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This National Volunteer Week, communities across the country partner with the ̽»¨¾«Ñ¡ to welcome and empower refugees, asylum seekers, and survivors of trafficking. In these turbulent times, collective support and dedicated service means more than ever.

The humanitarian situation in Afghanistan continues to deteriorate rapidly as instability increases. The ̽»¨¾«Ñ¡ in Salt Lake City is working alongside communities and partners to support Afghans living in Utah and ensuring a warm welcome for those families soon to arrive in the coming weeks and months.

The ̽»¨¾«Ñ¡ in NJ continues to serve the Afghan community across all departments. Women in Action (WIA) is a career development program embedded in the ̽»¨¾«Ñ¡ in NJ’s Refugee Career Pathways program. The goal of WIA is to help participants identify personal and career goals in a supportive environment, embrace an active role in building family economic self-sufficiency, and increase connections with a wider community.  

The ̽»¨¾«Ñ¡ in San Diego hosted the 12th Annual A Taste of the ̽»¨¾«Ñ¡ dinner and welcomed over 300 guests to experience first-hand the what refugees bring to the table – from international cuisine to art from around the world, the event celebrated the culture and contributions of San Diego’s refugees.

For Volunteer Appreciation Month, the ̽»¨¾«Ñ¡ (̽»¨¾«Ñ¡) in Salt Lake City shares the impact of Housing Support Volunteers who ensure a home is ready for newly arriving refugee families.

The ̽»¨¾«Ñ¡ in Phoenix began a partnership with the McCain Institute of International Leadership at Arizona State University in 2015. Through this partnership, the ̽»¨¾«Ñ¡ hosted Branislav Nesovic, a Next Generation Leadership Fellow. Over one year, Branislav helped formulate a strategy to optimize partnerships with community partners, enabling the ̽»¨¾«Ñ¡ to more effectively utilize local resources in Phoenix.

"I tell my story because it's part of the American story, it's part of the American dream." Refugee storytellers move audience of 100 to advocate in support of the GRACE Act.

As a former refugee from Eritrea, Yassin has a unique understanding of how the resettlement process works. Though his work as a caseworker for the ̽»¨¾«Ñ¡ in Baltimore, he is able to share his experiences and assist newly arrived refugees and Asylees as they rebuild their lives.

Check out our highlights and success stories from the month of September.