Immigrants and refugees make up a sizeable minority of businesses for California and the Turlock/Modesto region. In that vein, the IRC in Turlock/Modesto is spotlighting refugee-owned businesses here in the Central Valley. The following is an interview with Baktash Rafiqyaar, owner of Mr. Gil's Market & Grill in Modesto.

The Child Watch Center is a safe, enriching, and educational environment for refugee children. By creating this childcare program, refugee parents were able to attend more classes at the IRC.