Posts by chicagoland
World Relief Applauds Creation of the Welcome Corps, A New Refugee Private Sponsorship Program
January 19, 2022 CONTACT:Pinkston Teamwr@pinkston.co BALTIMORE — Recently, the State Department launched the Welcome Corps, a new refugee private sponsorship program that will allow everyday Americans to privately sponsor refugees coming to the United States. This extraordinary new program will expand community support for refugees and also eventually allow private citizens to sponsor refugees they…
Read More9 Things You Need to Know About Private Sponsorship
On Thursday, January 19th, the Biden Administration announced a new private sponsorship program for refugees called Welcome Corps. Through Welcome Corps, everyday Americans can directly sponsor refugees who are being resettled in the U.S. Today, there are an estimated 103 million displaced people globally, including 32.5 million refugees. Forced from their homes and separated from…
Read MoreWhat does a year hold?
When I consider the new year, I’m struck by how little we know about what it will hold. In 2019, we had no idea that the pandemic would shut down the world in 2020. Before 2020, we had no idea that Afghanistan would fall in 2021. In 2021, we had no idea that Ukraine would…
Read MoreWorth the Wait: Newlywed Refugees Love Remains
For seven years, Congolese refugees (and newlyweds!), Mbimbi and Goreth, didn’t know if they would ever see each other again. Separated by continents, Mbimbi was stuck in Burundi while Goreth resettled and began her new life in America. In spite of the long wait, the two of them never lost hope, their love growing by…
Read MoreI Was No Longer Safe in My Country: Yomardy’s Story of Seeking Asylum
Yomardy never imagined what would happen to her during a trip to the U.S. as a Fulbright Scholar from Venezuela – particularly a situation that would force her to seek asylum.
Read MoreNews from H.O.M.E.: Serving Asylum Seekers
Early in 2022, we featured a post by Hannah Thompson, World Relief Chicagoland’s Immigrant Family Services Volunteer Coordinator who works with the staff and community volunteers who serve asylum seekers through the H.O.M.E. Program. Now, Hannah is back, sharing what has changed since January. First, what is the H.O.M.E. Program? World Relief Chicagoland created the…
Read MoreHow to Have Impact as a Volunteer Tutor
The volunteer tutors at World Relief have a superpower: they know how to bring out the unique gifts of each student to help them grow. Here’s one tutor used a child’s passion to overcome his fears so he could flourish.
Read MoreSummer Camp: Fun, Fellowship and First Responders
World Relief’s summer camp gives its cross-cultural campers a chance to create friendships, build skills and experience an American tradition they’ll never forget. Check out our scrapbook of these special moments that impacted the lives of both campers and volunteers.
Read MoreHow Refugee Children Reshape Resettlement for Their Families
It’s easy to overlook the unique role refugee children have in the resettlement process. Yet the part they play not only impacts how quickly their family can adapt to life in the U.S. It also can determine how successfully they fully integrate.
Read MoreA Common Roadblock to Citizenship: Carlos’ Story
The day Carlos went into the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to renew his driver’s license nearly cost him everything he struggled for on his path to U.S. citizenship.
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