News from Atlanta, GA

As part of the IRC’s national Refugee Voices initiative, the IRC in Atlanta partnered with local Refugee Voice and IRC Youth Futures program alum, Nuam San, to plan and host an Open Mic night on the 4th of July, in partnership with Mayor Ted Terry and the City of Clarkston.

Originally from Jordan, Lina came to the US through the refugee resettlement program in the spring of 2013, along with her husband Omar and their two children.

With the help of partner nonprofits—Decatur Makers and House of SpeakEasy—students attending the IRC in Atlanta’s “Ready, Set, College!” summer camp were able to build a “Little Free Library” for the Clarkston High School New Roots Garden.

The IRC in Atlanta’s Youth Futures program ended the 2018-19 school year with lots to celebrate; our afterschool programming served more than 130 Clarkston High School students throughout the year, including 42 seniors who all successfully graduated in May!

Each year on June 20, World Refugee Day, the world commemorates the strength, courage, and resilience of millions of refugees. At the IRC in Atlanta, we also take this time to celebrate the vast contributions that refugees have made to our state for 40 years and to advocate for refugees, asylum seekers and the restoration of the refugee resettlement program.

On the evening of May 16, more than 200 community members gathered at the IRC in Atlanta for an Open House event to celebrate 40 years of welcoming refugees to rebuild their lives in Georgia.

Earlier this month, leadership and staff from the IRC in Atlanta and former IRC Youth Futures student, Nuam San, joined refugee leaders and advocates from across the country for a special two-day advocacy event in Washington, DC.

The new Reading Buddy program uses mentoring relationships between high school and elementary students to get young people of all ages excited about reading—a huge help when it comes to learning English!

Inspired by March Madness basketball brackets, the IRC in Atlanta’s FoodCorps Service Member, Meggie Stewart, partnered with Indian Creek Elementary cafeteria staff to encourage students to try and enjoy a greater variety of vegetables.

This tax season, the IRC in Atlanta partnered with United Way of Greater Atlanta as a Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) site, providing free tax preparation services to refugees, asylees and Special Immigrant Visa recipients.