Sherman Oaks Chapter
Founder: Chloe Jiang ┆Operations Manager & Website Designer: Miles Aguilar
Los Angeles has a rich history as a haven for refugees and immigrants. With several ongoing conflicts worldwide, the city has seen significant arrivals of refugees from countries such as Ukraine, Afghanistan, and Iran due to political and economic challenges. Many of these individuals have faced forced displacement.
Our mission is to connect with teenage refugees through fostering long-lasting connections and friendships. As teens ourselves, our goal is to create a welcoming environment where they feel comfortable, supported, and encouraged to explore their new home.
Our Blog
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4┆Our Presentation At Trinity Cristo Rey Lutheran Church
With finals approaching, we educated refugee teens on managing stress and self-care despite their unique struggles.
3┆Our Program @ JFCSLBOC's 3rd Annual Friendsgiving
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2┆Outdoor Workshop: Elysian Park
It's summer, why not get some sun? In our second workshop with IILA, we took things outside!
1┆Mother's Day 2024:
First Workshop
Our first workshop and our first time working with IILA. Happy Mother's Day! 💐
Welcome to our Blog
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May 2024
We recently hosted our first workshop with Ukrainian refugees in Glendale, in collaboration with the International Institute of Los Angeles (IILA). The workshop was a success! We started with a musical icebreaker, building a shared playlist with our favorite song picks and incorporating physical activities for introductions. Since we met on Mother’s Day, we held an arts and crafts session to create Mother’s Day cards with water marbling, introducing the teenagers to the holiday. Additionally, we organized a mini-potluck to share our cultures through food. We are now working on planning our next workshop.
July 2024
In July, we hosted our second workshop with IILA, this time outdoors at Elysian Park! The workshop focused on creating a welcoming environment where everyone could feel comfortable and supported. At the beginning of the workshop, we kicked things off with an icebreaker where we each shared a photo and the story behind it with everyone. To establish a space rooted in mutual respect and cooperation, we also signed a code of conduct to help set the tone for future workshops. We held a Nerf darts battle to practice teamwork and bonding, played board games, and shared food. We also added creative outlets like drawing chalk on the sidewalk, while some teenagers enjoyed a calming stroll along some of the park’s pavement. The day was filled with moments that brought everyone closer together.
November 2024
In November, we were graciously invited to speak at JFCS Long Beach and Orange County’s 3rd annual Friendsgiving dinner, which was organized at the Anaheim United Methodist Church. The event was a heartwarming opportunity to talk and connect with the families of refugees over a shared meal. After dinner, we spoke in front of the families, introducing our partnership with JFCSLBOC and our guiding values. Then, we gathered with the teens at the event for a chance to know them better through our program activities. We began with an icebreaker where everyone shared something they were thankful for. As the evening continued, we hosted an informative and fun trivia activity (centered around pop culture) with the teens at the event and rounded off the night playing football in the church’s interior courtyard. We are so grateful to Kaitlyn, Jackie, and the translators who helped us run our program smoothly!
March 2025
After hearing us speak at JFCS's annual Friendsgiving in November, we were invited by Robin Gurien to help out at Family Promise of Orange County's Santa Ana event at Trinity Cristo Rey Lutheran Church. It was a great opportunity for us to connect with families and teens, and learn more about how we can support students in their academic journeys.
To help with set-up, we folded blankets, stuffed piñatas, arranged drinks, and put together a chocolate fondue station (a crowd favorite!). We also prepped our area for an interactive presentation on healthy study habits designed to help teens with learning routines. As families arrived, we continued running our station and chatting with attendees. When it was time for our presentation, we discussed with the teens about study habits, school struggles, and ways to stay motivated. Hearing their experiences gave us valuable insight into the challenges they face, and we’re excited to use this feedback to improve future presentations and develop our tutoring program.
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Hey! I’m Chloe, a junior at Harvard-Westlake. While science and music are my forte, I was struck by the struggles faced by refugees around the globe. I’m incredibly lucky to have grown up in a world of privilege, yet there are countless teens who do not share the experience. Inspired by the opportunity to aid refugee teenagers firsthand, I reached out to TATD to start a chapter in my community. In my free time I enjoy listening to music, reading, or playing golf. I love my cat to the moon and back. You can reach me individually at cloelax@gmail.com.
Hello! I’m Miles Aguilar, a senior at Harvard-Westlake. Helping people out and making new friends has always been what I’m all about. By bringing my enthusiasm and skills to the Sherman Oaks chapter, I hope I can pass on that mentality to the teenagers I’ve talked to. So far, it’s going well! In my free time, I like running, playing basketball with my brother, watching sports games, immersing myself in scientific literature, and listening to music. Favorite song? Now Or Never by Kendrick Lamar ft. Mary J. Blige. If you need me for some reason, you can get ahold of me at miles.s.aguilar@gmail.com and I’ll do my best to get back to you as soon as possible.