Senior Development Manager, Heloise Ahoure, leading the presentation for the stakeholders roundtable. To her right is Executive Director of the IRC in Atlanta, Justin Howell, and in the foreground are two female attendees sitting at a table with their backs to the camera.
On Friday, April 21, the IRC in Atlanta held the first installment of our new Stakeholders’ Roundtable series.
Photo: IRC Atlanta

On Friday, April 21, the IRC in Atlanta held the first installment of our new Stakeholders’ Roundtable series. This series was created to provide an opportunity for the IRC and our stakeholders—including business, education, political and community leaders across the metro-Atlanta area—to discuss IRC programming and our collective support of refugees and immigrants in Georgia. This first roundtable focused on our Economic Empowerment programs and participants heard from Executive Director, Justin Howell; Economic Empowerment Manager, Jessica Rodriguez; and supervisors in our Career Development, Microenterprise Development (MED), Early Employment, and Financial Capability programs. 

Economic Empowerment Manager, Jessica Rodrigues, seated and speaking to Roundtable attendees sitting around her. In the foreground are two male attendees with their backs to the camera.
Through panel and group discussion, the Roundtable series aims to increase awareness of the needs of refugees and immigrants in our communities, and the importance of community engagement and involvement—across all sectors—in the IRC’s humanitarian mission.
Photo: IRC Atlanta

Through panel and group discussion, the Roundtable series aims to increase awareness of the needs of refugees and immigrants in our communities, and the importance of community engagement and involvement—across all sectors—in the IRC’s humanitarian mission. Additionally, IRC staff celebrated the successes of their programming efforts and resilient clients, and also addressed urgent gaps in capacity, resources, and funding.

Phil York (far right) talking to Alexis Powers and Stakeholders'
Since October 1, 2022, Individual Development Accounts (IDA) Program Coordinator, Phil York, and his team have helped to secure $163,800 in matched savings funds for refugee clients and have provided 733 hours of client workshops.
Photo: IRC Atlanta
Kendall Stakeholders Roundtable
Under the leadership of Microenterprise Development (MED) Supervisor, Kendall Souders, our MED team provided 3,657 hours of business counseling to 265 budding Georgia entrepreneurs in 2022.
Photo: IRC Atlanta
Alexis Powers
Career Development Program Supervisor, Alexis Powers, shared that since October 1, 2022, her team has provided $53,150 in scholarships—made possible by generous local donors—to refugee and immigrant clients to cover the cost of vocational training.
Photo: IRC Atlanta
Samson roundtable
Early Employment Supervisor, Samson Tarpeh, highlighted the qualities that we look for in employers before connecting our clients to open positions, including offering benefits, logistical and transportation needs, and openness to working with dedicated employees who are prepared to learn and grow!
Photo: IRC Atlanta

We are immensely grateful to all who attended the first installment of our Stakeholders’ Roundtable series for taking the time to meet with our team and deepen their understanding of the enormous impact of their support. We look forward to sharing more about our wide range of programs in future roundtables! 

How you can support 

If you are interested in supporting the IRC in Atlanta or our Economic Empowerment programming, please contact Senior Development Manager, Heloise Ahoure, at [email protected] or on 770-570-9156. You can also give securely online to support the locally funded Atlanta office of the IRC here: Rescue.org/GiveAtlanta   

 

To learn more about the work of the IRC in Atlanta and for information on how you can get involved with the IRC as a donor or volunteer, please contact Senior Development Manager, Heloise Ahoure, at [email protected] or 678-636-8941.

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