LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- A Louisville organization that helps immigrants and refugees resettle said it's at risk of shutting down.
Americana Community Center said its doors are at risk of closing for good because of what it describes as a downstream effect of federal orders about funding.
Haja Kamara credits the success in her adult life like graduating college from the foundation Americana helped her build.
"The people that are here at Americana, the resources that Americana had, definitely shaped me to who I am," Kamara said.
At just 5 years old her family left west Africa. Her earliest memories in the United States are at Americana's after-school program, helping her acclimate to her new home.
And her mom attending the community center's adult English language classes. Resources like that -- Americana warns may disappear for good.
"It's emotional to me," Kamara said.
The center says because of federal policy changes-- it's facing an "urgent" financial crises.
Federal funding has been in limbo pending legal challenges over President Donald Trump's executive orders.
It's a second-tier recipient of federal grants -- which executive director Emilie Dyer said accounts for 90% of the budget.
"Awards that were expected to be something that we could compete for are no longer in the landscape," Dyer said.
Americana has launched a fundraising campaign.
The goal is to raise $120,000 by the end of March, and $520,000 by the end of June.
"We've been trying to diversify our revenue streams for quite some time now," Moya said.
Directors said that will buy them time to develop a sustainability plan, and prevent permanent closure.
"We need to lean into community support and finding more meaningful ways for private donors to support the work that we do," Moya said.
It's a large feat but one Kamara believes it can overcome.
"We have so much strength and so much resilience in the community we are," Kamara said.
For more information on how to support Americana, click here.
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