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.

In Los Angeles, Mayor Eric Garcetti, who chairs C4C with the mayors of Chicago and New York, made the initiative his signature citizenship-building program. He selected IRC as one of just five organizations—and the only refugee resettlement agency—to implement his plan. The result has been extraordinary.

Each year over half of the refugees resettled by the IRC in San Diego are children; in 2022 18% of new arrivals were under 18 years old. Having reached the US, their futures are brighter than the uncertainty, conflict and violence they left behind but as they enter the American education system, refugee youth face a unique set of barriers to academic success.

Community Sponsorship is a new program at the IRC in Salt Lake City! This program gives the community a chance to be involved with the resettlement process in a hands-on way. We sat down with Kristi Haycock, Community Sponsorship Manager, about what is involved in community sponsorship, and how people can get started!

For individuals migrating to or seeking refuge in the United States, obtaining legal status is often the pivotal moment in their resettlement journey, granting them protection from deportation and access to crucial economic opportunities. Unfortunately, in recent years, the path to legal status has become increasingly challenging. With the immigration backlog at an all-time high and refugee and immigrant rights at stake with the upcoming election, many are left feeling overwhelmed and uncertain about their future.

Local Girl Scout troops donated cookies to refugees resettling in Wichita.

Throughout the month of September, Charlottesville residents heard stories from over a dozen different community members with lived experience, thanks to a collaboration between the IRC and WTJU, the University of Virginia’s community radio station. The joint project, “Resettled,” gave 17 current and former Charlottesville clients an opportunity to share their journeys in a series of wide-ranging interviews.

For World Refugee Day 2022, the IRC and Instagram spotlight three creatives who, having fled their homes as refugees, brought more than they carried with them.

Rabia Afghan and her family arrived in the United States in April 2022 as part of “Operation Allies Welcome,” fleeing the Taliban takeover in Afghanistan. Initially welcomed by IRC staff member Bill Tuffin in Virginia, their paths crossed again in January 2023 when Bill, now an Employment Specialist at the IRC in Denver, was tasked with helping Rabia find employment. Despite language barriers and the challenges of resettlement, Rabia secured a job at a local hotel and, through determination and support from the IRC, was promoted within two years. Her story highlights the critical role of community support in helping refugees rebuild their lives and the ongoing challenges they face in their new homes.