Promoting the psychosocial well-being
of underserved refugee and immigrant women

Who We Are

Founded in 2020, CRIW - the Collective for Refugee and Immigrant Women’s Wellbeing partners with underserved refugee women with limited power due to gender, ethnicity, poverty, education, language, culture and health disparities. With women themselves taking the lead, our programs offer safe and inclusive spaces to amplify their voices, build leadership and advocacy skills, reduce systemic and cultural barriers and serve as a catalyst for meaningful change through collective civic engagement.

Rather than adopt a one-size-fits-all approach, our aim is to provide specialized programming that honors women's unique culture, beliefs, strengths, aspirations and challenges and honors self-determination. Using a participatory approach, we work closely with community partners to understand and address the psychosocial determinants affecting their wellbeing to create local solutions that are practical, meaningful and sustainable. Initiatives support a more inclusive and just community, allowing refugee and immigrant women to flourish.

Our Focus

  • Building collective power with preliterate Afghan women through leadership training and civic engagement.

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  • Using multiple artistic platforms, we reduced barriers to expression and provided preliterate Afghan women who are often unheard, to tell their stories.

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  • CRIW is committed to collaborating with individuals and organizations to support existing programs, collectively envision and create new, meaningful initiatives and celebrate community.

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Our Initiatives

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Stay Up to Date

CRIW Events

Get Involved

  • “One thing I love about this program is that it gives us hope.”

    Women’s Leadership Program Participant

  • “I learned how to talk to people, discuss our problems, advocate for our community and feel more confident and assertive.”

    Women’s Leadership Program Participant

  • “I learned that people hear our voices and care about them.”

    Women’s Leadership Program Participant

  • “I really liked the meditation part of the meetings. Now, I am recommending this to other women. If someone says: ‘I am sad or depressed,’ I practice meditation with them.”

    Women’s Leadership Program Participant

  • “I learned how to talk to people, discuss our problems, advocate for our community and feel more confident and assertive.”

    Women’s Leadership Program Participant

  • "I’m so happy. I really liked the Photovoice workshop - seeing each other, learning how to take photographs and sharing my culture with others.”

    Photovoice participant

New & Noteworthy

April/2024 - Cofounder Hossna Samadi was interviewed by NBC Connecticut/Telemundo for “Connecticut in Color”, where she talked about CRIW’s Expressive Arts Initiatives with Afghan women - a project generously funded by the City of New Haven Arts, Culture & Tourism. 

April/2024 - CRIW celebrated National Volunteer Week with our passionate and committed volunteers - Serena, You You and Odette, as well as New Haven Adult Education ESL teacher Kris and volunteer teaching assistant Fatima to recognize the transformative impact of their service on refguee and immigrant women in our community. CRIW volunteers provide onsite childcare for women attending customized ESL classes, helping to break the barrier for women with children to learn English. We are so grateful for all of their contributions.

Gratitude to our Partners