Over the past five years I’ve volunteered with IRC in various ways. One of my most intense experiences was spending two weeks at Fort Bliss, one of the U.S. landing sites for Afghan evacuees after the fall of Kabul. I want to share a few highlights from my experience and give you an inside look at what it means to work and walk alongside IRC staff and clients.

The interpretation team at the IRC in Salt Lake City provides essential language services for the people that we serve. With 18 languages to offer, the team provides an integral service to ensure refugees and other new Americans receiving services from the IRC and its local partners are able to effectively communicate in their preferred language. 

This year, the IRC in New York’s New Roots Community Gardens (NRCG) in Queens is celebrating its second year since its grand opening during the pandemic in 2021. The garden has come a long way, providing a safe space for members to make new friends, harvest veggies/herbs, and connect with the land.