Mariangela Taylor is a single mother of four who lives in Ellicott City, Maryland. While not a refugee herself, she empathized with the heart-wrenching stories of those escaping war and persecution and the immense challenges faced by those seeking the chance of a better life and decided to volunteer with the IRC.

Some key resources to help raise awareness of the contributions of Black women throughout history and today.

Key resources to help raise awareness of the contributions of Black women throughout history and today.

Even after refugees and asylum seekers have arrived in New York City, most who were fleeing a harmful or dangerous situation, may still not feel completely safe. This, coupled with the stress and uncertainty of the resettlement process can cause various mental health concerns in NYC’s migrant population.

This July, the IRC in NJ launched the Digital Literacy Program. This program sits under the Education & Learning Department and is led by the Adult Education Coordinator. Based on client feedback and general needs, the IRC in NJ decided to offer a series of modules that are specifically tailored to first-time/beginner digital users. This program is designed to provide user-friendly activities that make learning digital skills fun and accessible to clients of all ages and learning stages! 

Preethi Nampoothiri, the former deputy director at the IRC in Silver Spring, became the executive director of the IRC in Maryland on September 18th.