“This work has put it all in perspective for me. What I once only read about or heard about in the news, now has a face to it. The struggle refugees and immigrants go through, how much they want to contribute to their new country – they just want a normal life. A safe life.”

The Immigration Program at the IRC in Silver Spring, celebrates Mrs. Meazu Gobena, a longtime IRC client. Mrs. Meazu became an American citizenship in the Spring of 2017.

The City of Turlock aims to provide a warm welcome to new refugee arrivals. On Refugee Civics Day, refugee clients and interpreters of the IRC are invited to engage in conversation about the city's inner workings and practical skills like how to dial 9-1-1. Refugee families who have fled war and persecution are made to feel safe for the first time in many years are they arrive on U.S. soil. Refugees from Afghanistan and Syria participated in the activities at Turlock City Hall and reflected on how far they had come since their initial resettlement and what they hope to achieve with their new chance at life.

In honor of National Human Trafficking Awareness Month in January, the IRC in Silver Spring sat down with Winifrida Kassembe, Anti-Trafficking Caseworker, to interview her about the office’s efforts to combat human trafficking in Maryland. The focus of the Anti-Trafficking Program is to ensure that survivors have access to protection and opportunities to achieve self-sufficiency through comprehensive case management, advocacy, education, collaboration, and capacity building.

Most of Mohamed and Mumina's family members made it to the U.S. in 2017, but some remain separated in Dadaab, Kenya uncertain when they will see their relatives again.

In October, 2017, the IRC Kansas initiated it's outreach and education activities aimed at building support of continued refugee resettlement to educate, strengthen community support and enlist support from elected officials at all levels.

The IRC in Kansas is launching into it's third year of the Kansas Refugee Economic Empowerment Program. The program aims to place VISTA members throughout Wichita and southwest Kansas communities to build capacity through new program development and community relations.

On January 6th, more than 100 refugee families who arrived in Washington this past year received a warm welcome to our community! Hundreds of community members joined us for the Winter Welcome Festival, where we celebrated the new year together with food, games, gifts, and lots of fun!

Elsa - an 11th grader from Bellevue - shares why she volunteers every week helping refugee students and why she hopes other young people will follow her lead.

Two of our outstanding administrative volunteers share their hopes for the new year and why they devote time every week to help make refugees welcome in Washington.