While we all do our part to prevent the spread of COVID-19, many families in Los Angeles need our support more than ever—here's how you can help.

Each year, tens of thousands of refugees fleeing violence and persecution resettle in the United States, including the Bay Area. Resettlement means a fresh start and opportunity, especially for adolescent girls whose futures had been limited by a lack of access to education and opportunities and restrictive ideas about  women. Here. these girls have the chance to improve themselves, their families, and their communities. The Vision Project aims to empower refugee girls and change perceptions within their communities by providing girls with the skills and support they need to envision a positive future, and ultimately achieve their goals. The project runs three week-long workshops each year with resettled refugee girls, and each week culminates in a personal photoshoot for each girl where they embody their future selves. 

Months of escalating hostility towards Ukraine have culminated in a concerted invasion of the country and the launch of military attacks across multiple cities in Ukraine starting from February 24th, 2022. As of March 26, 2022, an estimated 2.2M people have fled to Poland from Ukraine. Many have been welcomed by the Ukrainian diaspora in Poland, many more are being hosted by Polish families, and the rest reside in recently established shelters and reception centers. While the Polish government, Polish NGOs, UN agencies, and local civil society actors have provided multisectoral relief across the country, this rapid needs assessment aims to better understand the priority needs, vulnerabilities, and barriers to accessing information, services, and humanitarian support that people fleeing the conflict in Ukraine face in Poland, including those experienced by groups with heightened vulnerability.  This assessment will be used to inform the IRC’s strategic response to these displaced populations in Poland and will be widely shared with the overall humanitarian community, including with Polish civil society and governmental bodies who have provided rapid and much needed relief to people fleeing the conflict in Ukraine. 

The IRC in Wichita is currently running a series, "Refugee Resettlement," describing the efforts to resettle and serve the refugees and their families who call the Sunflower State "home." Part three, the final in the series, focuses on the programs and services offered to support refugees' and New Americans' efforts to positively integrate beyond resettlement.

In an event hosted by the IRC in Sacramento, Sacramento’s Refugee Resettlement Agencies invite you to join us on Tuesday, June 20th as California observes House Resolution 23 in honoring the strength, courage, and contributions of refugees resettled in Sacramento! Come celebrate with food, drinks and family-friendly activities on the New Roots Farm in West Sacramento.