Community Sponsorship is a new program at the IRC in Salt Lake City! This program gives the community a chance to be involved with the resettlement process in a hands-on way. We sat down with Kristi Haycock, Community Sponsorship Manager, about what is involved in community sponsorship, and how people can get started!

For individuals migrating to or seeking refuge in the United States, obtaining legal status is often the pivotal moment in their resettlement journey, granting them protection from deportation and access to crucial economic opportunities. Unfortunately, in recent years, the path to legal status has become increasingly challenging. With the immigration backlog at an all-time high and refugee and immigrant rights at stake with the upcoming election, many are left feeling overwhelmed and uncertain about their future.

Local Girl Scout troops donated cookies to refugees resettling in Wichita.

Throughout the month of September, Charlottesville residents heard stories from over a dozen different community members with lived experience, thanks to a collaboration between the IRC and WTJU, the University of Virginia’s community radio station. The joint project, “Resettled,” gave 17 current and former Charlottesville clients an opportunity to share their journeys in a series of wide-ranging interviews.

Students in Garden City are reaching out to help refugees resettling in Garden City

Rabia Afghan and her family arrived in the United States in April 2022 as part of “Operation Allies Welcome,” fleeing the Taliban takeover in Afghanistan. Initially welcomed by IRC staff member Bill Tuffin in Virginia, their paths crossed again in January 2023 when Bill, now an Employment Specialist at the IRC in Denver, was tasked with helping Rabia find employment. Despite language barriers and the challenges of resettlement, Rabia secured a job at a local hotel and, through determination and support from the IRC, was promoted within two years. Her story highlights the critical role of community support in helping refugees rebuild their lives and the ongoing challenges they face in their new homes.

For World Refugee Day 2022, the IRC and Instagram spotlight three creatives who, having fled their homes as refugees, brought more than they carried with them.

Read stories from around the world of refugees assisted by The New York Times Neediest Cases Fund and the International Rescue Committee.

On April 6th, the IRC, in partnership with Play-well TEKnologies and Peer to Peer, brought 155 students and family members to the University of Maryland for a morning of LEGO-inspired learning. This was the second time that IRC in Silver Spring has had the opportunity to team-up with Play-Well TEKnologies to host a community building event for recently resettled families. “The Play-Well team uses the universal language of fun! Participants ranged from babies to grandparents, all excited to explore a new place and imagine a future at UMD.