Meet Our Volunteers

NAAM Artisans is so blessed to have an incredible group of volunteers.
There is not enough room on this site to feature everyone, so we’ll highlight a couple each month.

Paul and Michelle

Paul Belfanti and Michelle Desveaux are founding members of the Immigrant Support Alliance (ISA), based in Melrose, MA.  For the last two years, the ISA has represented the work of Afghan women from NAAM Artisans at the Melrose Unitarian Universalist Church’s Alternative Holiday fair, which features vendors who represent sustainable, fair trade, and socially conscious products in early December. This year, the ISA was delighted to record sales of over $800 on a variety of these beautifully crafted products, and they look forward to continuing this relationship in years to come.

Laura and Michael

Three years ago, Laura started volunteering with a newly arrived Afghan family by driving one of the children to her preschool program. Very soon she became committed to the family. She is a member of a devoted team of volunteers that support the whole family’s successful integration into their new community and life in Newburyport. She is a mentor and buddy to two of the children. Laura recently joined the AWW project to work with the women on their beading skills. When her husband Michael retired the team recruited him to work with the father on all financial matters.  Becoming an extended member of their Afghan family has truly enriched Laura and Michael’s lives.