Communities of Rooted Brilliance

Embracing traditional customs and values, Communities of Rooted Brilliance (CRB) provides newcomers with community-inspired educational opportunities that create pathways for self-determination as they weave into the fabric of their newfound home. 

Our communities are immigrant and refugee families from the diverse, multiethnic communities of Afghanistan, Burma Iraq, Somalia, Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Angola, El Salvador, and Mexico.

Our Beginnings

We began in 2009, then known as the Coalition for Refugees from Burma. Our work at that time centered around helping refugees from Burma survive the trauma of resettlement from a jungle war zone or detention camp to an extremely dissimilar urban culture. 

Over time, we found that our work was deeply needed within many newcomer communities, so our mission adapted and we changed our name to Communities of Rooted Brilliance to better reflect our partnerships. 

Our Mission

CRB helps newcomer communities heal, grow, and thrive through our early learning, youth engagement, and family support programs. Our work is centered around three foundational concepts.

1. The families we serve are partners in our work, and we continually seek out their knowledge and wisdom on the services we offer.
2. Our programs are always education-based because we believe that education is the way to a healthier and happier future.
3. We honor and recognize that dedicated leadership exists within each community, and we partner with these leaders to serve their communities in culturally responsive ways.