The IRC provides opportunities for refugees and immigrants to thrive in Dallas, Texas.
Operating as usual
There is still time to help! You can still donate to the food drive and help refugee families. Refugees are still in need of food and household supplies, even after Ramadan ends. Your small contribution will make the biggest difference.
Thank you to all who donated and participated in the food drive thus far! We appreciate you!
Please contact [email protected] or [email protected] to coordinate your donation and or contribution to our refugee families.
Last Wednesday April 20th, our Dallas Development Team visited the International Leadership of Texas, in North Richland Hills, to speak at their international festival.
The Development Director, Brianna Kelley, led an insightful presentation about the IRC to about 450 Middle School students.
In the presentation, Brianna explained the origins of the IRC and its’ development; she also described the process refugees go through when they arrive in the United States and how the IRC assists them through our programs as well as how we help with resettlement.
Student listened intently and were fueled with questions after the presentation.
One student asked, “Do you have child refugees separated from their families?”
Another student asked, “How many refugees have you helped in Texas?”
A special thanks to the AL Math teacher, Ms. Will, for inviting us to speak and giving us an amazing opportunity and platform to educate these students about the work we do at the IRC.
Please contact [email protected] for more information.
To volunteer with the IRC click this link! https://www.rescue.org/volunteer-opportunities/dallas-tx
To donate click here: https://help.rescue.org/donate/us-dallas-tx
Happy Earth Day IRC Friends,
The International Rescue Committee is dedicated to helping communities respond to the changing climate. The IRC partners with organizations to promote changes to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and advocates to lessen the effects of climate change, especially those with fewer resources. The IRC houses a climate action plan geared to reduce our own carbon footprint.
200 million people in the world could be displaced by climate by 2050 if no change is made. Many people in the countries we assist are uprooted from their homes and end up facing famine due to climate change. We will continue to call upon our leaders and donors to work to reach our climate goals, reduce carbon emissions, and help restore nature.
Support our work at the IRC today by donating to help refugees, asylum seekers, and other vulnerable people worldwide who are not only displaced but are also facing the threats and effects of climate change.
https://help.rescue.org/donate/us-dallas-tx
Happy National Volunteer Week everyone! This year National Volunteer Week runs from April 17th-23rd. We are so beyond thrilled to highlight a very special volunteer, Barbara Keeler!
Barbara’s journey at IRC started while volunteering as a grant evaluator for the Dallas Women’s Foundation. After coming across a proposal from the IRC, Barbara was intrigued.
“I reviewed a proposal from IRC Dallas to rent an apartment to be used during the day as a gathering place for women and in the evenings as a place to tutor students,” she said. “The interviews and site visits as part of the grant review process provided an overview of IRC and I was hooked.”
Barbara instantly grew to respect and admire the work IRC does saying she was impressed by the commitment of staff and volunteers and the philosophy of the organization.
She started volunteering at the IRC in 2002 and has been a part of the family since then. Some of her work includes mentoring refugees, serving on the first Women and Youth advisory council, organizing clothing drives, and helping assist with events and photography.
Since 2016 Barbara primarily works with mentor placements, event photography, and donations. She has been with the IRC through thick and thin.
“During the height of the pandemic, I came into the office to initialize and deliver scores of donated laptops,” she said. “I also helped the youth coordinator organize last year’s gift baskets for the high school graduates.”
Barbara also loves working with our New Roots program volunteering to help sell produce from refugee gardens at local farmers markets. She has also helped deliver food donations from donors to the Dallas office a few times.
In the last few months Barbara has been an all-star, transporting youth to events and IRC program activities. She has been a constant asset for the IRC Dallas office, and we are so grateful.
“The bottom line is that I’m just sort of a hit-&-run volunteer, working when I’m in town and available on an ‘on-call’ basis!”
Thank you, Barbara, for your outstanding work as a volunteer. It is because of our volunteers, like you, that we can continue the work we are doing, helping refugees rebuild and resettle.
Hello IRC friends! As we continue our Ramadan Food Drive, we want to emphasize the importance of educating others about why Muslims fast during Ramadan.
Ramadan consists of a month of fasting and time to practice self-restraint. Sawm (Arabic: “to refrain”) is one of the pillars of Islam.
For billions of Muslims around the world, the month of Ramadan is a time of reflection, reverence, fasting, prayer, patience, and charity. In this month, Muslims fast, or abstain from eating or drinking from dawn until sunset. After the sun sets, Muslims break their fast with a meal called, iftar.
It is important to note, most of our clients are celebrating away from their home and loved ones this year. Join us in this food drive as we donate items so that families can celebrate in warmth. Let’s make their Ramadan special.
Check out the Amazon Wishlist to find more items to donate. https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/3BLZ2VVE97NSN?ref_=wl_share
Just a quick update!
Are you a physician or mental health provider licensed in Texas? Click this link, www.EvaluationAlliance.org, to learn more about leveraging your expertise to support asylum-seekers and unaccompanied children rebuilding their lives in safety in the U.S.
Last year, the International Rescue Committee established a project called the Evaluation Alliance for Human Rights.
EAHR was created to recruit and train volunteer physicians and mental health professionals to assist in providing free medical and psychological evaluations for those seeking asylum and other humanitarian immigration relief. EAHR addresses the critical need for evaluation services representing a wide range of communities and areas of expertise within the field of medicine, mental health, and immigration law.
EAHR stands firm on the belief that medical and mental health evaluations can greatly impact and improve humanitarian relief claims. In many cases, asylum seekers’ testimony is their only evidence for supporting a strong claim. It is found that on average, evaluations more than double the likelihood of winning an asylum case for immigrant survivors.
Research shows that approximately 1 in 10 asylum-seekers without access to an attorney or evaluations are granted asylum, while 9 in 10 with attorney representation and an evaluation are granted asylum.
These medical and mental health evaluations provide impactful support for humanitarian relief claims. The evaluations document and weigh the impact of traumas from those fleeing persecution, in search of protection.
We are actively recruiting and training volunteer evaluators to grow our program's capacity to meet the high demand for evaluations in our community- and best of all- the trainings are all free.
We have an upcoming training on Saturday, April 30th for mental health professionals and more trainings soon to be announced!
For more information, please contact program coordinator, Madeline Ewbank by email at [email protected]
April 18th is quickly approaching! If you haven't filed your taxes yet and you need help, stop by the IRC and get help through our tax service, VITA. VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance), works with clients to provide free preparation and filing services. It's easy and stress free. Contact our VITA coordinator Megan Swanson or call the office for more information and details! Click this link to set up an appointment! https://forms.gle/MBm8MjGYTVsqF7P27
Tax day is approaching! April 18th is the last day to file your taxes! If you need assistance, VITA can help!
VITA is working through the IRC Dallas to provide free tax prep and filing services.
Check our post below for details or click this link to sign up for an appointment!
https://forms.gle/MBm8MjGYTVsqF7P27
Ramadan Mubarak to all who celebrate!
Today marks the first day of Ramadan 2022. We are thrilled to be celebrating this holiday with our clients who celebrate. As many of you know, many of the refugees we work with are from Afghanistan and also identify as Muslim. It is important to us at the IRC to embrace the importance of this holiday with clients and their families.
In conjunction with the New Roots food security program, we are launching a Ramadan Food Drive throughout all of April.
Here is the minimum food list we are kindly requesting:
• Dates
• Rice
• Beans (kidney beans)
• Flat breads
• Milk
• Meat (Halal chicken or beef)
• Eggs
*Please note that not all these items need to be provided. When possible, please provide at least rice-based food dishes, halal meat, dates, sweet drinks and culturally appropriate bread.
To see our Amazon Wishlist full of more items you can purchase and donate, click here https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/3BLZ2VVE97NSN?ref_=wl_share
Please contact [email protected] to see how you can help!
Thank you, again, from the IRC Dallas for being a wonderful asset in helping those in need rebuild and recover.
6500 Greenville Ave, Suite 500
Dallas, TX
75206
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| Tuesday | 8:30am - 4:30pm |
| Wednesday | 8:30am - 4:30pm |
| Thursday | 8:30am - 4:30pm |
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In the six weeks since we have been distributing goods to the community during the COVID-19 crisis, we have had 250 donation pick-ups and deliveries helping over 100 families and individuals with the support of fourteen community partners. Watch the video of our New Roots Coordinator, Isabella, working tirelessly to help refugees in our neighborhood. This #GivingTuesdayNow, continue to help some of the most vulnerable people find safety and a new life in America. Donate on Facebook or https://help.rescue.org/donate/us-dallas-tx
In our ongoing series #YouthVoices, Talaka Paw, a former client and intern shares a video of about the worth of the natural world and how we treat it. While living in a Thai refugee camp for 7 years, the forest was a way for him to escape from stress, and it brought him joy when he was feeling down. In the last few years and through his recent time with Groundwork Dallas he has gotten back in touch with his beloved forests. He reminds us "the forest is important and we should try our best to keep it healthy."
Last year we introduced you to Tolassaa, a newly-resettled former competitive runner and Ethiopian Oromo refugee who, with the help of International Rescue Committee and friends in Dallas, was able to run the TCS New York City Marathon. Andrew Quinton Holzschuh's film follows Tolassa’s first year in America and his ambition to reclaim his dream of competing. Through his pursuit he finds more than just a race. He finds community in his new city. The film will be shown at the Austin Film Festival October 29th. More details can be found here: https://2019austinfilmfestivalconfe.sched.com/event/Vfhm/hes-still-fast The film will also be shown closer to home at the Lone Star Film Festival in Fort Worth in November and further from home at the Justice Film Festival in NYC in November. More details to come.
Watch the Robing Ceremony with the International Rescue Committee in Dallas live now!
Watch the trailer for I Am Not A Weapon, the film and photo series chronicling the experiences of nine young girls who were kidnapped by Boko Haram, and explores their power and potential to overcome and thrive. See the whole exhibit at the GenR: Dallas Force For Change on June 20th. More information below. http://www.cvent.com/events/genr-dallas-force-for-change-i-am-not-a-weapon-exhibition/event-summary-2fc36295bbaa4e9eac5e189c1f4bcd7c.aspx
Did you know you can donate directly to the International Rescue Committee in Dallas via Facebook? It's quick and easy, watch this 30 second tutorial and celebrate #GivingTuesday by showing the donate button some love.
Did you catch us this morning on News 8 Daybreak? We've been going all day. We're determined to make the most of North Texas Giving Day! It's not too late to give! Make your gift to the International Rescue Committee in Texas before midnight! #NTXGivingDay #refugeeswelcome #standwithrefugess #IAMUP
Here, at the International Rescue Committee in Texas, we welcome refugees to North Texas. Stand alongside us and donate with matched funds on @North Texas Giving Day! #NTXGivingDay Click here to give: https://bit.ly/2PMCepB
We were at Victory Plaza this morning with the Communities Foundation of Texas to kick off North Texas Giving Day! Thanks to News 8 Daybreak for hosting! #NTXGivingDay #IAMUP #RefugeesWelcome
Here, at the IRC in Dallas, we welcome refugees to North Texas. Stand alongside us and donate with matched funds on North Texas Giving Day! #NTXGivingDay Click here to give: https://bit.ly/2PMCepB
Here, at the IRC in Dallas, we welcome refugees to North Texas. Stand alongside us and donate with matched funds on North Texas Giving Day! Click here to give: https://bit.ly/2PMCepB
Finishing out our morning at WFAA Studios @ Victory Park with News 8 Daybreak! We are so grateful to Communities Foundation of Texas for bringing local non-profits together! Give today to the IRC in Dallas!
GIVING IS LIVE! North Texas Giving Day is HERE! Donate now to the IRC in Dallas!
BREAKING NEWS: The U.S. Administration has announced its intention to lower the annual refugee admissions to 30,000 in FY2019 – a 33% drop from 2018’s record-low ceiling of 45,000. The administration’s departure from history sets a dangerous precedent at a time of great global crisis. Our statement: https://www.rescue.org/press-release/us-administration-announces-intention-cut-refugee-cap-again-humanitarian-needs-grow?edme=true
North Texas Giving Day is on September 20th, mark your calendars to give to the International Rescue Committee in Texas and follow along with us. Here, we give.
In March we introduced you to Tolassa, a former competitive runner and Ethiopian Oromo refugee who ran his first race in America. Now, the International Rescue Committee in Texas and TeamTolassa are trying to send him to the TCS New York City Marathon! Watch the video below and contact us to see how you can be part of #TeamTolassa! Special thanks to Andrew Holzschuh for making this awesome video.
July 15th was our fearless leader’s birthday. Happy Birthday, David Miliband, from the IRC in Dallas!
Senior Graduation and Robing Ceremony with IRC Dallas.
It’s here! Give today to support the continuation of the youth program in Abilene! https://abilenegives.org/designee/international-rescue-committee
#AbileneGives
#AbileneGives is 10 days away! We're counting on the generosity of our fellow Texans to help us continue the IRC in Abilene's youth program. Advanced giving opportunities start on April 24th at 12:00PM (that's on Tuesday!). We hope you join us and the Community Foundation of Abilene for this opportunity to #GiveWhereYouLive and keep #RefugeesWelcome in Abilene! Give at: https://abilenegives.org/designee/international-rescue-committee Take a closer look at: https://www.rescue.org/announcement/abilene-gives-and-refugee-youth
Last year for #AbileneGives with Community Foundation of Abilene Claudine's story inspired our generous supporters to raise over $2,000 for Abilene's youth program. With the generosity of the Dodge Jones Foundation, the program was fully funded for an entire year. This year, we're setting a higher goal to see the continuation of this program funded solely through #AbileneGives. Take a minute to hear a litle bit of Claudine's story from last year, and mark your calendars to GIVE to the International Rescue Committee in Abilene on May 1st!
Watch this 60 Second Spotlight on Youth Programming in Abilene! Lara and Pascaline want you to mark your calendars for May 1st to give to the continuation of this key program. #AbileneGives Learn more!: https://abilenegives.org/designee/international-rescue-committee
It is with a heavy heart the IRC in Texas is bidding farewell to our Executive Director, Donna Duvin. Donna has been our fearless leader in Dallas since February 2015. She saw the office through unprecedented times in 2015 when Governor Abbot sued the IRC in Dallas to stop the resettlement of our Syrian refugees, and through all the recent administration's Executive Orders. Over and over again, she took a stand on principal, ethics, and a commitment to our clients to ensure that refugees are welcome in Texas. Under her leadership, we resettled and served over 3,000 refugees. We added the Mental Health department, expanded Economic Empowerment, and createde the Dallas Refugee Advocacy Network. Though she is departing Dallas, she is not leaving the IRC and we wish her well as the new Executive Director at the International Rescue Committee in San Diego! Enjoy the pictures and videos from her Texas send-off on Thursday.
Join us in remembering our World Refugee Day celebration back in June at Northwest Community Center! Though we are disappointed that the United States will only admit 45,000 refugees next year, we will use the dancing and smiling faces of refugees from all over the world to keep us motivated moving forward. Our work is not over and we hope the Dallas community will keep advocating for our refugee families! Thank you to Refugee Services of Texas - Dallas, Catholic Charities Dallas, and Mosaic Family Services for an awesome collaborative event! #StandWithRefugees Video by: Thomas Saldana
Starting TODAY you can schedule your North Texas Giving Day gift! Your gift will go a long way to helping families like this one thrive in North Texas. Click here to schedule your gift: http://bit.ly/2depvg4 "At school, we don't feel like we are different. We're all accepted and part of the community." This is what TEXAS is all about! #StandWithRefugees #NTXGivingDay
Dance party! #StandWithRefugees
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