Advocate

Together, we can influence those in positions of power who can save and change lives.

Advocate

Together, we can influence those in positions of power who can save and change lives.

Issues we are advocating for in Durham, NC

World-Relief_Seattle_2022_Sean-Sheridan_18291

In-state tuition

The U.S. government has used the humanitarian parole status to invite those who have been forcibly displaced, like that of our Afghan Allies or those fleeing the war in Ukraine. They are now long-term residents in NC but face additional barriers to accessing higher education. Therefore, we are advocating for in-state tuition access to be offered to humanitarian parolees at NC Community Colleges so that we may support their educational goals as they seek to create new lives in NC.

Teacher Licensure

North Carolina is filled with a diverse community with a diverse set of skills, certificates, and credentials, like teaching, but these credentials often go unrecognized in North Carolina due to state licensing policies causing newcomers to accept jobs often outside of their expertise and experience. As people continue to move to NC, we seek to streamline the teacher licensure process for all out-of-jurisdiction teachers to more easily certify their credentials enabling them to teach in NC public schools.

World-Relief_USA-Chicagoland_2022_Emily-Frazier_Noreik_20161

World-Relief_Durham-NC_2024_Nathan-Clendenin_23807

Language access at the NC DMV

Despite the diversity that exists and continues to grow within North Carolina the NCDMV doesn’t provide translated drivers test study materials in languages that reflect the diversity of our communities. Due to the lack of translated materials, emerging English language learners often face barriers to passing their DMV knowledge test and gaining a comprehensive understanding of North Carolina's driving regulations. Learning to drive is imperative for our new neighbors therefore, we are advocating to expand language access at the NCDMV.

Sign a Petition, here are some ways you can take action with us today:

Support U.S. Foreign Assistance

Support Asylum Seekers and Families Along the Border

Support the Reauthorization of the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR)

Oppose Deportation Policies That Separate Families

URGENT ACTION: Support the Afghan Adjustment Act

Protect the U.S. Refugee Resettlement Program

Advocate for refugee resettlement in the U.S.

"Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute."

— Proverbs 31:8

Why Advocate?

At World Relief, our commitment to advocate on behalf of the poor and oppressed is based on the example of Jesus. We believe that such advocacy is an important witness to a watching world about the character of Jesus.

We consider it an essential task to engage and challenge the church, reminding leaders and congregations alike that our Christian faith should compel us to seek justice and mercy for the vulnerable and suffering.

So whatever the changes to policy, our calling and our commitment to advocate on behalf of the orphan, the widow and the stranger among us will not.

Will you join us?

Sign a Petition

What our team is advocating for in North Carolina:

In-state tuition for humanitarian parolees in community colleges

Currently, the share of North Carolina's population made up of immigrants is around 8.6%, and these households represent $25 billion in spending power and pay approximately $2.8 billion in state and local taxes annually. Among other groups, these immigrant households include forcibly displaced people including refugees, Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) recipients, asylees, asylum-seekers, Temporary Protected Status holders, and humanitarian parolees. NC General Statutes already provide for refugees, asylees, and SIVs to establish residency for in-state tuition purposes after a 12-month waiting period. However, humanitarian parolees and others with statuses that are considered "temporary" do not have this option (regardless of how long they have lived in the state). As the U.S. government has used humanitarian parole more often to protect forcibly displaced people in recent years (approximately 628,000 nationwide by the end of January 2024), we have a growing number of people rebuilding their lives in NC who have limited opportunity to pursue higher education because they cannot access in-state tuition and they cannot afford out-of-state tuition rates. Humanitarian parolees are also eligible for federal student aid, and access to in-state tuition rates would represent savings in taxpayer dollars funding these aid programs. Between 2021 and December 2023, our state received nearly 4200 Afghans, the majority of whom are humanitarian parolees. Therefore we are advocating for in-state tuition access for Humanitarian Parolees at NC Community Colleges.

Teacher licensure for internationally trained teachers

One of the biggest systemic barriers that hinders foreign born individuals from fully integrating in their new communities is their inability to use prior skills and certificates to find jobs that match their areas of expertise. While newcomers have a diverse set of skills, certificates, and credentials such as teaching licenses from their home countries, these credentials often go unrecognized in the United States due to state licensing laws. These individuals with international credentials often end up accepting lower-income jobs due to a lack of other alternatives. Our state level efforts seek to work with government officials and other stakeholders to streamline the teacher licensure process for internationally trained teachers to more easily recertify their credentials to teach in NC public schools.

Language access at the NC DMV

Upon arrival to the US, one of the main concerns for newcomers is learning to drive, obtaining their driver’s license, and purchasing a vehicle. The process of learning to drive is one that is crucial to the successful integration of newcomers in the US. Despite the diversity that exists and continues to grow within the North Carolina immigrant population the North Carolina DMV provides the knowledge test in only nine languages including English, Spanish, German, Russian, Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and Vietnamese (with varying access to phone interpretation services) and the study materials in only three languages: English, Spanish, and Arabic. Due to language limitations, many newcomers in NC are oftentimes unable to pass their DMV knowledge test and/or do not have a comprehensive knowledge of the rules and regulations for driving in NC. Knowing that learning to drive is imperative for newcomers in promoting community involvement and lessening social isolation and securing employment we are focusing efforts on expanding language access at the DMV to include languages such as Dari, Pashto, Swahili, and French that reflect the growing population of individuals that speak these languages and are being resettled in NC.