Announcement
We are excited to welcome David Oliver, our new deputy director! David brings leadership and expertise in program design from his tenure at the IRC in Atlanta. David's commitment to serving the community and his deep understanding of client-centered programs will enable us to continue our growth in supporting our resilient clients as they seek to heal and rebuild their lives.
David Oliver, Deputy Director
Photo: IRC
“Thank you to all of our community supporters, for all that you do for the clients we serve. The IRC is here for our clients, we are here as community resource and a community partner.”
David Oliver, Deputy Director
Prior to joining the IRC’s Florida team, David served as the Economic Empowerment Manager for the IRC in Atlanta where he oversaw the development and implementation of economic empowerment and workforce development programming. During his tenure as Economic Empowerment Manager, David raised over two million dollars in funding from public and private sources, expanding the economic empowerment services to include financial education, tax preparation, asset-building, small business development, and career pathways programs.
David served as the Interim Executive Director for the IRC in Kansas in 2016, overseeing the refugee resettlement, case management, immigration, and employment programs, as well as finance, operations, and advocacy. Prior to his work at the IRC, David lived in Madrid, Spain for two years, teaching English as a second language. He received his bachelor's degree in Spanish and Music Composition and Theory from the University of Georgia.
David’s robust background in program development will enable us to develop strategic and impactful programs that meet the needs of our clients and expand on existing partnerships to effectively leverage community resources. The IRC in Florida has two offices, located in Miami and Tallahassee. Each site is uniquely positioned to serve some of the most vulnerable populations in their communities but also share anti-trafficking programming, which provides services to survivors of human trafficking.
Under the leadership of the Deputy Director, we will strengthen and unify our presence across the state, build relationships with partner organizations and identify opportunities to serve a broader group of Floridians. We are excited to grow our work of welcoming and supporting refugees, survivors and immigrant youth as they heal, contribute and rebuild their lives.
A word from our Deputy Director:
“As the new Deputy Director for the IRC in Florida, I am tremendously impressed by the scope and scale of services provided to some of our most vulnerable neighbors and community members. The services delivered by our compassionate, tireless team of professionals is vital to the many members of our community who have experienced violence, family separation and other traumas and who are seeking protection from harm. No less important are the refugee resettlement and community integration services, ensuring that refugees, asylees, and other immigrants who have fled persecution in their home countries are able to find safety in their new homes, meet their basic needs, and secure sustainable income and assets so they can prosper and build a brighter future for their families.
These are extraordinarily challenging and dynamic times in the U.S. and around the world, not least because of the COVID-19 pandemic and its profound social and economic impact on us as individuals and communities. I am tremendously proud of the resilience of our clients and staff in the face of such rapid change and uncertainly. The speed at which we were able to shift gears and our ability to continue providing quality programs in the face of adversity is a testament to the strength and innovation of our teams, ensuring that our clients and neighbors continue to receive the critical services needed to regain stability in their lives.
As we look ahead to the new year, I am excited to continue this important work and explore opportunities to further expand our scale and impact throughout Florida communities. This year we have demonstrated the ability to effectively provide services remotely, which provides a unique opportunity to expand our anti-trafficking and remote case management services to regions beyond the Tallahassee and Miami areas. In addition to expanding current services, we have identified an unmet need in the community for extended employment and career advancement services as well as assistance with health education and navigation.
Finally, we recognize that the IRC cannot and does not do this critical work alone; we rely on the professionalism and expertise of multiple partners throughout the state, from police departments, anti-trafficking taskforces, county school systems, health departments, legal service providers, mental health providers, and more. In my role as deputy director, it is a top priority to build, maintain, and grow these critical partnerships to ensure that our shared clients receive comprehensive, high quality services needed to thrive in their new homes.”
David Oliver
Deputy Director, Florida
To learn more about the work of the IRC in Florida and for information on how you can get involved with the IRC as a donor or volunteer, please contact Development Manager, JC Torres, at [email protected] or 786-325-6257.
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