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During these unprecedented times, Florida communities, stretching from Tallahassee to Miami, continue supporting refugees, survivors of human trafficking and immigrant youth. It takes all of us—volunteers, clients, donors, employees and community partners—to maintain our 60-year legacy of welcoming and uplifting the voices of our resilient clients.

The ̽»¨¾«Ñ¡ in Missoula recently celebrated volunteer appreciation week, which occurs annually during the last week of April. The ̽»¨¾«Ñ¡ is grateful to have a dedicated team of volunteers who support New Americans in accessing employment, health care, housing, and more. We're pleased to highlight the work of 4 incredible volunteers who strive to do the work of welcoming everyday. 

In September 2021, Suzy Stutzman of Golden Optimists reached out to the ̽»¨¾«Ñ¡ in Denver, offering refurbished bicycles to refugees. Golden Optimists, a volunteer-run non-profit in Golden, Colorado, has been transforming donated bikes into sustainable transportation for those in need for over 35 years. During the pandemic, they pivoted to support incoming refugees, including many from Afghanistan. This partnership has provided over 100 bikes to ̽»¨¾«Ñ¡ Denver clients, enhancing their mobility and integration into the community. The collaboration highlights the profound impact of community support and the ongoing need for volunteers to sustain these efforts.

The ̽»¨¾«Ñ¡ in Denver's Youth Team staff, interns and volunteers facilitates fields trips for clients to Colorado parks all over the front range. The program was funded and supported by Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW), with the goal to enable immigrant and refugee families and their children to explore the beautiful outdoors of our Colorado mountains.

The Syrian crisis has led to an influx of more than 1.2 million refugees into Lebanon, creating severe economic, political and social strains. To better understand the effect of these strains on employers this report seeks to identify how to support the private sector to buffer the impact of the Syrian crisis on host countries and on refugees living there.