News from Atlanta, GA

The IRC in Atlanta—in partnership with community members like you—is working to ensure our clients have the resources they need to get through this trying time. Help us keep our newest neighbors safe and healthy by taking part in the collection of critically needed goods.

A start-up business is often successful because of the community support it receives. Virtual Small Business Mentors help to strengthen and expand small businesses, further developing a robust local economy. All of our programs are currently operating virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The IRC’s virtual English as a Second Language (ESL) classes assist refugee and immigrant adults to develop the language skills critical for success in our community. All of our programs are currently operating virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Staffed and managed by members of Georgia's refugee community, the IRC-CORE COVID-19 mobile testing sites had an incredibly successful first month of operation in Clarkston, drastically increasing access to testing—and contact tracing—with capacity for interpretation in 20 languages. Meet some of our Healthcare Heroes.

IRC volunteers—some long term and some newer—wrote handwritten notes to Adult Education students, inviting them back to class and expressing just how much they are missed.

The back to school process can be challenging at any time but is especially difficult to navigate this year, and several IRC clients mentioned the need for school supplies including an uncertainty about what would be essential and how they should prioritize it in their family budget. Thankfully, our generous supporters and members of the wider community rallied quickly to respond to our call for supplies.

As our programs continue to adapt to this new virtual world, we are thrilled to share our new Virtual Volunteer Opportunities and encourage you to reach out to [email protected] to learn more and get involved!

Phase 2 of our Back to School Supply Drive has a rather ambitious goal of collecting a further 100 Middle/High School Supply Boxes and 100 scientific calculators to accompany them. If you are interested in contributing to the drive, part 2, we would love your support!

The IRC in Atlanta's Youth Futures program provides daily homework help and academic assistance as well as college preparation support, enrichment and community service activities, opportunities to take field trips and participate in workshops, and more. All of our programs are currently operating virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Thanks to your generous donations, 25 dedicated DeKalb County high school students were supported to commit more than 400 hours of their summer break to our first-ever virtual Ready, Set, College! summer camp, preparing them to gain admission to college and succeed in higher education and beyond!