News from Atlanta, GA

Through our partnership with FoodCorps—part of the AmeriCorps service network—the IRC in Atlanta has been able to expand our gardening and nutrition education programming into two DeKalb County elementary schools. Our incredible 2020-21 FoodCorps service member, Laura Diaz-Villaquiran, adapted quickly to virtual teaching and provides culturally appropriate, garden-based lessons to over 150 DeKalb County K-3 students.

March 7 - 13 was AmeriCorps Week and to celebrate we spotlighted some of our incredible service members across our social media platforms. The IRC in Atlanta's AmeriCorps members are essential, full-time staff that provide invaluable support to our clients and programs—hear what they have to say about their work, passions and motivations in this piece!

In partnership with the National Resource Center for Refugees, Immigrants, and Migrants (NRC-RIM), the IRC in Atlanta is pleased to offer several resources—in multiple languages—that provide clear and accurate information on the COVID-19 vaccine and address common questions and concerns.

On March 5 and 6, the IRC in Atlanta’s Adult Education programs celebrated International Women’s Day (IWD) with an engaging class where students learned about the significance of the day, celebrated important women in their lives, and learned new vocabulary.

The IRC in Atlanta is thrilled to announce our partnership with Redtree Strategies in response to our search for a Racial Justice and Organizational Development Consultant to support us in addressing our own perpetuation of racial inequities and institutionalizing ways in which we can be a more just organization.

For the past seven years, the Coalition of Refugee Service Agencies (CRSA) has welcomed over 300 volunteers—including many of you—to the Georgia State Capitol for our annual New Americans Celebration to engage with legislators and share their personal support for keeping Georgia welcoming to refugees and immigrants.

In case you missed it, last month the IRC in Atlanta’s Career Development program was highlighted by Global Atlanta for our unique Refugee Internship initiative!

The IRC in Atlanta's Acting Executive Director, Justin Howell, provides an update on recent executive orders and what they mean for refugees, asylees and immigrants in Georgia, how our team is preparing for increased arrivals, and how the community can help! Includes a recap of our Facebook Live Town Hall on February 18.

Over the holidays, hundreds of generous Georgians—a combination of individuals and organizations—donated warm winter clothing and blankets, essential household items, children’s toys, and hygiene kits for 25 refugee families the IRC in Atlanta welcomed to a new home in 2020.

In September 2020, the IRC in Atlanta welcomed Marielys Padua Soto, B.S., J.D. to the Community Integration and Immigration Services team to lead our ‘Release Project’ in partnership with Innovation Law Lab. As the IRC’s Release Project Legal Assistant, Marielys works with detained immigrants and their families to support them to request release from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody in Georgia