We are CERI

Mission

CERI cultivates the healing, advocacy, and empowerment of refugee and immigrant communities affected by war, torture, genocide, and other life-altering traumas, weaving together their intergenerational resilience into a holistic model of community mental health care.

History

In 2006, CERI was founded as a grassroots nonprofit by Mona Afary, Ph.D.—an Iranian immigrant, psychotherapist, and women’s rights advocate—together with ten dedicated board members committed to equity, health, and safety for refugees and immigrants.

CERI first emerged as a community mental health and social service organization to support approximately 100 Cambodian survivors of the Khmer Rouge genocide. These survivors, forgotten for more than 20 years, carried the heavy burden of PTSD and decades of silence. Though living in the Bay Area, they remained on the margins—without adequate income, access to social services, culturally grounded mental health support, or language-appropriate care.

It was their resilience, inclusiveness, and deeply humane cultural values, led by the strength of women survivors, that transformed CERI’s vision into reality and laid the foundation for its journey.

Over time, CERI’s mission grew with the guidance of an evolving board and the creativity of a team of about 40 staff members. They brought innovative ideas, cultural wisdom, and diverse life experiences that strengthened the organization.

CERI expanded to serve seven additional refugee and immigrant communities: Afghanistan, Burma, Eritrea, Iran, Nepal, Vietnam, and Tibet. Many members of these communities are survivors of war, torture, political repression, and gender-based violence. Others have faced caste, ethnic, or religious discrimination, economic hardship, and other profound traumas. To meet these needs, CERI expanded its services to include intergenerational mental health care, lay counseling and care coordination, advocacy, community-based education and vocational training, as well as wellness and cultural enrichment programs.

Today, CERI serves more than 1,200 refugees and immigrants each year, providing care in their native languages and offering the support and dignity they deserve.