English as a Second Language students in New York applied their new skills while celebrating Thanksgiving this year.

The IRC in Silver Spring held their annual job fair on May 24 in downtown Silver Spring. The event was attended by 144 refugee job seekers and 24 employer partners. In the month since the job fair, there are 87 documented client interviews and 10 refugees who have started new positions, with more new jobs anticipated.

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.

The Youth Food Justice program with the International Rescue Committee in Dallas provided eight teens the chance to explore creativity and job readiness skills through food and agriculture.

Hosted by Alison Millan, the IRC in Elizabeth's Resettlement Director, community partners gather quarterly to update each other on available resources, shared knowledge, and current issues facing refugees in New Jersey.

IRC clients in need of food are receiving meals prepared by World Central Kitchen. For clients with mobility issues, volunteers from Peace City Church are delivering meals directly to their apartments.

Earlier this year RAI-US launched the Pathways to Careers in Resettlement, Asylum, and Integration Scholarship Opportunity, as a new resource to diversify and enhance the talent pipeline, specifically targeting RAI-US internships. The scholarship’s main objective is to promote career paths in humanitarian work for BIPOC and/or immigrant populations and further our commitment to a diverse and inclusive internship experience. After receiving 35 applications from RAI-US interns, 8 interns have been selected to receive a $5,000 scholarship. One of those eight was chosen from the IRC in Oakland. Oakland is excited to introduce this year’s scholarship recipient: Gianna D’Arrigo!

One of the easiest and most impactful ways to welcome refugees to your community is to pull together your networks and social groups through a fundraiser. Now more than ever, individual private support is crucial to the work we do in resettling refugee families and our work with the immigrant community. Raising funds through group efforts with your friends and family is a great help as we head into uncertain times.