News from Tallahassee, FL

The IRC in Tallahassee will host a series of community events during January, designated through Presidential Proclamation as National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month. These events will engage Tallahassee communities in dialogue designed to elevate the voices of survivors of human trafficking, increase awareness of human trafficking and educate the community about ways to prevent it.

We are excited to welcome David Oliver, our new deputy director! David brings leadership and expertise in program design from his tenure at the IRC in Atlanta. David's commitment to serving the community and his deep understanding of client-centered programs will enable us to continue our growth in supporting our resilient clients as they seek to heal and rebuild their lives.

Schools in Leon County recently welcomed students back to the classrooms, both virtually and in person. The IRC in Tallahassee partners with Leon County Schools to prepare students and families for this unprecedented school year amid the coronavirus pandemic.

The Caseworker Assistant Intern will assist the Human Trafficking ProgramCoordinator in providing services to survivors of all forms of human trafficking. The Caseworker Assistant Intern will identify and provide community resources to clients that improve self-sufficiency. The Caseworker Assistant Intern will also assist with community awareness and outreach efforts. Travel within Leon, Wakulla, Gadsden, Franklin, Jefferson, and Liberty counties.

The IRC in Florida’s staff is in conversations with Congressional leaders to discuss the IRC’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the Presidential Determination for the admission of refugees in the United States.

During these unprecedented times, Florida communities, stretching from Tallahassee to Miami, continue supporting refugees, survivors of human trafficking and immigrant youth. It takes all of us—volunteers, clients, donors, employees and community partners—to maintain our 60-year legacy of welcoming and uplifting the voices of our resilient clients.

On Thursday, July 30, the IRC in Florida is participating in World Day Against Trafficking in Persons by inviting the community to join a live online panel discussion regarding human trafficking in South Florida. Florida ranks in the top three U.S. states for reported incidents of human trafficking, and South Florida exhibits the largest percentage of those cases.

The 2020 Atlantic hurricane season started on June 1, 2020 and will conclude on November 30, 2020. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), this year’s hurricane season is expected to be active and NOAA predicts a 60% chance of an above-normal season. This year’s active hurricane season has the potential to generate between three to six major hurricanes.

On Saturday, June 20 the IRC in Tallahassee celebrated World Refugee Day. The IRC hosted a live virtual panel discussion with community partners, refugee families and the Tallahassee community at-large. The event highlighted the contributions of the refugee community in Tallahassee, and elevated the voices of refugee families, community leaders and volunteers who ensure Big Bend communities continue to be welcoming places for all.

Originally from the Democratic Republic of Congo, IRC clients John, Beata, Furaha and Dezir were recently hired by a local textile manufacturer that has switched gears to produce personal protective equipment (PPE) for local emergency services departments and front-line workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Now in their third week on the job, these resilient new Americans are grateful for the opportunity to work and give back to the community that welcomed them.