News from Tallahassee, FL

“Florida has long been a leader in showing hospitality to refugee and immigrant communities and will continue to be a destination for those seeking a safe and welcoming home where they can rebuild their lives.” The IRC in Florida’s executive director, J.D. McCrary, provides an update on recent policy decisions and the status of the refugee resettlement program.

January is National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month and the IRC is working to raise awareness and train community members to identify and report potential trafficking cases in both the Big Bend and South Florida.

The IRC is thrilled to welcome Marian Dickson to the team as our new development director. Marian is charged with leading our Southeast Resource Development team—which supports the IRC’s locally-funded offices in Atlanta, Tallahassee and Miami—in the expansion of its individual giving programs.

This summer, the IRC in Tallahassee launched a new, volunteer-led Youth program to help middle-and high-school refugee students from the Democratic Republic of Congo learn English and better adjust to their new home. The response from community members has been incredible!

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) in partnership with Survive and Thrive Advocacy Center (STAC) has received funding from the Department of Justice, securing – for the first time – federal resources specifically designated to combat human trafficking in the Big Bend, a highly rural area in Florida.

This summer, the IRC in Tallahassee launched a new, volunteer-led Refugee Literacy program to help middle- and high-school refugee students from the Democratic Republic of Congo to learn English through homework help, socializing and community integration. Volunteers work with students in their homes and become a regular fixture in their lives, providing mentorship and support as they become better orientated into the Tallahassee community.

On August 20, the Federal South Florida Human Trafficking Task Force hosted an event to raise public awareness of the National Human Trafficking Hotline (1-888-373-7888). The Task Force—led by the International Rescue Committee (IRC), the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Homeland Security Investigations and Miami-Dade Police Department—has participated in more than 100 human trafficking community outreach events in 2019.

Refugee Resettlement Casework Interns work alongside IRC caseworkers to orient newcomers to life in the US and connect families with essential services in the community.

For this year’s World Refugee Day, the IRC in Florida’s Tallahassee office worked with local partners to celebrate the vast contributions that refugees have made to our state! Thanks to the Florida Department of Children and Families for capturing such beautiful pictures of this event.

In May the IRC in Florida’s Deputy Director, Regina Bernadin, and Tallahassee Site Manager, Una Bilic, joined refugee leaders and advocates from across the country for a special two-day advocacy event in Washington, DC.