REDA started as a group of volunteers providing service to refugees. The need for a centralized effort became clear as the number of refugee families increased in the Sacramento area and the demand for assistance grew. As a result, REDA was founded in 2017 and opened an official service center: a place that refugees and their families can visit to find staff that speak their language and share their culture – a place that creates a bridge to already existing resources in the community. It is a place where there is no hesitation to ask questions about the difference of life here and how to adjust.

In the long-term, REDA will focus on community education aimed at enriching refugees’ life skills to help them develop greater coping ability with resettlement challenges, language barriers, cultural and economic issues. After years of being a volunteer ran organization, REDA is now staffed by 5 employees, 3 contractors and a dozen of volunteers.