistance Program (LexRAP)

LexRAP is a Lexington-based 501(c)(3) non-profit organization founded in 2015 to help refugees settling in the United States to become productive, well-adjusted members of the community.

LexRAP support includes: education, tutoring, help finding healthcare and employment, household goods, socialization, summer camp, temporary financial assistance, and transportation
100% volunteer effort (no paid staff)
LexRAP families live mostly in Lexington, Concord, and surrounding towns
LexRAP refurbishes laptops and has given over 60 to refugee families

The refugees and asylum seekers we work with are from Afghanistan, Cuba, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Jamaica, Rwanda, Syria, Uganda, and Ukraine
We have been involved in helping over 100 people currently
LexRAP partners with Refugee Resettlement Agencies and other refugee-support organizations
LexRAP enjoys wide community support, with volunteers from faith-based and town organizations
100% of donations go directly to Refugee Support Services

A History of Refugee Outreach in Lexington

LexRAP is a natural extension of the area’s history of helping refugees over the last 45 years

Our Volunteers

LexRAP volunteers are individuals from Lexington and surrounding towns who find themselves called to reach out and help a neighbor. Each volunteer brings their own skills and experience – what connects us is a sense of compassion for those who, through no fault of their own, have had to flee everything they knew. While some volunteers bring professional experience (social workers, physicians, lawyers), all bring a smiling face and a willingness to help.

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