​About Us - sobre nosotros

English:
 El Refugio is a Christian organization that improves the quality of life for all in Sanford and Lee County, North Carolina by building bridges between transitioning immigrants and established residents through sharing, learning, and serving our community together while respecting cultural identities.​

Services/Programs: El Refugio programs involve free language classes (English and Spanish), citizenship preparedness classes, and supplemental classes/ workshops in partnership with other agencies that include computer, healthy cooking, business empowerment and start-ups, financial literacy,   and educational  legal immigration seminars.  During class sessions, El Refugio offers childcare and child enrichment activities.  Services include resource connections to connect individuals to local agencies and resources (food, housing, legal aid, and more). El Refugio engages in cross-cultural activities and holds three events throughout the year: Festival Latino, International Culture Night, and Summer Fest. 

ESPAÑOL: 
EL REFUGIO ES UNA ORGANIZACIÓN CRISTIANA QUE MEJORA LA CALIDAD DE VIDA DE TODOS EN LA AREA DE SANFORD DEL CONDADO DE LEE CREANDO LAZOS ENTRE INMIGRANTES Y RESIDENTES ESTABLECIDOS A TRAVÉS DE COMPARTIR, APRENDER, Y SERVIR CONJUNTAMENTE, RESPETANDO SUS IDENTIDADES CULTURALES. 
Servicios y Programas: Los programas de El Refugio incluyen clases gratuitas de idiomas (inglés y español), clases de preparación para la ciudadanía y clases / talleres complementarios en asociación con otras agencias que incluyen computadoras, cocina saludable, empoderamiento empresarial y creación de empresas, conocimientos financieros y seminarios educativos sobre inmigración legal. Durante las sesiones de clase, El Refugio ofrece cuidado de niños y actividades de enriquecimiento infantil. Los servicios incluyen conexiones de recursos para conectar a las personas con agencias y recursos locales (alimentos, vivienda, asistencia legal y más). El Refugio participa en actividades transculturales y realiza tres eventos durante todo el año: Festival Latino, Noche de Cultura Internacional y Festival de Verano.

Our Mission

To promote opportunities for interaction between cultures that encourage positive relationships based on sharing knowledge, hopes and experiences. To foster individual growth in Lee County by identifying people’s needs and talents, and finding the resources to develop them.

Nuestra Misión

Promover oportunidades para la interacción entre las culturas para fortalecer relaciones positivas basadas en el intercambio de conocimientos, esperanzas y experiencias. Fomentar el desarrollo de las persona en el Condado de Lee identificando sus talentos y necesidades, y encontrando los recursos para hacerlo.

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English

Español

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​Our Team - Nuestro Equipo

Sandra Torres

Executive Director/Directora Ejecutiva
elrefugioed@gmail.com
 Sandra Torres is a native of Sanford, NC where she was raised by her Mexican and Salvadoran parents. Growing up she was exposed to the richness of the Latinx cultures and the distinct challenges immigrant families face due to cultural and language barriers. Sandra’s vision to work towards change, inform, and empower the immigrant communities motivated her pursue a career engaging in community work. She graduated with a Bachelor in Social Work with a minor in Sociology from the University of North Carolina at Pembroke and a Master of Social Work degree from North Carolina State University. Sandra came to El Refugio in 2018 as a volunteer and later became Program Director where she engaged in teaching, grant writing, event coordination, community building, programming, and more. Previously she worked in domestic violence, rape crisis, social services, and as an ESL instructor/administrative personnel at Central Carolina Community College.

My name is Sandra Ruiz. I am Puerto Rican. I have been living in Sanford NC since August 2017.  My first challenge was to learn English. I have been a student at El Refugio since I arrived. I was a member of El Refugio's Board of Directors. I currently work at Lee County Schools in the Migrant Education Program. I joined the staff team as the Resource Coordinator to help provide orientation of community resources and COVID-19 information to the immigrant community in Lee County. 

Instructors and Staff - Instructores y Personal

TBD ESL Level 1

Yanira Scott Vanegas ESL Level 2

Trenee Fennell Martin
ESL Level 3

Eurice Aragon
​​Spanish Class Instructor
El Refugio

Iris Nazario
Tutoring 
​El Refugio

Oscar Hernandez
ESL & Career Pathways Coordinator
Central Carolina Community College
Liaison

Carmen Helena Torres
ESL Assistant 
Central Carolina Community College

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Caitlin Upchurch 
Childcare
9-12 year olds

Adelina Arias
​Childcare 
4-8 year olds

Isabela Escobar
​Childcare
4-8 year olds

Melanie Yarborough
​Childcare
1-3 year olds 
​

Martha Hernandez 
Childcare 
​1-3 year olds

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Board of Directors - Junta Directiva

Angel Mills
CHAIR
​Presidenta

Sandra Torres
​​Executive Director 
​DIRECTOR EJECUTIVO

Erica Vasquez​
​Secretary
​SECRETARIA

Deb Taylor
​TREASURER
​TESORERO

Bob Finch
Member
​Miembro

Debra Groce
MEMBER
​MIEMBRO

Bob Bridwell
MEMBER
​MIEMBRO

Analyn Sessoms
Member
MIEMBRO

Roberto Montero
MEMBER
​MIEMBRO

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Living Together - Growing Together

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Viviendo Juntos - Creciendo Juntos​

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BIENVENIDOS ~ WELCOME

El Refugio is an organization that provides language and citizenship classes, family enrichment activities, legal information, and resource connections.
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El Refugio es una organización que ofrece clases de idioma y ciudadanía, actividades de enriquecimiento familiar, información legal y conexiones de recursos.

Dale clic al boton abajo para sabre sobre nosotros y nuestro equipo.

About Us - MAS Sobre Nosotros

Nuestras Clases-Our Classes!

If you are interested in any of the classes please click below.
Si esta interesado en alguna clase por favor haga clic al boton abajo.
Nuestras Clases - Our Classes
Ingles (English)
Espanol (Spanish)
Ciudadania (Citizenship)
Tutoria/Alfabetizacion (Tutoring/Literacy)
Some of our classes have moved online due to COVID-19
Nuestras clases estan en linea debido a COVID-19.

Nuestras Clases-Our Classes

Dona Ya! Donate Now!

Support El Refugio
Click the Donate Button below
(Dale Clic al boton de Donar)
Send checks payable  to
(Mande su cheque al nombre de):   
El Refugio
407 West Main Street   
Sanford, NC 27330

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