The IRC in Salt Lake City is currently running a series, “Refugee Resettlement”, describing our efforts to resettle and serve refugee individuals and families who now call the Beehive State “home.” Part two focuses on efforts to reach self-sufficiency and positively integrate into Salt Lake County.

We love taking our programs out into the community! This month, Asians@Amazon and Amazon's Black Employee Network (BEN) hosted a networking workshop with the IRC's economic empowerment program. Learn more about the workshop and how your own company or organization can team up with IRC to support the career goals of newcomers.

Thank you Medical Teams International for providing free dental services for participants in the IRC's anti-trafficking program! Learn more about the Washington Anti-Trafficking Response Network (WARN) and opportunities to support survivors.

After 835 days without the resettlement program at the IRC in San Jose, the office's leadership team received word last month that the location had gotten approval to re-open its resettlement program, effective immediately.

On Saturday, June 19 the IRC in Tallahassee will celebrate World Refugee Day. The IRC will host a live virtual panel discussion with community partners, refugee families and the Tallahassee community at-large. In addition, the IRC will host an in-person event tentatively planned at Tom Brown Park. The events will highlight 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.

Ali Amry prepares to launch his food business with support from classes offered by the International Rescue Committee in Salt Lake City, including a Social Media Marketing Workshop series. Since then, he has learned about promotional email strategy and built out a social media presence. 

The Al-Mustafa Foundation's Girl Scout Troop learns budgeting basics while leading an effort to provide Eid gifts for refugee families served by the IRC in Salt Lake City. Since 2008, their partnership has shown an outpouring of generosity.

Over the past year, the Utah Immigration Collaborative, an initiative facilitated by a network of five immigration legal service providers in Salt Lake City, created a streamlined system for connecting individuals seeking immigration legal assistance to service providers. The Collaborative responds to growing need within immigrant communities in Utah by providing affordable legal representation, assistance and support.

In Arizona, the IRC is already working to resettle newly arrived refugees while preparing for increased arrivals in the months to come. So far this year, the IRC has resettled 46 refugees in Phoenix and 14 in Tucson. 22 more refugees are currently scheduled in Phoenix and 26 scheduled in Tucson. Additional refugee arrivals are expected to be scheduled as the year continues.

IRC offices across the nation have offered New Roots programs for many years, providing opportunities for refugees to participate in sustainable agricultural practices and receive nutrition education. Yet in the heart of California’s Central Valley—the agricultural hub of the state—no such program had existed. That all changed May 8, as four Afghan families helped launch a new sustainable agriculture program for the IRC in Turlock/Modesto. Participants gathered at Turlock Community Gardens to plant crops typically grown in their home country such as okra, muskmelons and Persian cucumbers as well as fruits and vegetables more commonly grown such as tomatoes, strawberries and bell peppers.