We invite you to read the full COCD Impact Report: COCD 2022 Impact Report. 

LETTER FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Dear Friends,

I am delighted to express my gratitude to all of you who have supported the work Cross Over Community Development (COCD) is doing for immigrants and refugees in the City of Dayton. That is because you have believed and trusted that COCD, though small, can contribute to their support.

Our modest contribution has unearthed challenges immigrants and refugees face in Dayton, and you have acted upon those challenges to achieve big results. Cross Over Community Development was born from a collection of ideas from great minds of generous American mentors and refugees.

COCD was nurtured with the training of Welcome Dayton and the Dayton Collaboratory, supported by the office of Mayor Nan Whaley and her policy advisor, who involved the University of Dayton for additional support. It was strengthened by ABLE lawyers, molded by Dayton Score mentors, and reinforced by input from local and regional academic professors as well as countrywide volunteers.

In the history of the City of Dayton, COCD was a prime organization born to take up the role of assisting immigrants and refugees discharged from communities from the Initial Reception and Placement Program (IRP). The integration of immigrants and refugees is a very long process and requires efforts by diverse actors. Together (public institutions, private organizations, academic institutions, community organizations, and members), we can work to make their integration a sustainable achievement that will influence generations to come.

2022 has been fruitful in many aspects to your credit. We first commend the 3.4 years of partnership with Kettering Health and their unconditional support of COCD that has contributed to teaching English to refugees and continued our operations. 

The three years of partnership with the University of Dayton in various services has also been beneficial. This year, we appreciate the UD Immigration Clinic and Human Rights Center with which we have handled more than 100 immigration cases resulting from a huge backlog of immigration cases at USCIS due to the effects of COVID-19.

This year, we received strong support from Dayton SCORE in information and data management. This support came at a time when we were struggling to handle clients’ data. With our partnership with Catholic Social Services, COCD can now receive immigrant and refugee referrals from the IRP program they manage. The important support received from The Dayton Foundation and Dollar General Literacy Foundation has permitted us to continue our ESL classes both online and in person.

Dayton Metro Library, Main Campus, offered us space to provide information and support to immigrants and refugee referrals/walk-ins. Without this space, these activities would have been impossible to execute. The University of Cincinnati, Ohio State University, Wright State University, and Sinclair Community College are our long-time partners who are always present in our diversified work through their students. We also want to acknowledge the contribution of space by Ahiska Turkish Community Center for our ESL.

Thank you again for your continued support and belief in the mission of COCD. I look forward to our continued work together.

Warm regards,
Catherine Bitwayiki
Executive Director