Posts by eparrigin
Giving Thanks
2022 has been a long year. Too often, it feels as though the crises are never-ending, leaving many of us sad, frustrated and confused. When feeling overwhelmed, it’s important to take a step back and remember the things that heal us. Here’s what our team is grateful for this year. I’m thankful for my girls’…
Read MoreWhat I’ll Remember: Interning at WRQC
Sloane wraps up her time by sharing what she’s learned during interning across multiple programs at World Relief Quad Cities. My time as an intern has come to an end. Only a short 300 hours later, I can cross off an internship experience that works towards my degree: Multimedia Journalism Mass Communication (MJMC). I’m thankful…
Read MoreMeeting with Rep. Miller-Meeks: A step towards the path to safety
WRQC intern Rubens Gonzales discusses his trip to meet Rep. Miller-Meeks and gives his perspective on the Afghan Adjustment Act. A legal path to safety Last month, I was lucky enough to be invited to attend a special meeting with WRQC and Representative Miller-Meeks to talk about the Afghan Adjustment Act that was recently introduced…
Read MoreImage Before Immigrant
Earlier this year, for the first time on record, the number of forcibly displaced people in the world hit 100 million. What that means is that one in every 78 people on Earth is displaced from their home as a result of war, violence, famine, and human rights violations each day. We’ve welcomed over 3,500…
Read MoreWorld Relief Quad Cities Awarded Grant to Launch Refugee Career Pathways Program
10/13/2022 CONTACT: Audrey Garden audrey.garden@pinkston.co 571-405-1606 Quad Cities, October 13, 2022 – This month, World Relief Quad Cities (WRQC), the only resettlement organization serving Afghan entrants in Western Illinois, was awarded a grant of $725,000 from the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) to launch a Refugee Career Pathways Program (RCP) aimed at helping Afghan entrants…
Read MoreRefugee Mental Health: Our Responsibility
October 10th is World Mental Health Day. Refugees are less likely to seek treatment than non-refugees, but you can help lessen the stigma. Pictured above: a Problem Management Plus (PM+) training. Generations of Stigma Mental health is just as important as physical health. Habie Timbo, Community Outreach Case Manager and Mental Health Caseworker, explains what mental…
Read MoreMore than a Job: How Liberty Packaging is Helping Refugees
Founded by Immigrants Jack Fiterman, founder of Liberty Diversified International (LDI), was an immigrant. He wanted to include “Liberty” in the name because it’s a founding principle of this country. Founded in 1918, LDI has been a family-owned company for almost four generations. Supporting immigrants and refugees is in their foundation. Part of LDI, Liberty Packaging is a corrugated box manufacturer with a…
Read MoreWelcoming in Muscatine: Ketsia
WRQC partnered with Muscatine to assist with Ukrainian refugees and launch its first pilot office – it also become a place of refuge for Ketsia. Time Running Out On August 25th, Ric Smith received a phone call from Laura Fontaine, WRQC Executive Director. One of Fontaine’s former interns, Ketsia Faraja, desperately needed a place to live. A…
Read MoreHelping Families Learn, Together: Family Literacy
School is in session and so are family literacy classes. Both the adults and children get to learn English and have fun with this program! Leah Hodge tells us all about it. Family Literacy and More Leah Hodge is the Education Manager at World Relief Quad Cities. Hodge is in charge of the Family Literacy…
Read MoreWelcoming in Muscatine: Pascal
WRQC has partnered with Muscatine to assist with Ukrainian refugees and launch its first pilot office. For Pascal, this opens a world of opportunities. Work that Hits Home Pascal Ramadhani is Congolese, but has never lived in the Democratic Republic of Congo. He was born in Tanzania. His family fled the war in Congo a…
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