At the beginning of any New Year, many of us take time to reflect on our growth over the previous year & the commitments we might make over the coming year. At the International Rescue Committee (IRC) in Utah, we look back on a year of immense upheaval and new challenges for the families we serve. But, we also reflect on the growth of our community, the strength of our partnerships, the dedication of our incredible team and the compassion of numerous volunteers. Each strengthens our resolve.  

In recent weeks, we have witnessed terrible tragedies that have shaken us to our core. Too many have been caught in harm’s way, from our newest neighbors to fellow citizens. At the IRC, we work to ensure families are equipped with the resources and knowledge to safely navigate their new communities. However, over and over, families ask if the violence and persecution they fled followed them to their new home.  

Even as we face these monumental challenges as a nation, local refugee and immigrant families continue to face the shifting sands of federal and state policy, undermining their efforts to rebuild and seek safety in their new home. From the threat of refugee re-vetting federally to the loss of vital public safety nets, fear and uncertainty continue to tug at the families we serve, surfacing at dinner tables and overflowing in conversations with caseworkers and immigration legal representatives. Right here in Utah, proposed bills are currently working their way through the legislature to increase scrutiny and reduce opportunity for our refugee and immigrant neighbors. The chilling effect of these efforts ripples tangibly through our community and beyond.  

Through it all, we remain steadfast in our resolve to provide the best possible services we can to local families. Our resolve is well-founded. First, even as the families we serve face uncertainty, they continue to take control of their own futures: starting businesses, seeking advanced education and achieving incredible milestones. And second, we recognize the power we share when we gather as a community—raising our voices together—to support those who need a helping hand. In Utah, we reach out to our neighbors, we check on them, and we always ask: “How can I help?”

I’m confident that we are exactly where we are supposed to be in this moment: offering support to those we are meant to support while we build the courage it takes to take action.  

Looking ahead, we must continue to take action in support of our newest neighbors—families working hard through it all to rebuild their lives and strive to achieve their dreams. I would ask these three things of you as a support of the IRC:  

Don’t stop raising your voice. I urge you to contact your elected officials at all levels asking them to support refugees and immigrants in our community and advance policies that protect opportunity for newcomers.  

Don’t stop giving back. Funding remains critical to ensure vital services remain for those who need them most. Of course, I will always ask you to consider a one-time or monthly gift to the IRC in Utah. You can also give back through advocacy organizations, mutual aid groups and so many others fighting for progress.  

Don’t stop reaching out to your neighbors.Sign up to volunteer with the IRC, organize a grocery gift card drive to address food insecurity, or just take the time to check in with those who are impacted by everything going on in the world. Small actions accumulate into consequential movements.  

As ever, we will continue to stand up for refugee and immigrant families in our community: today, tomorrow & always. Thank you for joining us at every step along the way.  

With gratitude,  

Danny Beus, Executive Director