News from Elizabeth, NJ

A Digital Equity Advocate Lends support to IRC in NJ’s RYSA youth program. The IRC in NJ chats with Mr. Shawn Gross to understand the digital divide and thank him for helping our RYSA students access Microsoft Teams for their virtual classrooms.

Update! Watch the October 7th webinar recording on IRC's Afghan Emergency Response in the US

High rates of unemployment and Covid-19 infection among New American community members has contributed heavily to lack of stable access to adequate amounts of nutritious food . Refugees and immigrants have been some of the hardest hit populations in the country, disproportionately experiencing food and nutritional insecurity due to their high rates of employment in “gig economy” and other job sectors like food, hotel, and health which have been heavily impacted by the pandemic. Help new American communities combat hunger with a gift to IRC's food security programs in the U.S.

Join the IRC on June 22 for a virtual World Refugee Day Legislative Summit hosted by the International Rescue Committee in partnership with the Refugee Advocacy Lab.

The IRC in New York and New Jersey relies on exceptional volunteers who make our work possible year after year by welcoming refugees in our communities.

Refugee Youth Summer Academy (RYSA) Volunteers will work closely with the ESL Lead Teachers and clinical psychology doctoral students to reinforce English language learning and school preparation with refugee youth in a positive and healing classroom environment. RYSA volunteers must be flexible and comfortable using various methods for teaching English Language Learners with varied levels of education. Throughout their classroom activities, RYSA volunteers will be expected to contribute to the program’s goals of fostering students’ English competence and social-emotional development.

As some of the earliest hit states in the pandemic, NY and NJ responded with empathy, resourcefulness and energy to ensure all new arrivals and established refugees weathered the storm.

The Intensive Case Management (ICM) program works one-on-one with clients to assess their needs and coordinate services accordingly. Work closely with ICM caseworker to address barriers to health and wellness for refugee and displaced clients with severe physical or mental health conditions, the elderly, LGBTQ+ clients, single-headed households, and victims of sexual assault and gender-based violence enrolled in the ICM program. ICM Interns will be responsible for checking in on the well-being of clients, providing comprehensive support when needed, and building clients’ self-sufficiency.

The mission of the IRC is to help people whose lives and livelihoods are shattered by conflict and disaster to survive, recover and gain control of their future. The IRC’s Program Quality and Innovation Unit assists offices which help newly arrived refugees and other low-income individuals reach self-sufficiency by finding entry-level employment and progress to living wage jobs; learn basic financial management skills and build assets; start small businesses; and access Earned Income Tax Credit. Under the supervision of the Tax Site Coordinator, Intern Tax Screeners will ensure that taxpayers have all the necessary information and documents required to complete a tax return. The program is offering services to clients in IRC offices located in Phoenix, AZ, Salt Lake City, UT, Denver, CO and Elizabeth, NJ. The IRC’s goal is to assist 4,000 taxpayers in preparing their returns in a safe, culturally and linguistically appropriate manner – remotely.

In August 2021, the IRC in New Jersey will host a three-week summer program focusing on English as a Second Language (ESL) enrichment for refugee youth living in Elizabeth and Roselle, New Jersey. The Refugee Youth Summer Academy (RYSA) will serve up to 90 students ages 5 – 20, from at least 10 countries in six classes. Students will engage in ESL, creative arts, sports, field trips, and other activities. RYSA interns will work closely with the ESL Lead Teachers, clinical psychology doctoral students to reinforce English language learning and school preparation with refugee youth in a positive and healing classroom environment.