IN THE NEWS

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2023

3/1/23 WXXI: Connections with Evan Dawson

2/15/23 Rochester First: Local Org 'Keeping Our Promise' in need of bedding, blankets

2022

12/16/22 Rochester First: ‘They are playing with thousands of people’s future’: Afghan refugees at risk of being deported due to backed up legislation

11/7/22 Democrat and Chronicle:
Gannett’s Community Thrives grant awarded to Pittsford nonprofit Keeping Our Promise

11/01/2022 NEWS 8 WROC: KEEPING OUR
PROMISE HELPS FAMILY FROM AFGHANISTAN ARRIVE IN ROCHESTER

It’s been over a year since U.S. forces pulled troops out of Afghanistan, leaving behind many civilians who assisted the U.S. in carrying out their missions. Local organization Keeping Our Promise is fighting to get those families out of the country to start a new life in Rochester.

10/19/2022 ROCHESTER AWARD PROGRAM: KEEPING OUR PROMISE INC. RECEIVES BEST OF ROCHESTER AWARD 

Keeping Our Promise Inc. has been selected for the 2022 Best of Rochester Award in the Non-Profit Organization category by the Rochester Award Program.

10/8/22 NEWS 8 WROC: Rochester community members protest Hazara attacks in Afghanistan

Organized by Zainab, a KOP resettled Afghan. Community members in Rochester protested on Saturday, saying they want the United Nations to stop the attacks on Hazaras in Afghanistan and to recognize the attacks as genocide.

10/7/22 WXXI: Connections with Evan Dawson

Since the Taliban takeover in 2021, attacks against Hazaras have become common, and girls attempting to go to school are at particularly high risk. Ellen Smith, Zainab Hussaini, and Ferdows Ahmadi discuss the atrocities.

9/2/2022 News 8 WROC: Mercy student helps other Afghan refugees settle, learn English

8/29/22 WXXI: Connections with Evan Dawson

One year after the fall of Kabul, Rochester has welcomed a growing number of Afghan refugees. As the New Yorker puts it, the Biden administration has a hellish task of trying to support the Afghan people still in the country, without empowering the Taliban. Meanwhile, the Special Immigrant Visa program is still working to pull more people out of harm's way.
We discuss what has changed, and what is happening here. Our guests:

Ellen Smith, executive director of Keeping Our Promise
Faheem Asfe, Afghan refugee who served the U.S. government and is now living in Turkey
Sayed Ebrahim Sadat, Afghan refugee who served the U.S. government and is now living in Rochester
Walid Shaheed, Afghan refugee who served the U.S. government and is now living in Rochester

8/21/22 - Rochester First: The journey of Afghanistan Refugees resettling in Rochester: 1 year later

7/12/22 WXXI: Connections with Evan Dawson

This summer marks one year since the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan. The local organization Keeping Our Promise helps refugees from Afghanistan who served the U.S. military and government and could be facing retribution from the Taliban.
This hour, we discuss the state of the Special Immigrant Visa program, and our guests share their remarkable stories. Our guests:

Mojetaba Alemi, refugee from Afghanistan who served the U.S. government and is now in Rochester on a Special Immigrant Visa
Laurel Prothero, Assistant Executive Director of Keeping Our Promise
Ellen Smith, Executive Director of Keeping Our Promise

6/28/22 - Talker of the town - A LONG TIME BRIGHTON TEACHER CONTINUES TO CHANGE LIVES

6/18/22 - Rochester FIRST - I never give up’: Afghan interpreter finds refuge, education for daughters in Rochester

4/13/22 ROCHESTER FIRST - Afghan family torn apart reunites in Rochester after ‘heartbreaking’ journey

3/16/22 WXXI: Connections with Evan Dawson

Afghan natives on their escape from the Taliban, and an update on the SIV program
In the first hour of "Connections with Evan Dawson" on Wednesday, March 16, 2022, a young Afghan couple describes their escape from the Taliban. They came to Rochester with the support of the local nonprofit organization, Keeping Our Promise.

1/22/22 - NEWSRADIO WHAM1180 - The no-nonsense roundtable with dom Genova. Interview with Ellen Smith, Executive Director.

2021

12/7/21 - Rochester First - ‘The Taliban tried to kill me’: Former Afghan journalist finds refuge in Rochester

12/7/21 WXXI: Connections with Evan Dawson

Second hour: An update on the state of the SIV program
In our second hour, we're joined by Ellen Smith, executive director of Keeping Our Promise. The organization helps interpreters who served U.S. military forces in Afghanistan and Iraq resettle in America. The process can take years, and it has become even more difficult -- and critical -- since the Taliban's takeover of Afghanistan. This hour, we examine the current state of the Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) program, and how to help refugees in Rochester. Our guests:

Ellen Smith, executive director of Keeping Our Promise
Two SIVs now living in Rochester

11/30/21 - 13 WHAM - The universal language of a toy: Pirate Toy Fund helps refugees settle in new home

11/23/21 - rochester first - MCC donation drive helps newcomers from Afghanistan settle in Rochester

11/16/21 - Spreaker from Iheart - Rochester Rotary Ellen Smith (Executive Director of Keeping Our Promise)

10/15/21 Spectrum news - SUNY to provide support for Afghan refugees

SUNY NEWs - 10/14/21 - Governor Hochul Continues Her Pledge To Afghan Evacuees By Opening Up Educational and Housing Opportunities While Assembling Local Partners To Provide Immediate Resources To Evacuees In Need

9/19/21 Wall Street Journal - After Escape From Kabul, an Afghan Family Starts a Long Climb in America

9/17/21 - Stars and Stripes - Afghan translators stranded as passports become casualty of US Embassy capture

9/7/21 Rochester first - Monroe County welcomes 250 Afghan interpreters with housing, medical aid, job preparation

9/7/21 New WXXI - Monroe County offers some veterans benefits to Afghan interpreters

9/6/21 New Republic - Getting to the U.S. Is Just the First Hurdle for Afghan Refugees

August 26, 2021: WXXI - Connections With Evan DaWSON

WXXI Radio We begin the first hour with breaking news from Afghanistan, where sources say 13 people were killed in an explosion at the Kabul airport. We're joined by Ellen Smith, executive director of Keeping Our Promise. The organization helps Afghan interpreters who served the U.S. military come to the U.S. on Special Immigrant Visas.

Smith weighs in on the situation in Afghanistan and the state of the evacuation. Our guest:

Ellen Smith, executive director of Keeping Our Promise

8/25/21 The Washington Post - 'Our work changed really overnight': Community groups aid SIV hopefuls awaiting evacuation

8/25/21 Spectrum News 1 - Afghan refugees find sanctuary by escaping to Rochester

8/24/21 - Vice World News - The US Is Ready to Resettle Afghan Refugees. They Just Can’t Get Here.

8/24/21 Rochester first - ‘They’re hopeful’: Local organizations support Afghan families after arriving to Rochester

August 20, 2021: Connections With Evan Dawson

8/20/21 NYTimes - How to Help Afghan Refugees and the Relief Effort

8/16/21 Task & Purpose - Here’s what you can do to help Afghan interpreters and refugees

8/16/21 News 10 - Rochester 1 of 25 cities welcoming Afghans with Special Immigrant Visas

8/15/21 WHAM - As Taliban takes over Afghanistan, local refugee organizations see influx in calls

8/13/21 NEWS 10 - Former marine who served in Afghanistan speaks out about situation

7/31/21 WHEC - AFGHANS WHO SERVED ALONGSIDE AMERICAN TROOPS ARRIVE IN ROCHESTER FOR RESETTLEMENT

7/13/21 Rochester first - THEY NEED OUR HELP: CALLS TO PROTECT AFGHAN ALLIES, FAMILIES WHO HAVE HELPED US TROOPS INCREASE

7/14/21 Rochester City Newspaper - Local Afghans who aided US troops seek humanitarian parole for their families

7/14/21 WHAM - They want a peaceful life: Push is on to save Afghan translators

April 9, 2021: WXXI - Connections With Evan Dawson

WXXI Radio discusses the new CBS show "United States of Al." Joining Evan are KOP Executive Director Ellen Smith; Veterans for American Ideals Chris Purdy; SIVs Jamil Haidari and Samim Rahimi. The new CBS sitcom called "The United States of Al" tells the story of an Afghan interpreter who is reunited with a Marine veteran in the U.S. after escaping the Taliban. It's a familiar story – and an often long and painful process – for interpreters who come to America on Special Immigrant Visas (SIVs) after serving with the U.S. military. Even before it aired, the show's premise was under fire.