MCRC - Multicultural Community Resource Center

10/22/2026

💙 𝐀 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐛𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐩 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐢𝐭. 💙

At last night’s meeting, MCRC - Multicultural Community Resource Center’s Board of Directors voted to elect Attorney Paul Susko and Dr. Phelecia Udoko as our newest board members. We are excited to welcome their experience, perspectives, and commitment to creating opportunities for others!

Paul Susko brings a career dedicated to law, civil rights, and public service, along with advisory board and committee experience spanning legal education and the Erie County Bar Association. He looks forward to supporting MCRC through governance, legal insight, community connections, and committee service. His belief that everyone deserves opportunity speaks directly to our mission.

Dr. Phelecia Udoko, an Assistant Professor at Gannon University, brings expertise in evaluation, leadership, and human resource development. Through her board service with L’Arche Erie and the John F. Kennedy Center, she brings valuable experience in strategy. She is eager to support MCRC’s planning, governance, staff development, and programs. As an immigrant from Jamaica, she also brings lived experience and a personal commitment to helping immigrant and refugee communities thrive.

Their willingness to serve is an investment in the people and possibilities that make Erie stronger. Together, we will continue building a community where our Latino, refugee, immigrant, and New American neighbors can find support, pursue opportunities, and feel a sense of belonging.

Please join us in welcoming Paul and Phelecia to the MCRC family!

10/22/2026

A table where a family shares its first meal in Erie. A couch where they can finally rest. A dresser where they can unpack and begin to feel at home.

Every month, MCRC - Multicultural Community Resource Center welcomes newly arriving refugees to Erie - neighbors beginning a new chapter in the place they will now call home.

The government assistance available to help families establish their lives is limited. Refugees are also responsible for repaying their travel loans to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), covering the cost of international airfare and travel arrangements. Purchasing basic household furnishings can quickly stretch those already limited resources.

Your donation can help a family’s fresh start go further. When our community helps furnish a home, families can preserve more of their funds for rent, utilities, groceries, and the everyday costs of rebuilding their lives.

MCRC is currently seeking new or gently used household items in good condition, especially:

- Couches and other seating

- Kitchen tables and chairs

- Dressers, nightstands, and shelving

- Side tables and TV stands

- Table and floor lamps

- Microwaves

We also welcome bedding, towels, cookware, and other essentials included on our household supply list.

𝐇𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐠𝐢𝐯𝐞? Contact Sayed Sayedzada, our Program of Initial Resettlement Manager, at 814-455-0212, or call or text him at 703-606-1441, to arrange a donation drop-off or request furniture pickup. Please schedule all donations in advance.

That table you no longer need could become the place where a family begins making new memories.

Thank you for helping us welcome our newest neighbors with dignity, comfort, and a sense of belonging. ❤️

10/21/2026

𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐠𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐬, 𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐨𝐮𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐝. 𝐖𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐞𝐞 𝐡𝐨𝐰.

Last year, federal funding cuts and disruptions threatened resources that families rely on to build stable, independent lives. MCRC turned to the The Erie Community Foundation’s Rapid Response Fund to help bridge those gaps and sustain essential services.

Community members, businesses, and local organizations answered that call. Through their generosity, MCRC received $108,000.

We want our community to see what that generosity helped make possible:

💙 Immigration services and fee assistance supporting more than 642 individuals.
💙 Case management supporting nearly 393 clients.
💙 Child care support for nearly 20 children.
💙 Campus safety improvements benefiting more than 3,000 annual campus users.

Behind these numbers are parents working to provide for their children, families navigating unfamiliar systems, and neighbors building their futures here in Erie.

You deserve to know how your support makes a difference. These funds helped stabilize MCRC during funding gaps and sustain services for families whose supports had been reduced or removed.

Today, the need continues. MCRC now serves more than 1,600 Refugee Social Services clients as the sole provider of ongoing RSS services in Region 5 - double the caseload, with approximately one-third of the funding previously available across the region.

To every individual, business, and organization that contributed, and to the Erie Community Foundation for bringing our community together through the Rapid Response Fund: thank you.

You helped keep essential support within reach. You reminded our neighbors that they belong - and that this community cares enough to stand beside them.

Every number represents a person. Your generosity helped us be there for them.

10/19/2026

Our MCRC Annex building is becoming a beautiful reflection of who we are, what we value, and how we want our community to know us.

We’re so excited to share the latest progress on our mural project!

❤️ The Heart represents the compassion, kindness, and love that guide our work every single day. At MCRC, people are at the heart of everything we do.

🌎 The Globe represents the beautiful diversity of our community, the cultures and backgrounds that make us stronger, and our belief that everyone deserves to feel welcomed, valued, and that they belong.

Together, they tell a powerful story. No matter where you come from, what language you speak, or what journey brought you here, there is a place for you at MCRC.

While the final pieces won’t be completed until spring, something truly special is already coming to life!

A very special THANK YOU to Erie Arts and Culture for this incredible collaboration! ❤️ It’s amazing what happens when organizations come together, share a vision, and turn that vision into something meaningful. That’s when the magic happens! ✨

This is so much more than a mural. It’s a reflection of our mission, a celebration of our community, and a beautiful reminder of what we can accomplish together.

Different backgrounds. Shared humanity. One community. ❤️🌎

10/17/2026

🌟 𝐄𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐡, 𝐰𝐞 𝐜𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐧𝐞𝐰𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐇𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐭 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐫! 🌟

Please join us in celebrating Laura Lariccia, MCRC’s October 2026 Hands of Impact Award recipient and Employee of the Month!

As a Child Success Specialist, Laura demonstrates an incredible commitment to the children and families served through our Child Care and Family Support Programs. Her compassion, patience, and dedication help create an environment where children feel safe, valued, supported, and encouraged to thrive.

One of her colleagues shared:

💬 “Laura demonstrates an incredible display of commitment to our child care program and to the children who come through the FSP Program.”

Through our Inside Impact employee recognition initiative, we celebrate the incredible people who bring MCRC’s mission to life every single day.

And Laura reminds us of something important: Sometimes the greatest impact comes from the smallest moments - a reassuring smile, a little extra patience, or simply making a child feel seen, valued, and loved.

Laura, thank you for the heart you bring to your work and the difference you make in the lives of our children and families!

Congratulations, Laura! You are truly a Hand of Impact! Together, We Power the Mission!

10/17/2026

At MCRC - Multicultural Community Resource Center, we believe cultural understanding is more than awareness. It’s about building connections, breaking down barriers, and ensuring everyone feels respected and valued.

Recently, Imad Diab, MCRC’s Cultural Competency Trainer, spent the day with more than 500 educators and staff members from the Millcreek Township School District, sharing valuable insights into the cultural traditions, values, customs, and experiences of the diverse students and families they serve.

When educators better understand the cultures represented in their classrooms, they strengthen relationships, build trust, and create environments where ALL students have the opportunity to thrive.

👏 A special thank you to the Millcreek Township School District for recognizing the importance of cultural competency and investing in a more inclusive learning environment.

And a big shoutout to Imad for his continued dedication to bringing people and cultures together!

❤️ Because understanding our differences helps us discover just how much we have in common.

10/13/2026

𝐎𝐮𝐫 𝐫𝐨𝐨𝐭𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐞 𝐝𝐨.

As part of Hispanic Heritage Month, MCRC was honored to be highlighted on an episode of 𝑶𝒖𝒓 𝑬𝒓𝒊𝒆 - an opportunity to celebrate the Hispanic community and reflect on where our story began.

In 1975, we began as the Hispanic American Council, with no administrative funding, volunteers, two paid staff members, and a commitment to helping Erie’s Hispanic families find support and opportunity. Those humble beginnings laid the foundation for everything MCRC has become.

Over the years, our name changed and our services grew to embrace refugees, immigrants, and New Americans from around the world. Through that growth, our connection to the Hispanic community remains a lasting part of who we are.

We carry forward the dedication of those who built this organization, the trust of families who have turned to us for generations, and the belief that moving forward should never mean leaving your culture or identity behind.

We will always honor our beginnings, celebrate our Hispanic heritage, and keep that connection alive through our relationships, our services, and our commitment to the community.

A special thank you to Eddie Ocasio, a longtime MCRC staff member, and Brandy Cortes, a friend and community member with meaningful connections to MCRC, for helping share the story of Erie’s Hispanic community. Your voices and personal connections brought heart to this conversation, honoring the community that shaped our beginnings and remains central to who we are today. ❤️

Thank you to 𝑶𝒖𝒓 𝑬𝒓𝒊𝒆 and JET/FOX/YourErie for helping share our story and to everyone who continues to be part of it.

🎥 Watch the episode - https://youtu.be/v98logExaYM?si=GKMpkM8XAgT527SB

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10/10/2026

𝐎𝐮𝐫 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐏𝐫𝐚𝐲𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐀𝐫𝐞 𝐖𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐄𝐫𝐢𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲

Yesterday, our Erie community experienced an unimaginable tragedy. Lives were taken in an act of violence that has left families shattered, hearts broken, and an entire community searching for words to make sense of something so senseless. Though the details surrounding this tragedy have yet to be fully disclosed, one thing is certain: our community is hurting. Among those lives lost were children whose futures were taken far too soon, leaving families to face a grief that no one should ever have to endure.

At the MCRC - Multicultural Community Resource Center, this tragedy hits especially close to home. It happened just blocks from our campus, in the very neighborhoods where our families live, our children play, and our staff and neighbors walk every day. Whether or not those directly affected have ever walked through our doors, they are part of our community. Their pain is our pain. Their loss is a loss for all of Erie.

We recognize that these are already incredibly difficult times for so many. Families are navigating uncertainty, hardship, fear, and challenges that often go unseen. This tragedy adds another layer of heartbreak to a community that deserves to feel safe, supported, and hopeful. Our hearts are especially heavy for the children and young people who may be struggling to understand what has happened or process the fear and emotions that follow.

At MCRC, our mission has always been rooted in compassion, dignity, understanding, and the belief that every person deserves to feel safe and valued. Through our youth and family programming, we are committed to providing supportive spaces for children and families to process this tragedy. We also recognize the importance of working alongside our local schools, educators, and community partners to help ensure that those who need additional support are not left to navigate these difficult emotions alone. Our children deserve to feel safe, heard, and supported, especially during moments like these.

There are no easy words for moments like this. No statement can undo what has happened or take away the grief of those left behind. But we can remind one another that we are not alone. Today, we ask our community to lead with kindness. Check on your neighbors. Hold your loved ones a little closer. Listen to our children. Show compassion to those who are grieving, even when you may not know their names or their stories. Healing begins when we choose to care for one another.

To the families who have lost loved ones, we extend our deepest and most heartfelt condolences. To the first responders, law enforcement officers, educators, and everyone who faced the unimaginable, we recognize the emotional weight you carry and thank you for your service.

Erie is hurting. We are hurting here at MCRC. And while we cannot change yesterday, we can choose how we move forward together. Let this tragedy remind us not of what divides us, but of the humanity that connects us. Let us be a community that shows up, that listens, that cares, and that stands together when it matters most.

Our hearts and prayers are with every family grieving, every life lost, and every neighbor struggling to find peace.

Together, we mourn. Together, we care. And together, we will begin to heal.

With deepest sympathy and an unwavering commitment to our community,

Katie Kretz, 𝘌𝘹𝘦𝘤𝘶𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘋𝘪𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘰𝘳 and The MCRC Family

09/29/2026

Today, our MCRC family gathered to honor Cherokee storyteller Robert Lewis, his wife Chelle, and their son Killian with the 𝐌𝐂𝐑𝐂 𝐆𝐚𝐝𝐮𝐠𝐢 𝐀𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝. Thank you to everyone who came to show their love and support for this wonderful family. ❤️

𝘎𝘢𝘥𝘶𝘨𝘪 is a Cherokee concept of working together for the common good. We could not think of a more fitting way to recognize the Lewis family. Robert, Chelle, and Killian have shared storytelling, art, basket weaving, and friendship with our Refugee School Impact Grant (RSIG) students. They have also brought food, clothing, hygiene items, and other essentials to children and families who needed them. They saw ways to help and showed up, again and again.

We are deeply grateful for the Lewis family, the Cherokee Nation, and the community of supporters who have joined them in caring for our young people.

Because of funding cuts, RSIG will end in its current form tomorrow, September 30. Our commitment to these children continues. We are working to carry this program forward as STEP — the Student Transition & Empowerment Program.

If you know of a funding opportunity, potential partner, or someone who wants to help sustain this work, please reach out to MCRC. Our students deserve to keep the friendships, support, and sense of belonging they have found here.

Robert, Chelle, and Killian, thank you for showing our community what it looks like to work together for the good of others. We are fortunate to have you beside us. 💙

09/28/2026

“𝑩𝒆𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒈𝒓𝒂𝒎, 𝑰 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒍𝒐𝒔𝒕 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒖𝒏𝒇𝒐𝒄𝒖𝒔𝒆𝒅.” For Atif M., the worry of paying rent and bills was constant. Buying a home for his family felt out of reach.

Today (after working the program for 4 years), he has found better-paying work, learned to save, and built up enough savings that a home of his own feels possible. When his car needed repairs, the program helped him keep the transportation he depended on for work.

Atif’s story is one example of what can happen when a family’s hard work is met with steady support. Through MCRC - Multicultural Community Resource Center’s Family Self-Sufficiency Program, in partnership with the Housing Authority of the City of Erie, residents work toward employment and financial goals with help from our on-site workforce development specialist and FSS Case Manager, Sabrina Ferguson, and HACE caseworkers. Participating families can also build savings through an escrow account as their earned income grows.

Atif had especially heartfelt words for Sabrina, thanking her for caring for his family and helping them move toward “a dignified life.”

We’re so proud of Atif and grateful to Sabrina and our partners at HACE. The possibility of a home for his family means more than a savings goal. It’s a future he can now see. 💙