Unity is strength.
Welcome home.
Umoja243 unites and supports Congolese families across New York — housing help, immigration & asylum guidance, jobs, language support, and a community marketplace. From your first week here to your biggest milestones, you never walk alone.
New to New York? Start with housing, schools, and who to call — in English, Français, Kiswahili, Kikongo, Tshiluba & Lingala. Or tap “Ask the AI assistant” and just ask.
Countdown to the New Year
From Kinshasa to New York, one family counting down together — new year, new blessings, same unity.
Every service a new life needs — in one place.
Tap any service to open its dedicated page, or ask the AI assistant below. Everything starts with a conversation in your language.
Immigration & Asylum
Green cards, work permits, asylum guidance and citizenship prep with trusted legal referrals.
Government Benefits
SNAP, HEAP, Medicaid, WIC and more — with direct links to official applications.
Learning Hub
English lessons, GED prep, driving test practice and nine free class tracks.
Jobs & Resume Builder
Community job board plus a free resume builder with US resume guidance.
Housing Help
Rental listings, housing authorities and tenant resources across upstate NY.
Health & Support
Care in your language, senior support, disability services and crisis lines.
Service Exchange
Request a service, offer your skills, or market your business to the community.
Donate
Fuel welcome packets, youth classes and the mutual-aid fund. Every gift counts.
Upcoming events
A standing rhythm of gatherings across the year — plus the one date every Congolese calendar circles in gold.
Congo Independence Day Celebration
Music, dance, food and history — our biggest day of the year. Rotating host city across upstate NY.
Community Potluck & Welcome Table
New families introduced, news shared, nobody leaves hungry. Syracuse & Rochester chapters alternate.
Youth Culture Morning
Dance, drumming and language classes for ages 6–17, led by elders and young artists.
Community news
Announcements & urgent alerts — dated, plain, with a clear next step.
Know which civics test applies to you
Filed N-400 on or after Oct 20, 2025? You take the new 2025 test. Practice here.
Winter welcome drive
Coats, boots and first-month essentials for newly arrived families.
Free immigration help line
NYS New Americans Hotline 1-800-566-7636, Mon–Fri 9am–8pm.
Your gift becomes a welcome.
Welcome packets for new arrivals, youth classes, emergency aid — funded by people like you, tracked transparently.