Every Tuesday afternoon, the New Roots Community Farm hosts a Farmers Market where neighborhood residents have the chance to buy the freshest vegetables in the Bronx.

Raffi Gostanian came to the United States from Syria 15 years ago on a student visa. A jazz musician who plays the saxophone and piano, he intended to study music but graduated with a political science degree from William Paterson University. As a front desk volunteer at IRC for the last 10 months, Raffi has diligently trekked twice a week from Paterson, home to a large Arab community, to IRC’s office in Elizabeth.

Refugee gardeners welcome community members to their harvest celebration to usher in the autumn season.

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. 

In this tumultuous year, share true Texan generosity and show our refugee families that they are welcome and wanted in America.

During the holiday season, the IRC gives you the opportunity to share the American spirit of giving with refugee families through the IRC in Abilene's Home for the Holidays program. By participating, you make a refugee’s first holiday in the U.S. one they will always remember.

Shop for holiday gifts and support the IRC in Seattle at the same time using the promo code "IRC" on SpreadLove2017.com

POWER (Providing Opportunities for Women's Economic Resilience) and New Roots are proud to follow all the graduates of the Food and Agriculture Job Training Program as they start careers and gain control of their futures. Almost all graduates go on to seek additional training or employment within the local food industry.

The IRC will be hosting it's first advocacy workshop on Saturday, April 14th from 9:00am-12:00pm at the Rhatigan Student Center.

In Memory of Tun Than: Senior Caseworker for the IRC in Baltimore