Our Mission Refugee Congress is a nonpartisan advocacy organization built and led by former refugees, asylum seekers, and other vulnerable migrants to promote the well-being, integration, and dignity of all vulnerable migrants. With Delegates across 50 states and the District of Columbia, we use our voices and experiences to inform and influence decision-makers on critical domestic and international issues that affect our communities. We do this by: - Working with refugee, asylum seeker, and vulnerable migrant communities in each state to gather information about their concerns, needs, barriers, and successes; we then bring these perspectives to our national partners. - Partnering with government agencies, elected officials, service providers, and nonprofit organizations at local, state, national and international levels to craft policies and programs that promote the well-being, integration, and dignity for refugees, asylees and vulnerable migrants. - Promoting information sharing to increase understanding of current issues and trends that affect our communities, and to identify solutions. - Increasing awareness about who we are, why we are here, and what we contribute to our local communities and the larger society.
External link for Refugee Congress
WASHINGTON, DC 20005, US
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It's not too late! We just EXTENDED the deadline for session proposals for the 2025 Welcoming Interactive in Detroit, Michigan. If you're passionate about inclusive communities and looking for ways to share your work with new and like-minded audiences, submit a proposal by October 28 👉 https://lnkd.in/er2y9v3H
Adam Sadda, Refugee Congress Delegate for North Carolina and #RefugeeStorytellersCollective member, shared his story, the importance of the U.S. refugee resettlement program & the need to #ProtectRefuge. Read his op-ed in The Daily Reflector: https://lnkd.in/eyk4U2Sf
Adam Sadda, a Refugee Congress Delegate & #RefugeeStorytellersCollective member, shares his story, the importance of the U.S. refugee resettlement program & the need to #ProtectRefuge. Read his powerful words👇 https://lnkd.in/eyk4U2Sf
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On September 26, R-SEAT, in collaboration with Refugees International and the US Refugee Advisory Board, hosted a High-Level Reception during the 79th United Nations General Assembly. Our panel discussion, “Refugees: At Risk or a Risk?”, brought together global leaders, diplomats, and advocates to engage in candid and thought-provoking conversations about refugee leadership, inclusive policies, and the challenges of misinformation. A heartfelt thank you to our partners, speakers, and attendees for making this event a success! You can find all the event pictures here: https://lnkd.in/enyUiWpP #RSEAT #Refugees #UNGA Bob Rae Julieta Valls Noyes Kelly T. Clements Raed Alsaleh Tawakkol Karman IKEA Foundation Conrad N. Hilton Foundation Open Society Foundations Robert Bosch Stiftung
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Today, USA for UNHCR's innovation lab, The Hive, hosted it's annual #Innovate4Refugees forum! Technologists, corporate sector partners, philanthropists and academics came together to exchange ideas about humanitarian technology innovations and data science solutions for refugees. Speakers and panelists included representatives from UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, and other organizations working with refugees on the ground, who shared about challenges and opportunities to use data and tech innovations to meet the moment. We would like to extend a huge thank you to our sponsors at GitHub and VeroSkills and our amazing hosts at Accenture for making today possible.
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Last week at the United Nations🇺🇳General Assembly was deeply emotional. The sessions offered a platform for reflecting on the progress we’ve made, while reminding us of the immense challenges still unfolding, particularly in the Middle East—my home region. Each day, I balanced personal calls with my #mother, where we shared tears over the growing crisis, with the need to represent both the hope and the hardships of displaced communities like mine. In a world marked by political upheaval and unprecedented displacement, the challenges can feel overwhelming. Yet, this week offered hope through grassroots movements connecting with global institutions, reminding us that progress lies in linking the local to the global and mobilizing leaders at every level. For many, especially in conflict zones like the Middle East, hope is a lifeline. Each meeting reinforced our duty to prevent crises, amplify impacted voices, and include others. The week kicked off with “A Pathway to Welcome,” an event hosted by Community Sponsorship Hub in partnership with the The Global Refugee Sponsorship Initiative (GRSI) and the Mayors Migration Council, where Afghan refugee artwork and sponsors stories were elevated on a global stage. We later joined the Aurora Prize to celebrate humanitarian efforts, with a moving performance by Aloe Blacc and powerful words from inspiring leaders like Armine Afeyan, Assistant secretary Julieta Valls Noyes, Annie Nolte-Henning, and Becca Heller. A milestone moment was celebrating Welcome Corps_over 100,000 #Americans have joined in under two years. I had the honor of discussing this at the Concordia Summit with Deputy High Commissioner for Refugees Kelly T. Clements and Kate Brick of the The Refugee Advocacy Lab, and emplfying the stories of welcome at the Clinton Global Initiative. As a co-founding member of the United States Refugee Advisory Board (#USRAB), I’m proud of the partnerships we’ve built, including this event during #UNGA week with Refugees International and Refugees SEAT featuring voices like Raed El Saleh of the The White Helmets and #Nobellaureate Tawakkol Karman. I attended several high-level private events hosted by organizations such as IOM - UN Migration, UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, and Pathways International, These gatherings reinforced the importance of ensuring displaced voices and Welcomers are part of these discussions. Their insights are crucial for shaping policies that impact our communities. This week reminded me that #hope isn’t just a sentiment—it’s a responsibility and a call to action to #LeavingNoOneBehind.
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Pathways to Welcome: Learning from Community Sponsorship in NYC. An unforgettable morning at #AffirmationArts, where community leaders, advocates, and Welcomers came together to celebrate the power of community sponsorship in refugee resettlement. We shared moving stories, admired stunning art by Afghan refugees, and kicked off #UNGA week surrounded by NYC’s most inspiring views. Grateful to our Community Sponsorship Hub partners The Global Refugee Sponsorship Initiative (GRSI), Mayors Migration Council, Sister for Services, and Affirmation Arts and to leaders like Malia Carson, Jenn Hassin, Beyza B., Dennis Santella, Jennifer Carter, and Karla Nagy, who made this event possible. Special thanks to the speakers shaping and expanding the future of welcoming work locally, nationally and globally: Samer Saliba (MMC) & Jeremy Haldeman (CSH) Betsy MacLean (City of New York), Saul Austerlitz & Craig Lemley (Welcome Corps’s sponsors), Giulio Di Blasi ( GRSI), Amanda Mansour (NSC), Larry Tobin (Shapiro Foundation), Gregory A. Maniatis (Open Society Foundations), and Malia Carson (Sisters of Service). If you’d like to support Afghan refugee art 🖼️, reach out to Malia Carson. #RefugeesWelcome #PathwaystoWelcome #CommunitySponsorship #UNGA #Welcomers
The Refugee Advocacy Lab is proud to work with partners who are countering false, harmful rhetoric. Here are some resources on ways the Lab community nationwide can respond – by elevating local voices and stories; re-sharing critical messages that highlight the truth about immigrants and refugees in Ohio; and supporting local organizations who are welcoming newcomers.
Refugees International / Refugee Advocacy Lab | Aspen Strategy Group Rising Leader, '21 | UNC '13
Proud to have played a role in putting this effort together. "The Lab is proud to work with partners who are countering false, harmful rhetoric, and we want to share some resources on ways the Lab community nationwide can respond – by elevating local voices and stories; re-sharing critical messages that highlight the truth about immigrants and refugees in Ohio; and supporting local organizations who are welcoming newcomers." https://lnkd.in/dxcyJ6QW
Wonderful work by our Washington Delegate Tshishiku Henry in organizing the first annual Refugees and Immigrants Festival in Kent, Washington. Wide World For Refugee, USA for UNHCR, Nicholas Feeney (photo credit)
Congrats to Tshishiku Henry for staging the first annual Refugees and Immigrants Festival in Kent, Washington on Saturday. Here are a few snaps from the day. As you can see, the weather cooperated :) Refugee Congress USA for UNHCR
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As a pastor’s kid, it was a privilege to moderate the interfaith panel, “Faith in Action” hosted by USA for UNHCR last Thursday on the sidelines of #UNGA79. A big thank you to all the panelists for an enriching, candid, and insightful discussion. After the panel, I had the opportunity to join colleagues from the U.S. Refugee Advisory Board, Refugees SEAT and Refugees International who hosted a panel discussion, “Refugees: At Risk or a Risk?" Another candid discussion on refugee inclusion and misinformation. Two key takeaways from this year’s #UNGA week: leadership thrives through partnership, and meaningful refugee participation is essential for creating sustainable solutions.
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There is still time to register for the next installment of our #INTLCXN series on September 25th at 12:00 pm. The panel discussion will feature members of various refugee and immigrant supporting organizations in Indiana and focus on their global efforts. Moderated by Indianapolis immigration attorney Ritu Chokshi, this webinar will feature the insights of individuals from: - Christina Arrom Garza, J.D. (Immigrant Welcome Center) - Jericho Jones (Exodus Refugee Immigration) - Gabrielle Neal, MSW (Catholic Charities Indianapolis) - Ally Ntumba, MBA (Patchwork Indy) - Ryan Schultheis, JD (Welcome Corps) If you are interested in joining us please register here: https://lnkd.in/gbrwPbNU If you have any questions please contact Dr. Kristie Johnson by e-mail at kjohnson@internationalcenter.org.