Tanyanika Samuels
“God Will Not Abandon Us”: How One Faith-based Organization is Defending Vulnerable Mothers in the Dominican Republic
Hours after Ana* gave birth at a public hospital in an eastern province of the Dominican Republic, immigration officials descended on the mother and her newborn to transfer them to a detention center to await deportation to Haiti. What followed was a five-hour ordeal during which Ana and her baby were confined to a vehicle …
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AJWS Salutes Congressional Efforts To Keep Global Gag Expansion From Erasing Decades Of Public Health Progress
New York (April 29, 2026) — American Jewish World Service (AJWS) hails the introduction of bicameral legislation to halt the implementation of the expanded Global Gag rules. The Protecting Human Rights and Public Health in Foreign Assistance Act would prohibit the Trump administration latest expansion, an effort deceptively labeled “Promoting Human Flourishing in Foreign Assistance,” from going into …
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A Lifelong Advocate for Human Rights Takes the Helm: Welcoming Tawanda Mutasah
Long before it became his life’s work, the fight for human rights had already taken root in Tawanda Mutasah — a lesson first given by his mother, who taught him, “Every person matters. Take them all seriously.” Drawing on language from Genesis 1:27 — “God created humankind in the Divine image” — his mother’s plain-spoken …
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Payal Patel named Director of Land, Water and Climate Justice at American Jewish World Service
New York, NY — American Jewish World Service (AJWS), the leading global Jewish human rights organization, has announced Payal Patel as its new Director of Land, Water and Climate Justice (LWCJ). In her new role, Patel will lead a $5 million grantmaking portfolio supporting grassroots movements defending land, water, forest, and livelihood rights. She also will oversee the development …
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Ruddy Miller Named Vice President for Finance and Information Technology
New York, NY — Today, American Jewish World Service (AJWS), the leading global Jewish human rights organization, announced Ruddy Miller as the new Vice President for Finance and Information Technology. In this role, Miller will lead the division charged with providing the highest standard of financial management to the full spectrum of AJWS stakeholders and safeguarding the organization’s global technology infrastructure. “Ruddy has been …
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From Despair to Dignity: Supporting Migrant and Refugees in Uganda
Across communities near refugee settlements in Uganda, many migrants and refugees face significant hardships. Displacement, poverty, uncertain legal status, and limited access to services often leave people vulnerable to harassment, discrimination, and economic insecurity. It is at this intersection of gender identity and human rights that one AJWS grantee works to empower migrant and refugees to advocate for …
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