The IRC in Atlanta was honored to host U.S. Deputy Secretary of State, Brian P. McKeon, and Senior Bureau Official for the Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration, Nancy Izzo-Jackson, for a first-of-its-kind visit by the U.S. State Department to a local refugee resettlement community in honor of World Refugee Day!

As a way of tackling the ongoing displacement crisis and issues faced by these clients, the IRC is focusing on community engagement to help with the integration of resettled refugees into our local communities, through a new Co-Sponsorship Program. 

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.

Leveraging Innovative Finance at the Nexus for Impact

Natalie El-Deiry, former deputy director who co-founded Spice Kitchen Incubator and strived to expand and deepen other strategic initiatives, started in her new role as executive director in April 2019.

The Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Utah recently donated to support refugee families accessing new laptops and staying connected to the internet during the pandemic—relieving concerned parents who were unsure how their families would remain connected.