14-year-old Rita lives in South Sudan. As part of the Unicef Poems for Peace program, she is sharing a poem she wrote in order to advocate for using poetry as a call for peace, not only in South Sudan, but everywhere. Casa Marianella has and always will advocate for peace and the protection of children. [...]
In early July, Casa Marianella was excited to give a tour to an international group focused on cross-cultural exchange. The staff were energized to have this group learn about our work and hear about the experiences of the residents at Casa first hand. We gathered several residents to warmly welcome the group. Yet, as the [...]
Have you checked out our referral board yet? Casa Marianella is currently very full and we ask that people please contact staff first before arriving at Casa. However, we have a long list of trusted organizations in the ATX area that we work with on a day-to-day basis that we trust and can lend many [...]
This week, we're sharing a powerful poem by Muna Abdulahi, a Somali-American poet and child of refugees. Muna wrote the poem 'The Unwritten Letter from my Immigrant Parent' which reflects the nuanced love, hope and hardship that exists in many immigrant families. Thank you, Muna, for sharing your incredible gift with the world. You can [...]
At Casa Marianella, we’ve been incredibly fortunate since our inception in 1986 that our ATX family has consistently stood up and spoke out for our mission. The overwhelming majority of the time we have felt nothing but love and support from our community (and beyond). This week we’re taking the chance to say thank you [...]
Interested in working at Casa Marianella full-time? We're on the hunt for a great communicator and problem-solver to join the family at Team Casa as a Benefits Coordinator! If you're interested, please email our Co-Executive Director, Patti McCabe, at pmccabe@casamarianella.org with subject line 'Benefits Coordinator Application' a short summary about yourself and why you think [...]
Today, we’re sharing just a few incredible resident stories, as part of a longer series from our Case Manager, Lily Dayanim. Lily is a talented photographer and digital storyteller who took the time to interview Casa residents and hear about their often terrifying, challenging and inspiring journeys to the United States. Each story is unique, [...]
Casa Marianella has a lot to be thankful for this holiday season. A word from our Co-Executive Directors, Jennifer Long and Patti McCabe: “With your help, we continue to be one of the few shelters serving asylum seekers in the US. There is a huge need for more capacity. A year ago we announced our [...]
I turn onto Gunter street, enveloped by the stifling heat of Austin in August. I couldn’t tell you if I’m sweating from the heat or because I’m nervous for my first day serving at Casa Marianella. Despite my attempts to arrive with a completely open mind, I repeatedly ask myself, “Will I be able to [...]
At Casa Marianella, we shelter immigrants and asylum seekers in needs from across the globe: from Iraq to El Salvador, Eritrea to Mexico. We're committed to helping our residents stand on their own two feet again and become fully self sufficient in the ATX community and beyond. American Gateways has been largely impactful for our [...]