In November 2019, Tecle Gebremicheal became the first refugee from Africa to run for local office in Boise, Idaho. “When I first came to America, I promised myself that I will do everything I can to give back to the country and community that welcomed me,” he says. “I want to show that when refugees come here, we try to integrate and contribute however we can.”

IRC Voice and Deadpool star Morena Baccarin recently met resilient refugee mothers during her trip with the IRC to Colombia, where more than one million Venezuelans have sought safety and stability. "If I pay the rent, I can't buy food," one of the women told her. Update: Read Morena's Jan. 24 opinion piece in Newsweek describing the humanitarian situation she witnessed in Colombia and what can be done to help.

The United States has a long tradition of offering refuge to those fleeing persecution and war. With support, refugees go on to thrive and contribute to their new countries in many different ways. Meet some of the well-known artists, ambassadors, and other luminaries who were once refugees.