Parwana, Afghan parolee and mother of two, is no stranger to overcoming adversity. When her family fled to the U.S. after the Taliban took control of Kabul, she was prepared to face many challenges as they built a new life for themselves in Maryland. “My only goal was for my kids to go to school, my husband to get a job, and I hoped one day I would learn English.”

His family's "survival meal" of potato skins with vegetables now stars on the menu at former Afghan refugee Chef Noori's restaurant, The Mantu. Try the recipe.

Since August 2021, 80,000-90,000 Afghan nationals arrived in the US through Operation Allies Refuge/Welcome, with IRC providing resettlement and legal services.

The United Tastes of America and the IRC in Elizabeth partnered to offer participants an opportunity to share their home cuisine with one another while learning about safe food handling as a job readiness training event.