Help Refugee Families Stay Safe and Secure – Your Support is Urgently Needed

Dear Friend,

I hope this message finds you well. Today, I’m reaching out to share the story of a family that exemplifies both the incredible resilience and the urgent challenges faced by legally resettled refugees in our community.

Just before Christmas, John, Esther, and their three children arrived in Birmingham, Alabama, after spending a decade in a refugee camp. Thanks to Inspiritus, they were warmly welcomed, moved into their new apartment, and have begun rebuilding their lives.

John found an entry-level job and is working hard to support his family, but they are not yet self-sufficient—Esther is still searching for work, and their expenses are outpacing their limited income. With three young children to care for, the challenges of adjusting to a new country, and rising living costs, they are doing everything they can to make ends meet.

But now, an unexpected crisis is threatening their fragile new start.

A sudden freeze in government funding has cut off the rent assistance, food support, and case management services they were counting on to bridge the gap in these first critical months. Without immediate action, John and Esther are at risk of losing their home—just as they are starting to find their footing.

This is not just a policy issue—it’s a humanitarian crisis happening right now in our own community. Families who have already survived so much are now facing eviction, hunger, and uncertainty all over again.

BUT YOU CAN CHANGE THAT:

Your gift today will provide emergency support to keep John, Esther, and families like theirs housed, fed, and supported while Esther continues her job search. Every dollar makes an immediate impact:

• $100 provides a week’s worth of groceries for a family.

• $250 keeps the lights on and covers transportation to work and school.

• $1,200 prevents a family from losing their home.

We can’t do this alone. Your generosity is the lifeline these families need to make it through this difficult time.

Please consider donating today to ensure families like John and Esther’s are not left behind. Together, we can make a difference.

Thank you for your compassion and your support during this critical moment.

Sincerely,

Aimee Zangandou
Executive Director
Inspiritus Refugee & Immigrant Services

P.S. If you have any questions about how your donation will be used or how you can get involved, please don’t hesitate to reach out.

The Need Has Never Been Greater—Join Us for the Hunger Walk

Dear Friend,

For over 40 years, Inspiritus has helped refugees build new lives, providing food, housing, and job support to families seeking safety and opportunity. But today, we face an unprecedented crisis. 

Recent federal policy changes have eliminated financial support for refugee resettlement agencies like ours, putting thousands of newly arrived families at risk of hunger and food insecurity. We cannot let that happen. 

On Sunday, March 9, 2025, you can make a direct impact by joining us for the Atlanta Community Food Bank Hunger Walk/Run at The Home Depot Backyard. This 5K event raises critical funds for hunger relief, and when you walk or run in support of Inspiritus, a portion of the proceeds will go directly to our efforts—helping provide essential food assistance to the refugees and immigrants we serve in the Greater Atlanta area. This year, the need is more urgent than ever. 

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How You Can Help: 

• Register to Walk or Run – Every step you take helps fight hunger. 

• Start or Join a Team – Rally your community to support refugee and immigrant families facing food insecurity. 

• Donate – If you can’t participate, a direct gift will provide meals and hunger relief to those in need. 

This year, your support isn’t just important—it’s lifesaving. We are counting on you. 

With gratitude,

Mary Armstrong-Reiner
Hunger Walk Coordinator
Inspiritus

Urgent: Refugees Need Your Help!

Dear Friend,

You may have heard that some federal funding impacting nonprofits has been lifted. Unfortunately, the primary source of federal government to support refugee families invited to the US remains frozen. Refugee families still need your help. Now, more than ever, your support is essential in ensuring that newly arrived families have the resources they need to thrive: weinspirit.org/donate

Ever since WWII the US government has invited certain families who have endured the most horrific atrocities in their home countries to start a new life in America. When families enroll in the US refugee program the federal government makes a promise to support them financially for a mere 6 months. They then entrust them and their arduous journey toward self sufficiency and citizenship to organizations like Inspiritus.

Inspiritus treats each opportunity to serve these families as an honor, a sacred vow and an act of patriotism. Why? Because we love America and we’re proud to help them realize their own version of our American dream. You can imagine our shock and dismay when we learned this week that our government, in a move never seen before, has reneged on these promises to our community’s newest and most vulnerable neighbors. These specially invited families are left out in the cold. This is not the American welcome that was promised. 

Read the full article from the Saporta Report by clicking the button below:

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We cannot do this without you. Your generosity today can make a life-changing difference for those who need us most.

If you have already given, thank you for your generosity and compassion. If you haven't yet, please prayerfully consider making a contribution to Inspiritus today by visiting weinspirit.org/donate or by clicking the button below:

Sincerely,

Rev. John R. Moeller, Jr.
Chief Executive Officer
Inspiritus

URGENT: Federal Funding Freeze

Dear Friend,

At 5 PM, federal funding for nonprofits across the U.S. will cease, halting critical support for millions of vulnerable Americans.

Inspiritus, like so many other organizations, is part of the safety net that protects children and individuals from the devastating impacts of poverty, illness, tragedy, and homelessness. Without federal funding, the work we do to support those in need is at risk.

Today’s funding freeze will be devastating for vulnerable and low-income Americans in the months ahead. By ceasing the funding of charities across the U.S., the government is suspending funding for its portion of the American safety net. I plead with you to prayerfully give BIG today to help nonprofits like ours keep serving the most vulnerable during these difficult days.

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We cannot do this without you. Your generosity today can make a life-changing difference for those who need us most. Please prayerfully consider making a contribution to Inspiritus today by visiting weinspirit.org/donate or by clicking the button below:

Sincerely,

Rev. John R. Moeller Jr.
Chief Executive Officer
Inspiritus

Stand With Refugees: Your Support is Urgently Needed

Dear Friend and Supporter,

For over four decades, Inspiritus has stood as a lifeline for refugees in the Southeastern United States, helping families rebuild their lives in a new country after fleeing unimaginable hardship. Through our programs, we’ve resettled thousands of refugees, offering them not only a safe haven but also the support needed to integrate into their new communities with dignity and hope.

However, this past Friday, a devastating decision was made by the U.S. government to cease financial support for refugee resettlement agencies like ours. This means that, effective immediately, we no longer have the critical resources to provide the necessary services to those who have already legally arrived and are working to establish a new life here.

As we face this unprecedented challenge, the need for support has never been greater. The cessation of federal funding threatens to leave vulnerable refugee families without the means to secure basic necessities like housing, food, and employment. Without your help, these families are at risk of homelessness, hunger, and overwhelming despair.

That is why we turn to you today, asking for your generous support to help us continue this vital work. Your donation will provide:

• Rent Assistance to help refugees stay in their homes and avoid eviction.

• Food Security to ensure that these families do not go hungry as they work to establish themselves.

• Employment Placement Assistance to help refugees find meaningful work and begin contributing to their new communities.

No gift is too small, and every contribution makes a tangible difference in the lives of those who are counting on us. We cannot do this work without you, and we deeply appreciate your support during this critical time.

As we face uncertainty in the months ahead, our commitment to those in need remains unwavering. We will continue to stand with refugees, but we cannot do it alone. Together, we can ensure that refugees in the Southeast not only survive but thrive in their new homes.

 Thank you for your compassion and generosity.

With gratitude,

Rev. John R. Moeller, Jr.
Chief Executive Officer
Inspiritus

Urgent Support Needed for Recently Arrived Refugee Families

Dear Friend,

I hope this message finds you well. My name is Aimee Zangandou, and I have the privilege of serving as the Executive Director of Inspiritus Refugee & Immigrant Services. For over four decades, Inspiritus has been dedicated to resettling refugees across the Southeastern United States, offering them a fresh start and the vital resources they need to rebuild their lives.

Today, I write to you with a heavy heart, as we are facing an urgent and unprecedented challenge. As of this past Friday, the U.S. government has issued a directive that forces agencies like ours to cease assisting refugees who have recently lawfully arrived in the country. This policy change affects over 500 individuals in our care, including families who are already in the midst of rebuilding their lives in our community.

Among these families is Josef and Sara, who arrived with their three young children only last month. After years of hardship, they were finally able to settle into an apartment in Clarkston, Georgia. Their children were starting to adjust to life here, experiencing stability for the first time, even playing with new friends at the local park. But now, because of this policy change, they face the unimaginable fear of losing everything again—housing, food, and the support needed to build a brighter future for their children.

That’s where you come in. With the support of generous individuals like you, Inspiritus can help these families, including Josef and Sara, achieve stability and self-sufficiency. In the next few months, we are working to provide essential resources, but we can’t do this alone. Your donation today can make a world of difference in the lives of these refugees, helping them transition from surviving to thriving in their new home.

I humbly ask you to consider making a financial contribution to our program at this critical time. Your donation will directly fund housing, food assistance, job placement services, and so much more. Together, we can ensure that Josef, Sara, and hundreds of other refugees like them do not fall through the cracks.

To donate, please visit weinspirit.org/donate, or click the button below.

 Thank you for your generosity and for your unwavering support of those who need it most.

Warm regards,

Aimee Zangandou
Executive Director
Inspiritus Refugee & Immigrant Services

Refugee Program Updates

Dear Friend, 

Thank you for your ongoing support of Inspiritus and those we accompany on their paths from surviving to thriving. 

Because people like you care...

We regret to inform you that for the time being, the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program has been suspended.

Inspiritus remains committed to supporting those already resettled. This vital work continues through the generosity of local churches, community members, and dedicated volunteers.

We also stand united in advocating for the program's swift resumption. Refugees enrich our communities, strengthen our economy, and remind us of what it means to stand with those in need. Join us in speaking out and standing up for refugees. 

Global Refuge, formerly Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Services, is our partner in the work of refugee resettlement. To read the latest update from Global Refuge, please click here.

Recently, we were honored to be featured in the Christian Science Monitor. Please click the button below to read more about the Refugee Resettlement program in the United States.

Thanks to supporters like you, thousands of individuals each year are accompanied on their journeys from surviving to thriving. Please consider a donation today to help us continue to empower refugees, asylum seekers, and immigrants.

Sincerely,

Aimee Zangandou
Executive Director of Refugee & Immigrant Services
Inspiritus

Christian Science Monitor Features Inspiritus Refugee Story

Dear Friends,

Inspiritus is proud to share the inspiring story of Raga, featured in the Christian Science Monitor. Originally from Sudan, Raga endured years of hardship in a refugee camp in Darfur and later in Jordan before being resettled with her husband and two young daughters in Alabama in 2022. Since their arrival, Inspiritus has been by their side every step of the way, providing crucial support in securing housing, integrating into their new community, and connecting them with vital resources. Through the dedication of our volunteers and the generosity of supporters like you, Raga and her family have not only found refuge but have also begun to rebuild their lives with newfound hope and resilience. Read Raga’s full story below.

Six immigrant stories tell the promises and pitfalls of the American dream

By Sarah Matusek

Raga always had to hide two decades ago when she was a young woman in Sudan. The Janjaweed militia in her area was known for spreading terror and raping women, so when they passed through she would bury herself under clothes, blankets, or whatever she could find. 

In the early 2000s, she joined countless other Sudanese who fled to an infamous camp for displaced people in Darfur. It offered little shelter from the horrors of war.

Born in 1988, Raga, who asked to use only her first name for privacy, lived in relative peace. Her father hung a swing from a tree. Her mother made orange juice. Without electricity, the moon shone so brightly that children could play games outside at night. They’d toss a coin or a bone, something that would shine, and then see who’d find it fastest on the moon-white ground.

Refugees sit inside a humanitarian truck at the Chad-Sudan border, March 6, 2008, as they await transfer from the border to a refugee camp for people displaced by fighting in Sudan

For a decade she waited in the Zamzam camp in Darfur. For seven more years she waited with her husband in Jordan. They registered with the United Nations as refugees. In 2022, an agency resettled the couple and their two young daughters in the U.S. A place called Alabama. 

They were excited when they first heard. But “when we first came, I wanted to leave,” Raga says in Arabic. She didn’t know anyone, and she was scared. 

With the help of a local resettlement agency, Inspiritus, the refugee couple secured a home and a few months of financial assistance. The nonprofit helped connect her to volunteers, and they grew into something like family, she says. When she and her husband struggled to get to the grocery store, one of their new friends gave them a gift: a used car.

The car guzzles a lot of gas, Raga says. “But we say, ‘Thank God.’” 

The weather in Sudan and Alabama, as it turns out, feels similar. The heat, the heavy rains, the lightning that cracks the sky. All the city lights in the Birmingham suburbs, though, dull the moon glow here. 

She feels happy and safe in the U.S. But once again, Raga finds herself waiting.

Learning English is a long-term goal. She dreams of opening a salon or a restaurant, but she knows that will take time. Her husband works, but their expenses outpace his modest income. She aches for her family members still in Sudan, worrying about their lack of food and medicine. She’s heartbroken that she’s unable to send them money, and that the violence endures. 

Raga finds solace in her Muslim faith. When she used to work at a church-run food pantry, she says her fellow workers didn’t object when she excused herself to pray, which she does faithfully, five times a day. 

“Religion doesn’t have a place or time,” she says. “You can do it anywhere.”

They face struggles, but Raga hopes that she and her husband can build a life in the U.S. that gives their young children a safe place to flourish. “I hope, God willing, I have all the strength to give them anything that they wish for,” Raga says. That includes a good education. 

She plays with her daughters, always addressing them in Arabic, and offers homemade orange juice to guests. The drink is sweet and silken on a warm spring day.

“I thought after being here a few months, I would be able to achieve all my dreams,” she says with a laugh. Two years have passed. “We try as hard as we can to stand on our own feet.” 

Yasmeen Othman contributed Arabic interpretation for Raga’s interview. Ms. Othman works for Inspiritus. 

Read 5 other inspiring stories by viewing the full article HERE.

If you would like to make a contribution to empower refugees on their paths from surviving to thriving, click the button below.

Sincerely,

Virginia Spencer
Chief Development Officer
Inspiritus

Join Inspiritus in Celebrating World Refugee Day!

Dear Friends,

June 20th is World Refugee Day! Since its establishment in 2001, communities across the globe have gathered on this day to recognize the courage and resilience of those who have been forced to flee their home countries, and to similarly celebrate and uplift the social, cultural, and economic contributions they bring to the local communities and countries they now call “home.” We are hosting events commemorating World Refugee Day in Metro Atlanta, Savannah, Birmingham, and Nashville and invite you to join us for a day filled with delicious food, and festivities as we focus our attention to the plight of refugees globally and the importance of welcoming them here locally.

Now more than ever, it is imperative that we show up in support of refugees, asylum seekers, and others who have been displaced from their homes on account of war or persecution and are in need of humanitarian protection. Just this week, the U.S. announced sweeping changes to how we will respond to individuals seeking safety in our country. This disappointing new policy imposes a multitude of new obstacles that greatly restrict the ability of anyone in need of humanitarian protection to claim asylum. Providing safe haven to vulnerable people and welcoming the stranger is not only the right thing to do, it is also a right of anyone in the world to legally exercise.

While World Refugee Day is a day of community, cuisine, and culture, it is also about reaffirming our shared values that transcend differences and speak to our shared humanity. All of our events are taking place between Thursday, June 20th and Sunday, June 23rd and will include music, dance, and other cultural performances along with guest speakers, family activities, and tasty food from the home countries of our refugee and immigrant neighbors. Below you’ll find more details on the specific events happening near you!

Metro Atlanta, Georgia WRD Celebration

DATE: Saturday, June 22nd

TIME:11:00am-2:00pm

LOCATION: Clarkston Community Center, 3701 College Ave, Clarkston, GA 30021

Savannah, Georgia WRD Celebration

DATE: Sunday, June 23rd

TIME: 3:00pm-6:00pm

LOCATION: Lake Mayer Park 1850 East Montgomery Cross RD. Savannah, GA 31406

This event requests that all guests RSVP. To learn more about this event and to register, click here.

Birmingham, Alabama WRD Celebration

DATE: Saturday, June 22nd

TIME:10:00am-2:00pm

LOCATION: Trinity United Methodist, West Campus, 914 Oak Grove Road Birmingham, AL 35209

Nashville, Tennessee WRD Celebration

DATE: Thursday, June 20th

TIME: 6:00-8:00pm

LOCATION: Plaza Mariachi, 3955 Nolensville Pk, Nashville, TN 37211

Thank you for your ongoing commitment to our welcoming work and our larger mission of accompanying refugees on their paths from surviving to thriving. We hope to celebrate with you within the next few weeks!

If you would like to make a contribution to empower refugees, click the button below.

Sincerely,

Inspiritus' Refugee & Immigrant Services Team

Inspiritus Client Featured in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Dear Friends,

Inspiritus is proud to share the inspiring story of Mirwais, featured in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. When Mirwais first arrived in the United States as an Afghan refugee in 2021, our Refugee & Immigrant Services team in Atlanta, GA, was there to support him. A former military officer in Afghanistan, Inspiritus helped him orient to the American workforce through our employment program. Now, Mirwais is using his newfound success to empower other refugees on their paths from surviving to thriving. Atlanta Journal-Constitution reporter, Kelly Yamanouch, recently spoke with Mirwais about the incredible work he is doing to help bridge the divide. Read the full story below.

He fled Afghanistan. Now he helps other refugees find work in Atlanta.

By Kelly Yamanouch

Mirwais Nawab Jalali was a military officer in Afghanistan, assisting the U.S. government there for years in America's longest war, before he left the country in the middle of the night with just some documents and his clothes.

He has a degree in biomedical engineering and other advanced education, and he speaks six languages. But in 2021, after Kabul fell and the U.S. military withdrew from Afghanistan, "I just came and started from zero," Jalali said.

He eventually ended up here in Georgia, with a special immigrant visa for Afghans who supported the U.S. mission in Afghanistan, living in Decatur while using his English language skills to help other refugees, and working in construction.

Later, a friend here who was an old classmate from Afghanistan told Jalali about a job at Unifi, an Atlanta-based aviation contractor. Unifi does ground handling, security, aircraft cabin cleaning and wheelchair assistance at Hartsfield-Jackson International and other airports around the country.

Jalali started working for Unifi in 2023, and now, as a recruiter for the company, he helps hire employees and get them started on the job.

With his deep connections to the Afghan community in metro Atlanta, Jalali is also helping Unifi with its recently announced goal to hire 500 refugees by 2027.

Mirwais Jalali, a recruiter for aviation contractor Unifi, gives new employees a tour of Hartsfield-Jackson Airport, where he helps recruits throughout the company's hiring process. ARVIN TEMKAR/ARVIN.TEMKAR@AJC.COM

'We find a way'

In 2021, President Joe Biden launched an effort to support vulnerable Afghans resettling in the United States, including those who worked alongside Americans in Afghanistan over two decades.

In 2022, Biden announced a process for Ukrainian citizens to come to the United States and be considered for eligibility for work authorization.

In other cities such as Seattle, Unifi is working with a Ukrainian church to reach out to refugees, displaced by Russia's invasion.

In Atlanta, Jalali shares job opportunities with multiple refugee communities in metro Atlanta through WhatsApp groups, and he helps recruits throughout the hiring process, going through background checks to get airport badges, and even arranging carpools to help those without vehicles and driver's licenses get to work.

"When I started, it was very hard to bring a single refugee. But now we find a way," Jalali said.

He said many of the refugees he connects with live in Stone Mountain, Decatur and Clarkston, where the nonprofit Clarkston Community Center offers English as a Second Language classes, connections to legal help for refugees and other services.

Unifi already has hired more than 200 refugees since 2022, particularly at airports in Atlanta, Houston and Seattle.

It is one of more than 200 companies across the country that are members of the Tent Partnership for Refugees to help refugees find jobs in the United States.

They include Delta Air Lines, which is a part-owner of Unifi; Accenture, IHG Hotels & Resorts, UPS, Amazon, Google and others.

"Refugees are looking for jobs. Companies are in short supply," whether it's at a Starbucks or a McDonald's or a Target, said Archana Arcot, Unifi's chief people officer.

The post-pandemic travel surge has motivated Unifi to find more workers and decide to "start having a formal structure to go out and hire refugees," Arcot said.

"Programs like this take a lot more effort to set up (and) establish, but once you have the right structure ... then it creates a multiplier effect," Arcot said. She said the company is trying to build more ecosystems for refugee hiring, such as in Minneapolis.

Refugees have the advantage of coming with eligibility to work in the United States - so the employer doesn't need to sponsor a work visa, Arcot noted.

And airports have long been attractive to "people coming into the country looking for jobs," especially in cities such as Minneapolis, Detroit and in cities in border states such as New York and Seattle, she said. Airports also often have public transit to easily get to work.

Jobs at Unifi and at airlines typically offer flight benefits, which are valuable to those who want to fly back overseas to visit family members.

Airports also tend to have jobs that require physical labor, and where language skills are not as large a barrier, Arcot said. Many of the jobs start at $15 an hour, she said.

"Where you can place them is limited," Arcot said. But she also sees higher retention rates because those workers are "not trying to go and work at three different employers."

Those who speak languages other than English can do well in jobs such as loading snack carts for in-flight catering and janitorial work, especially working on teams together, she said.

Those with English language skills can qualify for customer service roles, according to Arcot.

There may be some restrictions in the kind of work some are comfortable doing, she said. With loading beverage carts, "they may not be comfortable touching liquor," Arcot said. "Knowing the culture and recognizing what in that culture works and where you can assign them work is important."

In Atlanta, Arcot said Jalali is a key part of that strategy as a "high-touch recruiter."

Jalali said with some recruits, they may not speak English, have never used a computer and don't have an email address. He completes applications for them and helps them set up an email address.

"You're making these commitments and investments for the long term," Arcot said.

The long-term goal is for the workers to advance to different jobs, use their language skills and help with "appealing to a multicultural customer passenger base, which will always be the topography of large international airports," she said.

Hogai Nassery, CEO of the Afghan American Alliance of Georgia, said upward mobility is important.

"We have some folks who are pretty well educated and speak pretty good English," Nassery said. "The jobs themselves are great-people need to land on their feet."

She also said, "Whatever they're doing now, I hope it's geared towards jobs that definitely have some legs."

Jobs at the airport, such as with Unifi, are seen as better than work in warehouses, chicken factories and manufacturing plants, said Shaista Amani, program manager at the Afghan American Alliance of Georgia. But she added that workers also need a way to move up, by gaining certified skills such as ServSafe certification for food handling.

But it is difficult for even well-educated Afghan refugees to find professional jobs if they don't have U.S. job experience or personal connections, she said.

Jalali also said he knows some workers who are highly educated and, like when he first arrived, are starting out all over again.

"We have doctors.... We have a minister," Jalali said.

"It's up to you how you want to build your future."

Our 2023 Annual Report is Here!

It’s Here!
Inspiritus' 2023 Annual Report

Dear Friends,

Thanks to your generous support, Inspiritus had the privilege of empowering 11,124 individuals on their journeys from surviving to thriving in 2023! It was a year marked by significant growth, exceptional leadership, and a deepened commitment to our mission.

We are thrilled to share with you our 2023 Annual Report, which provides an in-depth look at our achievements and impact over the past year. Inside, you'll find inspiring stories of resilience, community impact, and transformation. Click the button below to read the full report.

Your ongoing support has been instrumental in helping us create thriving communities, and we invite you to explore the full report to see the difference you've made. Thank you for being an essential part of the Inspiritus family and for your continued commitment to our mission.



With gratitude,

Virginia Spencer
Chief Development Officer
Inspiritus

Action Alert: Keep Our Communities Welcoming!

Dear Friends,

As proposed pieces of legislation continue to advance during state legislative sessions across the country, we want to raise your attention to some anti-immigrant bills that have unfortunately been gaining some traction in the states of Georgia and Tennessee. As time ticks, it will become more imperative (and challenging) to stop these bills from advancing further.

We encourage you to call your lawmakers in your respective states and speak with their offices about these harmful pieces of legislation. Click here to identify your State Representative and State Senator and find their district number.

Read more below for a brief policy update on these bills and more information on how to take action.

Georgia: HB 1105, “Georgia Criminal Alien Track and Report Act”

• Requires local law enforcement agencies to act as federal immigration officers and arrest any individual they encounter whose immigration status they cannot verify and for whom they have probable cause to arrest based on impeding felony charges and misdemeanor charges- which includes minor traffic violations.

• Withholds state and state-administered federal funding from local governments who do not choose to comply with this policy.

• Subjects local police officers to be charged with a misdemeanor for not complying.

• Requires sheriffs to hold individuals in custody indefinitely until their immigration status is confirmed by ICE.

• Anyone suspected of being undocumented who is convicted of a felony or misdemeanor offense is required to provide a DNA sample.

• This bill encourages profiling and will create a chilling effect across our communities, impacting our state workforce, local schools, and local neighborhoods.

Tennessee: HB 2124 & SB 2576

• Similarly to Georgia’s HB 1105, would require all local law enforcement agencies in Tennessee to communicate, cooperate and assist federal immigration officials in detaining (ICE)

• Perpetuates the possibility of family separation among immigrant families in TN.

• Places a tremendous burden on local law enforcement agencies and hinders their ability to meet the needs of residents by requiring them to operate as immigration agents. This will further erode trust among immigrant communities and local law enforcement.

• Waste of resources, time, and capacity for local law enforcement; infringes on the will of voters who elect Sheriffs to act with agency and local authority.

Tennessee: HB 1730 & SB 1717

• Aims to require all written driver license examinations to be administered in English only.

• Prohibits use of a translation dictionary, electronic device, or interpreter to assist with the examination.

• This bill would harm our economy by making it more difficult for some workers to get licensed and drive to their workplaces.

• As more people become unlicensed, driving and being on the road generally becomes more dangerous for all of us.

• The fact that Tennessee already offers the exam in a number of languages is a good thing for our workforce, local communities, and individuals who are lawfully present in our country and only trying to live their lives. It is mean-spirited and counterproductive.

Thank you for standing in solidarity with us as we aim to protect and defend refugee and immigrant communities across the Southeast. We appreciate you lending your voice.

With gratitude,
Aimee Zangandou
Executive Director of Refugee & Immigrant Services
Inspiritus

Two Years Later: Russia's Invasion of Ukraine

Dear Friends,

It’s been a little over two years since Russia’s most recent historical invasion of Ukraine, marking the beginning of an ongoing conflict that has forced approximately 14 million Ukrainian nationals to flee their country - up 93% since this time last year.

Since the launch of the Uniting for Ukraine (U4U) program in April 2022, more than 178,000 Ukrainian refugees were sponsored by U.S. residents, offering these individuals a pathway to safety and an opportunity to regain a sense of stability- even if temporary- in a new community that welcomes them.

For the Ukrainian refugees across Alabama, Tennessee, and Georgia, our Refugee and Immigrant Services team members who serve these particular refugees (most of whom are Ukrainian born) act as an indispensable resource, supporting them as they navigate new pathways essential for establishing stability and success, such as securing employment, enrolling in education programs, and connecting them to spaces of fellowship and community. As we work to help these individuals adjust to life in the U.S., we have also been working to advocate for them and uplift their culture and the contributions they make to our local communities.

Last Tuesday, the office of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announced that Ukrainians who entered the U.S. as Humanitarian Parolees are eligible to apply for re-parole, extending their visa by an additional two years if approved. We applaud this decision and are relieved that there is hope and greater certainty for our clients in what the short-term future may hold.

As we reflect on the work we’ve done in the past two years to welcome Ukrainian refugees, we’d like to introduce you to a very special family we’ve been blessed to walk alongside on their path from surviving to thriving!

Meet The Sorohin Family (Cumming, GA):

Yuliia, a linguist and interpreter, met her husband Andrii while he was studying to become an MD. After graduating in 2003, Andrii began his residency at a major hospital in Kyiv, marking the beginning of an impressive and dynamic career in the medical field and pharmaceutical industry. He and Yuliia would get married, welcome four children to their family, and continue building their lives and careers in Ukraine’s capital city.

However, by autumn of 2022, Russian forces had started bombing and shooting in major cities, destroyed many electrical stations, creating chaos, destruction and blackout throughout Ukraine. Yuliia notes the poignancy of this moment - her family cold, afraid, and surrounded by darkness, recognized it was no longer safe to stay. Saying goodbye to their beloved family, pets, neighbors, and family home, they made the heartbreaking yet necessary decision to leave Kiev.

Following a brief stay in Poland, the Sorohin family arrived in the U.S. in April 2023 through the Uniting for Ukraine sponsorship program. After initially spending some time with a sponsor in California, the family received an opportunity to relocate to Georgia. Thanks to a loan from a generous friend, Andrii and Yuliia purchased a used car and together with their four children, kicked off their cross-country road trip that would land them in Cumming.

Thanks to friends and American sponsors in Georgia, the family was able to settle and adapt in Cumming. The family who hosted the Sorohins were very kind and good people but as a family of six, they would soon need to find their own place and begin their own pathway forward in the U.S.

With the support and guidance of Inspiritus, Andrii and Yuliia were able to move out of their sponsor’s home and into their own place within three months of arriving. Additionally, our team worked with Andrii and Yuliia to get their (many) collective degrees translated and evaluated so they can be officially recognized among U.S. employers and educational institutions. It was through this experience that Andrii soon realized that state licensing policies do not offer a streamlined pathway for foreign-trained physicians like him to practice medicine in the state of Georgia. Reducing barriers to relicensing for foreign-trained doctors like him is a cause for which he’s become a community advocate and has even discussed with Georgia’s Secretary of State, Brad Raffensperger last month.

While he hopes to one day practice medicine again here in Georgia, in the meantime, Andrii works as a Pharmaceutical Technician at a local pharmacy where he’s able to remain connected to the medical field. Yuliia has thrown herself into nonprofit work as a regular volunteer with the U4UKids Project, a program dedicated to helping Ukrainian children whose fathers died in the war. Their eldest son, Daniel (18), is working his short-term dream job as a Starbucks barista while he works on his long-term dream of going to college for fashion design. Their other children, whose ages range from 16, 11, and 7 are loving their Forsyth County neighborhood schools and have course achievements. The family has joined a nearby Evangelical church, where they’ve found a place of community and fellowship.

Despite all the challenges and hardships this family has endured, these experiences have done little to shake the family’s faith and optimism. When asked about their hopes for the future, Yuliia remarks, “We believe that God will help us. Our hope is to have a good possibility for life in America. Good jobs, good moments…But our heart is broken about Ukraine. We know the war is evil. Good must win. It is painful to discuss, but as Bible teaches us, what your hand can do – do it with all your might! In other words: if you can help, you must help (Ecclesiastes 9:10). We try to help in any way we can…we don’t know how long the [Uniting for Ukraine] program will last but while we are here, we will help in any way to our Homeland.”

As a final thought, the Sorohin family has a message to share with our state lawmakers and the American people:

“Ukrainian families across the world ask you to continue praying for Ukraine, for the victory of good over evil, for God's blessing for Ukraine, and we ask you to support the people of Ukraine in this difficult time. Your contribution to start our lives here is so important and significant and we appreciate it! Thank you for your strong support. God bless Ukraine. God Bless America. Glory to God.”

With gratitude,

Aimee Zangandou
Executive Director of Refugee & Immigrant Services
Inspiritus

ACTION ALERT: Help Advocate For Those We Accompany

Action Alert: 3 Things You Can Do to Advocate for Refugees and Immigrants at the State and Federal Level

Dear Friends,

With our members of Congress busy back in Washington DC and our Georgia State legislators back in full swing under the Gold Dome, there are ample opportunities for advocates like you to raise your voice in support of refugees and immigrants with our state and federal lawmakers. We are in a pivotal moment that calls for courage among our elected officials to stand up for human rights and help retain the United States’ proud tradition of welcoming individuals who look to us for safety after enduring war, political oppression, and other forms of identity-based persecution.

There are three, easy actions we encourage advocates to take to help us in our efforts to preserve dignity and welcome for all. Here are the top three things you can do to show your support for refugees and immigrants in Georgia:

1. Register to attend the 2024 New Americans Celebration

The best way to do advocacy work is in-person and there is no better day to advocate for refugees and immigrants than the annual New Americans Celebration!

Inspiritus is one of 26 refugee and immigrant-serving nonprofit member organizations in the Georgia Coalition of Refugee Service Agencies. Collectively, we host events and engage in legislative advocacy with a goal of continuously uplifting the contributions of Georgia’s foreign-born communities. The New Americans Celebration is one of these events and each year around Valentine’s Day, we bring hundreds of foreign-born and native-born Georgians to the Capitol for a day of education, advocacy, and outreach, demonstrating to our lawmakers just how much we love the work we do and our communities we serve.

We’ll be back this year on Tuesday, February 13th! You can register for the event or sign up to volunteer by clicking the buttons below.

2. Sign up for CRSA Action Alerts

While Inspiritus will continue to share policy updates and action alerts for pressing matters at the federal level, we encourage you to connect with us and our partners through the Coalition of Refugee Service Agencies newsletter for updates and action alerts impacting refugees and immigrants at the state level. Click the button below to sign up for CRSA action alerts!

3. Speak out against legislation that dismantles access to asylum for vulnerable migrants in need of immediate safety

For the past few months, the White House and a small bipartisan group of Senators have been attempting to negotiate a legislative deal that would pair permanent policy restrictions to the asylum system with an unrelated supplemental funding bill that includes aid for Ukraine, Israel, humanitarian relief, and certain domestic needs issues. This legislation was unveiled Sunday night and includes the following elements:

• Authorizes the President and Department of Homeland Security to “shut down” the border if more than 4,000 migrants seek entry at our Southern Border on average within a seven day period.

• Mandated implementation of border closure if more than 5,000 migrants on average seek entry to the U.S. within one week’s time, or, when the daily number exceeds 8,500.

• Raises standard for “credible fear standard”, used to determine validity and severity of cases among individuals applying for asylum.

• Introduces a new process in which US Citizenship and Immigration Services would decide an asylum claim without it going through the immigration court system. (Exceptions for unaccompanied migrant children.)

• Expedites the asylum processing timeline from years to six months, and establishes work-authorization eligibility to asylum seekers while cases are pending.

• Pathway to legal permanent residency for our Afghan allies who entered the U.S. on with temporary status as Humanitarian Parolees.

Inspiritus commends the inclusion of certain, much-needed provisions such as expedited processing time for asylum applicants, work authorization for asylum applicants, and a pathway to legal permanent residency for Afghan Humanitarian Parolees; however, we remain deeply concerned about the unprecedented powers of expulsion, detention, and denial of due process for individuals and families seeking asylum at the southern border.

The right to seek safety across international borders is a right to which vulnerable migrants fleeing persecution are legally entitled and is part of a larger legacy in moral and global leadership that the United States should not relinquish.

Senate leaders have indicated they intend to put this bill up for a procedural vote tomorrow, Wednesday, February 7th. Please call Senators Ossoff and Warnock and ask them to vote “no” on any version of a supplemental emergency national security bill that places heavy restrictions on asylum access. You can refer to the script sample below when calling.

Script Sample:

Hello, My name is ___________ and I am a constituent of [city, state.] I am calling today to express my concern with the proposed restrictions on asylum access in the new bill the Senate revealed over the weekend. Access to asylum is not only a very real and necessary lifeline for migrant families and individuals fleeing persecution, but it is also a fundamental human right that speaks to our country’s history as a beacon of safety and hope for those who are unfairly persecuted in their home countries. While I celebrate some other elements of the bill such as a pathway to legal permanent residency for Afghan humanitarian parolees, I believe this bill will unfairly result in too many vulnerable families being denied a fair shot at safety and being sent back into harm’s way. As such, I am asking the senator to vote “no” on this bill in its current form or any form with similarly harsh restrictions on asylum access. Thank you.”

Thank you for your continued support.

With gratitude,

Aimee Zangandou
Executive Director of Refugee & Immigrant Services
Inspiritus

Afghanistan, Two Years Later: The Need for Permanent Welcome

Dear Friend,

It’s been two years since the Afghan government officially fell to Taliban rule. Since then, over 100,000 Afghans were invited to live in the United States and with the help of organizations like Inspiritus, dedicated community partners, and welcoming neighbors like you, they’re moving forward and successfully building new lives in their new country and new local community.

However, of those 100,000 individuals, the majority are here with a temporary form of immigration status known as Humanitarian Parole that is valid for two years at a time. Without legal permanent residency, Afghan parolees face the risk of returning to the same persecution from which they fled. They have found safety, stability, and promise in the U.S. and deserve the opportunity to continue moving forward with the new lives they've started to build.

Last month, Congress reintroduced its newest iteration of the Afghan Adjustment Act (AAA) with bipartisan versions of the legislation in both the House and Senate chambers, respectively. Originally introduced last year, the AAA is legislation that if passed, would create a pathway to permanent residency for Afghans who were granted Humanitarian Parole.

Now, more than ever, we urge our Members of Congress to provide our Afghan Allies with the appropriate protections they need to remain free from persecution and to pursue the American Dream they’ve already started building.

Please join us in advocating for this important bill and ask your Members of Congress to pass the Afghan Adjustment Act. You can learn more about the bill here and confirm who represents you in Congress here along with the phone numbers for each of your two U.S. Senators and House Rep. When calling on behalf of those we accompany, you may refer to the script below.

Sample Script:

• Hello Representative/Senator [Insert name] My name is [Insert your name] and I am a constituent and resident of [insert city], [insert state]. I am calling to ask that you support the Afghan Adjustment Act, a bill that would allow Afghans with Humanitarian Parole visas to apply for a green card and become a permanent resident. My community is one of thousands that welcomed Afghans seeking safety and I believe it is in our best interest as a country and in everyone’s individual best interest that they be given the option to permanently reside in the United States. With a temporary status, these individuals are subjected to constant uncertainty about whether they will have to return to Afghanistan, which should not be an option. I ask that the [Representative/Senator] support our Afghan allies who stood by us by supporting the Afghan Adjustment Act. Thank you.

With help of supporters like you, we have made a tremendous impact in the lives of the Afghan allies we have been fortunate to serve these past few years. If you would like to learn more about some of the incredible individuals we have had the privilege to accompany, click on their images below!

You can also find these stories on our Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn platforms.

Sincerely,

Aimee Zangandou
Executive Director of Refugee & Immigrant Services
Inspiritus

Afghan Refugees, Two Years Later: From Surviving to Thriving

Dear Friend,

Yesterday, on social media, we introduced you to some of the Afghan refugees we at Inspiritus have had the great pleasure of serving since welcoming them to the United States, over the last two years. Some of these individuals served as allies alongside U.S. military members, while others were resettled through the traditional U.S. Refugee Admissions Program. The individuals who have come through these immigration pathways are fortunate in that they have no-to-few barriers to U.S. legal permanent residency, enhancing the prospect of a more stable and certain future.

However, of those roughly 76,000 Afghans who were evacuated as part of the Operation Allies Welcome rescue mission, the majority were admitted with Humanitarian Parole, allowing them to temporarily enter the United States, “due to an emergency and urgent humanitarian reason.” While their parole was recently extended for another two years, their long-term futures remain uncertain until Congress passes the Afghan Adjustment Act, which will make them eligible to apply for a green card and continue building the lives they started creating for themselves in the U.S.

Nevertheless, for parolees like Suraiya, this sense of uncertainty has been no hindrance toward pursuing their future goals. Evacuated in late August 2021, Suraiya and her family were welcomed by Inspiritus in Atlanta and she is now working full-time at a local nonprofit health clinic while she takes steps toward enrolling in aviation school. Her goal? To be the first Afghan woman to fly a plane for Delta.

Suraiya is just one of many incredible individuals we have served in the past two years who have already made incredible gains for themselves and contributions to their local communities. You can learn more about Suraiya and other Afghan newcomers we’ve welcomed across our programming by clicking on their pictures below.

Make sure to follow us on social media this week as we continue to highlight the impactful stories of those we have the privilege to accompany. You can find these stories on our Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn platforms.

Sincerely, 

John R. Moeller Jr.
President & CEO
Inspiritus

Afghan Refugees, Two Years Later. Where Are They Now?

Dear Friend,

Tomorrow, August 15, will mark two years since the Taliban gained control of Afghanistan. For the thousands of Afghans evacuated to the U.S. as part of Operation Allies Welcome, and the approximate 2.6 million Afghan refugees around the world, this is a day of sorrow, conjuring painful memories of people, places, and a way of life they were forced to leave behind.

Despite these impossible hardships, we at Inspiritus have seen amazing strides from the Afghans we have welcomed, witnessing the creation of new memories with new friends in a new place, during a period of life that, for them, is equally novel and challenging. Amidst unfathomable loss and change, these individuals have demonstrated incredible courage and acceptance, approaching life in the U.S. as one of opportunity where they can once again find happiness, prosperity, and peace.

Example...Nargis Naseri, a young woman who came to Atlanta by herself with no local contacts and has now found purpose and a connection to her local community through her job at another refugee-serving nonprofit organization. There’s also Amin, an IT professional with young children, his former professional ties to the US government would ultimately pose a threat to his family, prompting them to leave Afghanistan. Less than two years after being resettled in Birmingham, he’s found a great job in his field and spends some of his free time doing volunteer IT work with a local nonprofit.

Nargis’ and Amin’s stories exemplify a trend we know to be true: When you invest in refugees, they’ll invest right back in the communities that welcomed them ten-fold.

As we reflect on the events that unfolded two years ago, we are also reflecting on the resilience of our new Afghan neighbors like Nargis and Amin, and the many successes they have achieved in such a short time.

Beginning tomorrow and for the rest of the week, we will be uplifting the stories of nearly a dozen Afghan refugees we have welcomed, who will share their own reflections on where they have been and where they are now, two years later.

We will also be sharing more information about the Afghan Adjustment Act, a piece of legislation that if passed by Congress, would ensure that Afghan evacuees would not be subject to return to Afghanistan and can apply for legal permanent residency in the U.S.

With help of supporters like you, we have made a tremendous impact in the lives of the Afghan allies we have been fortunate to serve these past few years. We can’t wait to share their impactful stories with you throughout the week!

You will be able to find these stories on our Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn platforms.

Sincerely, 

John R. Moeller Jr.
President & CEO
Inspiritus

Title 42 Immigration Policy & Team Libertad

Dear Friend, 

A little more than a month has passed since the expiration of Title 42, the pandemic-era public health measure that was issued more than 2.8 million times to expel migrants from claiming asylum at the U.S. southern border since its implementation in March 2020. In its place, our current Administration has introduced new federal policies that do little to protect vulnerable individuals who are seeking asylum and do even less in the way of offering sustainable, long-term solutions to help repair our nation’s broken immigration system.  

This new rule instituted on May 11 severely restricts the ability of migrants to effectively claim asylum at the U.S. border unless they can demonstrate that they were denied asylum in another country. Additionally, this rule mandates that asylum applicants first make an appointment through a phone app, CBP One, now infamous for its frequent glitches and deficiencies in its facial recognition technology, which has resulted in discriminatory outcomes for hopeful asylum seekers. And while we commend the Administration for expanding legal pathways for individuals seeking temporary safety such as the 2-year Humanitarian Parole program for Afghans, Ukrainians, Venezuelans, and others, Congress will need to take action to ensure these individuals can access a green card and continue investing in themselves and this country since starting a new life in the United States. 

While the timeline around Congressional action remains uncertain, it is absolutely certain that Inspiritus, along with members of our local communities, will continue to do the work on the ground to support individuals escaping violence and persecution along every step of their journey to safety and stability.  

One of our newly added programs, Team Libertad, is an exemplary model for how local communities are welcoming asylum seekers in Atlanta. Relying almost entirely on volunteers, Team Libertad depends on compassionate individuals to help serve the 50-100 travelers it greets at the airport on a weekly basis who are leaving the state to reunite with loved ones and wait their day in asylum court.

These travelers are individuals seeking asylum who were recently released from the Stewart Detention Center in Lumpkin, Georgia. Arriving at Hartsfield-Jackson Airport with many emotions and few resources, Team Libertad steps in to welcome them to Atlanta and to help meet any immediate or expressed need such as access to food, a cell phone, or assistance getting to their gate. While the road to asylum approval is long and arduous, these small acts of kindness make a big difference in the lives of the travelers we encounter.  

As we look toward World Refugee Day next week, we invite you to join us in the work we are doing on the ground every day to make our communities a more welcoming place for those in need of humanitarian protection. Here are three things you can do:

• Volunteer with Team Libertad in Atlanta: No matter your availability, there are opportunities for you to be a welcomer to weary travelers morning, afternoon, or night. Click here to sign up, or contact Program Coordinator Andrea Espinoza for more information at andrea.espinoza@weinspirit.org  

• Donate to Team Libertad: Your donations will help cover the costs of meals, backpacks, hygiene items, and other resources necessary to support our work. Click here to donate and please mark “Refugee Services: Team Libertad” as the recipient of your donation.  

• Attend a World Refugee Day Celebration: No matter where you are located, Inspiritus is hosting events at all four of our resettlement sites. On June 20th, we will be celebrating in Nashville, Birmingham, and Savannah, while June 25th will mark our 10th annual Clarkston celebration. Check out the graphics below for more details on where and when your local celebration will take place.

Thank you for your continued support in empowering the families and individuals we accompany on their journey from surviving to thriving.

With gratitude,

Aimee Zangandou
Executive Director of Refugee & Immigrant Services
Inspiritus

Help Send A Refugee Child To Summer Camp

Dear Friend,

Last week, we introduced you to some of the refugee children we at Inspiritus have the great pleasure of serving. This particular group of children endured an arduous journey on their path to safety, alone and unaccompanied before arriving to the United States with the goal of being reunited with their families or a family friend here in Georgia. With their migration journey at an end, they begin their journey of adjusting to life in a new country and new community. Inspiritus is there to guide them on this journey, providing support in areas of English language acquisition, academic enrichment, and social-emotional wellness that can help these children heal from the often-traumatic experiences they encountered since leaving home. 

Our friends at Lutheranch, a Christian summer camp and conference center, have joined us in our mission to help these children on their path from surviving to thriving, and have graciously offered to host 10 of these children at camp this summer where they can continue their journey of growth and healing in a safe space. Your help can make it possible for a child to experience healing & growth at Lutheranch camp this summer! 

How exactly does summer camp make a profound difference in the life of a refugee child? Family Reunification Coordinator Kari Ellers witnessed the powerful impact that camp had on two of our girls who attended last summer. Here’s what she says:

“Camp means the possibility for many children to be children in a world where so often, because of their life circumstances, they quickly learn how to act and live beyond their years. Camp provides children with an opportunity to connect with nature and each other, to explore and have fun, to learn experientially without the pressure of grades and testing. Camp is a sacred healing space, planting seeds of love and self-care that continue to blossom for years to come. Camp is about the personal breakthroughs, the ‘aha’ moments, and it is those moments that even during our darkest of times, help to carry us forward.” 

With your support, you can similarly help be a part of our work in helping to carry these children forward on their path from surviving to thriving. 

This week, we’d like you to meet Marcos, Sophia, and Diego- three of the ten hopeful campers eager to spend a week at Lutheranch this summer. 

Meet Marcos:

At 16-years-old, Marcos already has a clear vision for what kind of person he wants to become. “I want to be a person with values- a positive person who does good things like helping my family, working for my country, having my own house, car, and business.”

An avid fan of true crime television, Marcos’ plan for pursuing his own version of the American dream involves a college degree in Criminology and a career in law enforcement.

Marcos is described by his Inspiritus case workers as, “sweet, curious, and just lovely”, and they talk about how rewarding it has been to see Marcos become more open and outgoing with people over time.

While at Lutheranch this summer, he is most excited about the idea of playing soccer with other campers and spending time in nature among the mountains and a river or lake.

Meet Sophia & Diego: 

Eleven-year-old *Sophia has a huge heart for a little girl. Described as “generous and sweet” by her Inspiritus case workers, she is the type of child who is always thinking about others. Upon realizing that Inspiritus accepts donations to families in need, she took it upon herself to bring in an old dress she no longer wears so another child could enjoy wearing it as much as she did.

During snack time at her after school program, she is the one who always makes sure the other kids have enough to eat and will offer some of her snacks to share with her friends. She loves to color and while at camp this summer, is most looking forward to painting outdoors and feeding the animals.

In classic “younger sibling” fashion, her little brother, *Diego, wants to be included in whatever his big sister does, including the opportunity to attend Lutheranch. Seven-year-old Diego is super excited to make new friends this summer. His dream is to travel the world and (unsurprisingly) like big sister, Sophia, he wants to be a police officer when he grows up.

If you would like to empower children like Marcos, Sophia, and Diego on their path from surviving to thriving, please consider donating to our "Refugee Services: After School & Summer Camp" fund.

While the cost of each camp varies slightly by age range and the activities it includes, the majority of our children are registered for horse camp, which costs $725.00/week. All donations allocated to this fund will be used to send children to Lutheranch this summer!

You can make a monetary donation by clicking the button below. After selecting the "Refugee Services: After School & Summer Camp" fund, please enter "Lutheranch Donation" in the comment box.

Thank you for your continued support in empowering those we accompany on their journey from surviving to thriving!

With Gratitude,

Aimee Zangandou
Executive Director of Inspiritus Refugee & Immigrant Services

Help Send 10 Refugee Children To Summer Camp

Dear Friend,

The end of another school year is upon us. For many fortunate children, summer is a special time when they pack a bag and head away to summer camp. More than just s’mores and a break from homework, camp can be a transformative place where children experience the therapeutic power of the great outdoors, explore new interests, and make lasting friendships.

Our friends at Lutheranch care about the children we at Inspiritus have the privilege of serving, and have offered to provide a unique opportunity for a special group of children cared for by Inspiritus to attend a Lutheranch camp experience where they can grow and heal in a safe space. Your help can make it possible for a child to experience healing & growth and Lutheranch camp this summer!

The group of children invited to this Lutheranch experience have come to the United States unaccompanied, alone and on an often traumatic journey. Inspiritus staff have worked with them to help them adjust to their new lives in Georgia where they have been reunited with family or a family friend, and we continue to work with their households to help ensure the children have access to the support and care they need.

Our partnership with Lutheranch, a Christian camp and conference center located in Tallapoosa, Georgia has become one of these resources. Last year, Lutheranch graciously helped provide funding for sisters *Lucia and Mari to attend a week of summer camp. Recognizing the positive impact camp had when picking them up last year, Family Reunification Coordinator Kari Ellers notes how the girls came back more confident, willing to take risks and try new things, adding, “Camp planted a seed that allowed them to grow…to be reminded of their goodness and ability to dream beyond their current situation.”  

At Inspiritus, we believe every child should have these opportunities to grow and dream and with your generous support, can send 10 children to Lutheranch this summer!

Over the next three weeks, we’ll be introducing you to some of these hopeful new campers so you can get to know them and learn more about how a week at summer camp can make all the difference as we walk with them on their path from surviving to thriving.

Meet Beatriz & Paola:

Sisters *Beatriz and Paula (14 and 17 respectively) are known for their sweet disposition and compassion toward others. Originally from Mexico, the girls have found a new home and community in Georgia with their mother, who has found work on a local farm since arriving to the United States. The horses, chickens, and other livestock on this farm have become a source of joy and comfort for Beatriz and Paula, and as a result, they have cultivated a shared love of animals and intellectual interest in the natural world.

When asked about what they hope to do while at camp, both girls gleamed at the opportunity to ride horses and “learn even more about animals”- a reference to the long list of fun animal facts they’ve absorbed in recent months. While Beatriz is additionally excited to spend time exploring the outdoors and go swimming, Paola is looking forward to spending her time outdoors under a shady tree with a good book.

Although both girls are a little shy by nature, they see camp as an opportunity to spend time with kids their age and make new friends using their English language skills they’ve been working hard to develop this academic school year.

Beyond desiring a week at camp, Beatriz dreams of serving in the United States military and Paola, the National Guard. Having the opportunity to practice English conversation and leadership /teamwork skills in a non-threatening environment at camp will be foundational steppingstones for their vocational journey ahead.

If you would like to empower children like Beatriz and Paula on their path from surviving to thriving, please consider donating to our "Refugee Services: After School & Summer Camp" fund. All donations allocated to this fund will be used to send children to Lutheranch this summer! You can make a monetary donation by clicking the button below.

Thank you for your continued support in empowering those we accompany on their journey from surviving to thriving!

With Gratitude,

Aimee Zangandou
Executive Director of Inspiritus Refugee & Immigrant Services