| Community Refugee and Immigration Services Angela K. Plummer, Esq., Director |
| 3624 Bexvie Avenue, 43227 3000 West Broad Street, 43204 4889 Sinclair Road, 43229 (614) 235-5747 (614) 279-1354 (614) 840-9634 |
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| Last edited 2-24-08 by webmaster@cris-ohio.com |
Agency Profile CRIS is an independent non-profit agency serving refugees, asylees and
immigrants in central Ohio. Among local community-based organizations, CRIS is the largest agency
providing services to immigrants in Central Ohio – and is the agency providing the most extensive
services to immigrant populations in our area.
CRIS has a staff of more 80, with workers fluent in 25 languages (Albanian, Amharic, Arabic, ASL
[American Sign Language], English, French, Fulani, Hindi, Italian, Khmer, Lao, Maay-Maay, Malinke,
Oromo, Punjabi, Russian, Serre, Somali, Spanish, Susu, Thai, Tigrinya, Tuni, Vietnamese, and
Wolof.)
The agency’s staff comes from 20 countries (Albania, Cambodia, Dominican Republic, Eritrea,
Ethiopia, Ghana, Guatemala, Guinea, Haiti, Honduras, India, Laos, Mauritania, Mexico, Russia,
Senegal, Somalia, Ukraine, U.S., and Vietnam), and includes three attorneys, a Licensed Social
Worker and an accountant.
CRIS’ multilingual, multicultural staff was chosen for the purpose of meeting the needs of the refugee
and immigrant populations who have arrived the most recently, who are here in the greatest numbers
and who have the greatest service needs. The majority of our staff members came to the United
States as refugees or immigrants themselves.
CRIS has extensive experience in working with refugees of all national origins, and a tradition of
delivering services fairly and impartially. CRIS has served customers from 119 countries of origin.
immigrants in central Ohio. Among local community-based organizations, CRIS is the largest agency
providing services to immigrants in Central Ohio – and is the agency providing the most extensive
services to immigrant populations in our area.
CRIS has a staff of more 80, with workers fluent in 25 languages (Albanian, Amharic, Arabic, ASL
[American Sign Language], English, French, Fulani, Hindi, Italian, Khmer, Lao, Maay-Maay, Malinke,
Oromo, Punjabi, Russian, Serre, Somali, Spanish, Susu, Thai, Tigrinya, Tuni, Vietnamese, and
Wolof.)
The agency’s staff comes from 20 countries (Albania, Cambodia, Dominican Republic, Eritrea,
Ethiopia, Ghana, Guatemala, Guinea, Haiti, Honduras, India, Laos, Mauritania, Mexico, Russia,
Senegal, Somalia, Ukraine, U.S., and Vietnam), and includes three attorneys, a Licensed Social
Worker and an accountant.
CRIS’ multilingual, multicultural staff was chosen for the purpose of meeting the needs of the refugee
and immigrant populations who have arrived the most recently, who are here in the greatest numbers
and who have the greatest service needs. The majority of our staff members came to the United
States as refugees or immigrants themselves.
CRIS has extensive experience in working with refugees of all national origins, and a tradition of
delivering services fairly and impartially. CRIS has served customers from 119 countries of origin.
History CRIS began as
the outreach service of the
Buddhamamaka Society,
Inc., a mutual assistance
association founded in 1987
by refugees from Laos. The
Society established CRIS in
response to the unexpected
closings of two local refugee
resettlement offices in
March 1995. Funding for
services began in October
1995 with a grant from the
the outreach service of the
Buddhamamaka Society,
Inc., a mutual assistance
association founded in 1987
by refugees from Laos. The
Society established CRIS in
response to the unexpected
closings of two local refugee
resettlement offices in
March 1995. Funding for
services began in October
1995 with a grant from the
Columbus Foundation and a contract with Franklin County Department of Human Services.
Responding to demonstrated needs, the agency opened services to those in any legal immigration
status, began diversifying its funding base and continued to see requests for services rise.
In 1999, following the closing of the Hilltop Civic Council, CRIS was chosen by the City and United Way
torestore lost services for refugees on the City’s West side. In the same year, CRIS became a 501 (c)
(3) organization in its own right, while retaining a close relationship with the Buddhamamaka Society.
In 2001, CRIS became the Church World Service (CWS) Ohio affiliate to provide refugee resettlement
services (i.e. reception and placement of refugees admitted to the United States from overseas
refugee camps.)
In 2002 CRIS implemented a capital campaign that expanded and improved the agency office on
Bexvie Avenue. In 2004 the agency was approved for Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA)
Recognition, a designation authorizing it to provide representation before the United States
Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS, formerly the INS) and the Executive Office for
Immigration Review (EOIR) for clients.
Responding to demonstrated needs, the agency opened services to those in any legal immigration
status, began diversifying its funding base and continued to see requests for services rise.
In 1999, following the closing of the Hilltop Civic Council, CRIS was chosen by the City and United Way
torestore lost services for refugees on the City’s West side. In the same year, CRIS became a 501 (c)
(3) organization in its own right, while retaining a close relationship with the Buddhamamaka Society.
In 2001, CRIS became the Church World Service (CWS) Ohio affiliate to provide refugee resettlement
services (i.e. reception and placement of refugees admitted to the United States from overseas
refugee camps.)
In 2002 CRIS implemented a capital campaign that expanded and improved the agency office on
Bexvie Avenue. In 2004 the agency was approved for Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA)
Recognition, a designation authorizing it to provide representation before the United States
Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS, formerly the INS) and the Executive Office for
Immigration Review (EOIR) for clients.