News from Missoula, MT

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) is providing the following information for refugees, asylum-seekers and immigrants about U.S. elections and the Presidential inauguration.

IRC recognizes one refugee who is the first person in his family to graduate high school in the United States: Congratulations Janvier!

Right now, more than ever, it feels as if everyone in the world could use a hug from their mother, grandmother, or someone else who feels like a mother to them. This Mother’s Day we got the chance to celebrate these women who mean so much to us all, including the many refugee mothers who inspire us daily.

Many refugees in Missoula are working on the front lines as essential workers during the coronavirus pandemic.

This month Haben, an Eritrean refugee who was resettled by the IRC to Missoula three years ago, tells us abut her experience. When she arrived she spoke only a handful of words in English, but now speaks well enough to be interviewed for this story without interpretation.

Our first in a new series of stories where refugees are asked about their experiences in Missoula.

Janvier, who was resettled in Missoula with his family in 2018, has learned important skills and forged strong friendships while playing on his high school's soccer team.

The IRC in Missoula recently marked three years of resettling refugees in the community with a celebration in Bonner Park.

The heat finally found Montana in July and, along with the rest of Missoula, refugee families headed for Splash Montana to cool off. Through generous donations to the IRC, kids got the opportunity to attend a variety of summer camps throughout the city.

Word spread quickly through the small Arabic-speaking community in Missoula this spring that after an almost two year wait, the IRC would be resettling a family from Iraq. Thanks to our community for stepping up to welcome them.