Change will not come if we wait for some other person, or if we wait for some other time. We are the ones we've been waiting for. We are the change that we seek.

Behind every smile is a story of displacement, resilience, and the relentless pursuit of belonging. The families we serve come from war-torn regions, refugee camps, and journeys marked by uncertainty—yet they arrive with courage and hope. Many now live below the poverty line, navigating a complex web of barriers that make daily life a challenge.

 Language differences make it hard to advocate for their children at school or to communicate with doctors and employers. Limited access to reliable transportation isolates families from resources. Affordable housing is scarce, and healthcare systems are often overwhelming and unwelcoming.

For many youth, childhood is replaced by responsibility. They become interpreters for their parents at medical appointments, translators at job interviews, and advocates in school meetings. They balance homework with caregiving, often sacrificing their own needs to keep their families afloat. 

We meet families where they are—whether that means sitting together in their living rooms, cheering beside them on the soccer field, or gathering in a local park for a wellness night. For those unable to come to us, our mobile “walking office” brings resources directly to their neighborhoods, ensuring that help, hope, and human connection are never out of reach.

What makes our approach unique is that it’s built by people who have walked the same path. Every mentor, advocate, and coordinator within More Than a Smile carries lived experience as a former newcomer, refugee, or first-generation American. 

We understand the fear of navigating new systems, the exhaustion of translation, and the determination it takes to build stability from uncertainty. That shared experience allows us to connect with empathy, listen deeply, and respond to the real needs of our community—not assumptions about them.