UPDATE: Afghan Families are Arriving Now

Welcome Our Afghan Allies to Georgia.

Inspiritus staff and partners have welcomed the first Afghan allies family we are resettling in Georgia, following the fall of Afghanistan to the Taliban in August 2021. For those of you following the journey of the first two families arriving, this is the second family Inspiritus expected...they arrived first! Upon arriving on American soil, a hotel worker drove them across the country to help them arrive to their new home in Atlanta as fast as possible. We will provide an update soon on the next family to arrive in Savannah, Georgia.

(Left to right: Becca, Alix & Kimberlie) Inspiritus Refugee & Immigrant Services staff provided a warm welcome to the family.

Ahmad (a former Afghan refugee himself), an Inspiritus employee and Afghan advocate, helped welcome the first arrivals by sharing a meal, lovingly prepared by his family.

Inspiritus has a long history of welcoming refugees and Afghan Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) holders to Georgia and accompanying them on their journey from surviving to thriving in Georgia. Inspiritus has been approved by the U.S. government to resettle and support an estimated 15-25 Afghan families (mostly children) into the metro Atlanta and Savannah areas over the next 6 months. Please continue to pray for the families we are awaiting.

You can help. Here’s how:

So many of our readers have begun to donate to this cause. Thank you. 100% of your donated funds will directly support Afghan families resettling in Georgia. If you have not yet given, we invite you to prayerfully consider joining us in this mission.

When our Afghan allies and their families arrive at Inspiritus, they often have little more than the clothes on their backs. In some cases, there can be a gap between the families’ arrivals and the services they are eligible to receive through the United States resettlement program.

This is where you can help. Your financial support to sponsor an Afghan family will provide food, housing assistance, clothing, and other basic needs for our newest neighbors.

We need your urgent help to give them the hero’s welcome they deserve.

Many of our friends and colleagues want to help but don’t know how. Share this fundraiser, or host your own, and empower your friends to directly support Afghan families that Inspiritus will be resettling in Georgia. In addition to the two families we are welcoming, the Inspiritus teams in Atlanta and Savannah are preparing to resettle an estimated 15-25 Afghan families as they are able to safely travel to the United States. Follow this Fundraiser for updates on the status of these families.

As we anticipate to support a large influx of Afghan SIVs, securing affordable housing is our number one priority. If you live within 50 miles of Atlanta or Savannah, Georgia, and are willing to provide temporary housing in your home or have a rental property you would like to make available, please let us know. For more information, please email Sarah Burke.

You may also consider purchasing items from our Amazon Wish List or sharing it with your friends and family. The gift cards, household and personal care items purchased from our Amazon Wish List will go directly to the families we are helping to resettle in Georgia.

Lift up your hearts in prayer for our Afghan friends. Visit LIRS’ website for both a Christian and an interfaith prayer.

Sincerely,

Aimee Zangandou
Director of Refugee and Immigrant Services
Inspiritus

URGENT: Updates on families from Kabul

Our Afghan Allies need your help.

Inspiritus has a long history of welcoming refugees and Afghan Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) holders to Georgia and accompanying them on their journey from surviving to thriving in Georgia. Inspiritus is monitoring the situation very closely and our teams in Atlanta and Savannah are prepared to rapidly resettle and support a large influx of Afghan SIVs into the metro Atlanta and Savannah areas in response to this humanitarian crisis.

The U.S. government has already approved 14 Afghans (two families, mostly children) for Inspiritus to resettle and we are closely following their efforts to escape Afghanistan. These families had flights arranged to fly to Georgia last week but as Kabul fell to the Taliban last Sunday, all travel arrangements were shut down. These families are in grave danger as they attempt to enter the Kabul airport access points, but have been unable to enter due to the crowds and Taliban violence.

In light of the violence and explosions at the Kabul airport yesterday, we would like to share updates on the two Afghan SIV families we are awaiting now:

After a terrifying week, and five attempts to make it through the crowds and Taliban violence into the Kabul airport, one of the Inspiritus families made it into the airport last night with their children. They have since flown to Qatar, and flights have been arranged to bring them to the USA. We anticipate that we will likely be able to resettle them in Savannah, GA soon after their arrival, where Inspiritus staff and local volunteers and churches eagerly await them. We will keep you posted.

Please continue to pray for the second family we are awaiting. They have not yet been able to get safely inside the Kabul airport, but we have heard from them following today’s bombing, and they are safe and were not in the vicinity when it occurred. Prayers for their continued safety and successful escape. We have received word that Inspiritus will be requested to resettle many more Afghan families soon.

You can help. Here’s how:

So many of our readers have begun to donate to this cause. Thank you. 100% of your donated funds will directly support Afghan families resettling in Georgia. If you have not yet given, we invite you to prayerfully consider joining us in this mission.

When our Afghan allies and their families arrive at Inspiritus, they often have little more than the clothes on their backs. In some cases, there can be a 5-7 day gap between the families’ arrivals and the services they are eligible to receive through the United States resettlement program.

This is where you can help. Your financial support to sponsor an Afghan family will provide food, housing assistance, clothing, and other basic needs for our Afghan friends as they await the official services available to them through the US government.

We need your urgent help to give them the hero’s welcome they deserve

Many of our friends and colleagues want to help but don’t know how. Share this fundraiser, or host your own, and empower your friends to directly support Afghan families that Inspiritus will be resettling in Georgia. The U.S. government has already approved 14 Afghans for Inspiritus to resettle and we expect many more to come as soon as they are able to safely travel to the United States. Follow this Fundraiser for updates on the status of these families.

Contact your Members of Congress and the White House and demand they prioritize the evacuation of Afghan allies and urge them to provide urgent humanitarian protections, including immediate evacuation, for those who have put their lives on the line for our country and are now at risk.

Here is a sample script to use when calling your Members of Congress.

“Hello, my name is ______, and I am a resident of ______, GA. I am very concerned for the safety of Afghan allies who remain in Afghanistan after the recent government collapse. These allies put their lives and the lives of their families at risk to support the U.S. military. It is now time to protect them as they face imminent, immediate threat from the Taliban. First, we must urge the Biden administration to evacuate all of our Afghan allies. Secondly, we must improve and expedite the SIV program for Afghan nationals who have supported the U.S. military. We must push the Biden administration to provide a comprehensive evacuation plan that prioritizes the safety of the Afghan allies and others who are vulnerable. Thank you.

Senator Jon Ossoff: 202 224-3521

Senator Raphael Warnock: (202) 224-3643

To find your representative, please visit this link.

As we anticipate to support a large influx of Afghan SIVs, securing affordable housing is our number one priority. If you live within 50 miles of Atlanta or Savannah, Georgia, and are willing to provide temporary housing in your home or have a rental property you would like to make available, please let us know. For more information, please email Sarah Burke.

Lift up your hearts in prayer for our Afghan friends. Visit LIRS’ website for both a Christian and an interfaith prayer.

This situation has been heartbreaking for our Afghan staff, community, and the Refugee and Immigrant Services team. We hope to have good news to share with you soon.

– Aimee Zangandou
Director of Refugee and Immigrant Services
Inspiritus

URGENT: Help Welcome Afghan Allies to Georgia

Our Afghan Allies need your help.

What is happening in Afghanistan is devastating. Inspiritus is greatly concerned about the well-being and safety of human life in grave danger of Taliban retaliation. We stand in solidarity with our Afghani allies and their families.

Inspiritus has a long history of welcoming refugees and Afghan Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) holders to Georgia and accompanying them on their journey from surviving to thriving in Georgia. Inspiritus is monitoring the situation very closely and our teams in Atlanta and Savannah are prepared to rapidly resettle and support a large influx of Afghan SIVs into the metro Atlanta and Savannah areas in response to this humanitarian crisis.

You can help. Here’s how:

When our Afghan allies and their families arrive at Inspiritus, they often have little more than the clothes on their backs. In some cases, there can be a 5-7 day gap between the families’ arrivals and the services they are eligible to receive through the United States resettlement program.

This is where you can help. Your financial support to sponsor an Afghan family will provide food, housing assistance, clothing, and other basic needs for our Afghan friends as they await the official services available to them through Inspiritus.

We need your urgent help to give them the hero’s welcome they deserve.

Many of our friends and colleagues want to help but don’t know how. Share this fundraiser, or host your own, and empower your friends to directly support Afghan families that Inspiritus will be resettling in Georgia. The U.S. government has already approved 14 Afghans for Inspiritus to resettle and we expect many more to come as soon as they are able to safely travel to the United States.

Contact your Members of Congress and the Biden Administration and demand they prioritize the evacuation of Afghan allies and urge them to provide urgent humanitarian protections, including immediate evacuation, for those who have put their lives on the line for our country and are now at risk.

Here is a sample script to use when calling your Members of Congress.

“Hello, my name is ______, and I am a resident of ______, GA. I am very concerned for the safety of Afghan allies who remain in Afghanistan after the recent government collapse. These allies put their lives and the lives of their families at risk to support the U.S. military. It is now time to protect them as they face imminent, immediate threat from the Taliban. First, we must urge the Biden administration to evacuate all of our Afghan allies. Secondly, we must improve and expedite the SIV program for Afghan nationals who have supported the U.S. military. We must push the Biden administration to provide a comprehensive evacuation plan that prioritizes the safety of the Afghan allies and others who are vulnerable. Thank you.

Senator Jon Ossoff: 202 224-3521

Senator Raphael Warnock: (202) 224-3643

To find your representative, please visit this link.

As we anticipate to support a large influx of Afghan SIVs, securing affordable housing is our number one priority. If you live within 50 miles of Atlanta or Savannah, Georgia, and are willing to provide temporary housing in your home, please let us know.

For more information on volunteering, please email Sarah Burke.

Lift up your hearts in prayer for our Afghan friends. Visit LIRS’ website for both a Christian and an interfaith prayer.

This situation is very heartbreaking for our Afghan staff, community, and the Refugee and Immigrant Services team.

– Aimee Zangandou
Director of Refugee and Immigrant Services
Inspiritus

A Statement on the Afghanistan Crisis

Dear Friends and Colleagues,

More than 300,000 Afghan allies who worked with the United States have been placed in mortal danger following the U.S. military withdrawal from Afghanistan. We urge the U.S. government to do everything possible to evacuate all those who put their lives in danger by supporting U.S. missions during the past 20 years. We call on world leaders to advocate for an immediate ceasefire and support a peaceful settlement to the conflict. We stand with the people of Afghanistan who are in danger, including those who are at risk due to their collaborations with the U.S. military, especially the families and friends of Inspiritus staff and colleagues.

Inspiritus guides individuals and families on a path from surviving to thriving. We empower those whose lives have been disrupted to discover their strengths and resilience, accompanying them as they grow into vibrant contributors to their community.

Inspiritus’ Refugee & Immigrant Services program partners with the U.S. Department of State: Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration and Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service as a local affiliate to empower refugees and Afghan Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) holders to resettle and thrive in Georgia. We also work in local partnership with the Southeastern Synod of the ELCA, along with many local businesses, congregations, and individuals.

Our teams are prepared to rapidly resettle and support a large influx of Afghan SIVs into the metro Atlanta and Savannah areas as a result of this conflict. We will update you soon with ways you can help.

With a heavy heart,

Rev. John R. Moeller, Jr.
President & CEO,
Inspiritus

For media inquiries: weinspirit.org/expertsresource or contact Dan Curran at 770-658-9586

Photo cred: NBC News

We Stand With All Dreamers

Dear Friends,

We are disheartened and disappointed to learn of the recent ruling on DACA that prohibits the Department of Homeland Security from approving new applications to this vital program. We stand in solidarity with all dreamers and call for a compassionate immigration system that recognizes their incredible contributions and creates a pathway to citizenship in the only home they’ve ever known.

On Friday July 16, 2021, a federal judge partially struck down the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. This ruling prevents future applications. As result, 81,000 first-time DACA applicants will now not be eligible for DACA protections. Such a ruling goes against our very mission of empowering those whose lives have been disrupted to discover their strengths and resilience in their pursuit of a path to freedom.

Since 2012, DACA has granted these youth with long-awaited protection from deportation. This opens potentially bright new pathways for jobs, scholarships and travel for many individuals who were brought into the United States as children.

As an organization that works with individuals seeking asylum in the United States, let's continue to advocate for reform that includes a path to citizenship for all dreamers. Your support is so important as Inspiritus continues the important work of empowering our neighbors on their journey from surviving to thriving.

Kind Regards,

Aimee Zangandou
Director of Refugee and Immigrant Services
Inspiritus

Action Alert: Help Protect Our Afghan Allies

Dear Friend,

Since 2002, the U.S. Government has employed Afghan allies to serve alongside U.S. troops, diplomats, and other government employees. Regrettably, these allies and their families soon became the targets of anti-American violence. They continue to be threatened, abducted, and targeted for their allegiance to the U.S. and NATO mission.

This issue is deeply personal to our Refugee and Immigrant Services team; multiple team members themselves fled Afghanistan for their lives as Special Immigrant Visa holders (SIVs) after aiding the US military.

Ahmad Habibzai is currently the Employment Coordinator for Refugees in Inspiritus' Atlanta office. Below is his story and call to action:

---

“My name is Ahmad Habibzai; I have worked with USA programs in Afghanistan from 2007-2012. We had a great life back in Afghanistan but after some time my family received threats from Taliban, and then I decided to apply to Special Immigrant Visa program. I came to USA in 2014 to save our lives. My family had a hard time here, but we worked hard to ensure our future is bright. My daughters and sons are going to school with a huge vision to help the world; right now everyone is happy and life is back to normal."

"The SIV program is crucial for Afghan Interpreters and Afghans’ who worked with USA programs in Afghanistan during the last two decades. Their lives and their families’ lives are in danger due to their support to USA. They risked their lives for the hope that they will have a great country and a bright future for their families and future generations which did not happen. They did their part with honesty, dedication, and loyalty, and now they need your help. Please help them."

---

Inspiritus has resettled hundreds of SIVs, and their stories are truly remarkable and heroic. The Afghan SIV program was created to provide a pathway to protection to those who face danger because of their service to the U.S. mission in Afghanistan. It is our moral imperative to keep our promise to those we pledged to protect.

We're joining our Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service (LIRS) family, as well as several veterans’ groups, and members of Congress, in calling upon our government to urgently evacuate American-affiliated Afghans and their families...now! You can add your voice, by sending a message here.

As always, thank you for the compassion, support, and care you provide to the refugees we serve. We couldn’t do this work without you!

With Gratitude,

Aimee Zangandou
Director of Refugee and Immigrant Services
Inspiritus

The HungerWalkRun 2021 Results Are In!

Thank you for supporting another successful Hunger Walk Run with Inspiritus. With your support, we raised $92,484.19. This is the most we’ve ever raised!

A HUGE thank you to everyone who participated in the 2021 Hunger Walk Run! This year we had 27 teams from 22 congregations. No matter how big or small your team was, or how much money you raised, YOU made an impact!

Team captains had a great time celebrating together on June 6 – click here for the video!

We'd like to recognize Lutheran Church of the Resurrection in Marietta, and team captain Mike Frey, for the most walkers and runners registered online: 43. Also, Don Larsen from Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd was the top fundraiser online: $2,588.

Hunger Walk Run would not be possible without the amazing efforts of our Lutheran congregations who recruit the walkers and runners, raise the lion’s share of the funds, and utilize their percentage of the funds raised to support food ministries in their congregations and in their communities. And this year, with a totally virtual event for the first time, they came through with record setting results!

The TOP TEN CONGREGATIONS:

1. Trinity Lutheran Church, Lilburn $17,564.00

2. Grace Lutheran Church, Carrollton $14,597.55

3. Lutheran Church of the Resurrection, Marietta $12,938.64

4. Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, Johns Creek $11,291.00

5. Cross of Life Lutheran Church, Roswell $6,755.00

6. Rivercliff Lutheran Church, Atlanta $5,540.00

7. St. John's Lutheran Church, Atlanta $4,310.00

8. Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Marietta $3,850.00

9. Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd, Douglasville $3,773.00

10. St. Luke Lutheran Church, Atlanta $2,625.00

Trinity Lutheran has set an all-time record for amount raised by one congregation!

The Hunger Walk Run is an event of the Atlanta Community Food Bank that unites our community to raise awareness and critical funds for local hunger relief. Proceeds from the event benefit the Atlanta Community Food Bank, and partner organizations like Inspiritus that help recruit participants and receive a percentage of the funds raised to support their hunger relief programs. Hunger Walk funding for Inspiritus is a vital part of our Refugee and Immigrant services programming. The funds will provide culturally appropriate food for newly arrived refugees on their first night in the United States, and longer as needed while they are striving to secure employment and attain self-sufficiency. Emergency food assistance is also available for refugees and immigrants facing food insecurity. We offer meals to families that participate in extended cultural orientation classes to learn how to navigate in their new communities, and snacks for refugee children who attend our summer camp program.

Thanks again to all who participated, and truly went the extra mile to make Hunger Walk Run 2021 a success. We are grateful for your partnership and support, and we look forward to walking together in the fight against hunger in 2022!

With Gratitude,
– Lorraine Dorough
Inspiritus

World Refugee Day is June 20

Dear Friend,

Please join us and our Coalition of Refugee Service Agencies partners as we celebrate World Refugee Day at Refuge Coffee Co., in Clarkston on Jun 20th!

Enjoy delicious food from local vendors, family-friendly activities, and delicious iced tea and coffee drinks as you meet your neighbors. Listen to special guest speakers, gather information at our advocacy booth, and experience incredible music and dance performances by various community groups. Shop locally from refugee and immigrant business owners at our vendor’s market.

Guests are asked to please register in advance. Invite interested friends and family members and share the news on your social channels using the hashtags #GALovesRefugees #RefugeesWelcome

If you have any questions, please contact me at sarah.burke@weinspirit.org

Don't miss this chance to show your support for refugees-RSVP below!

With Gratitude,

– Sarah Burke
Community Engagement Coordinator
Inspiritus

There's Still Time to Give to The Big Payback !

Hi Friends,

The Big Payback ends tonight! If you haven't made a donation-there's still time to support our Middle Tennessee programs. Plus, there is a $100 match for every organization that raises $100 by 12pm today!

We're so grateful to The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee for holding this annual 24-hour online giving event. Every donation helps Inspiritus raise funds and brings awareness to pressing needs in our community.

Here are ways you can help:

$25 will help end hunger for families in need

Inspiritus is providing food to the most vulnerable of families throughout Middle Tennessee, especially seniors and those living with disabilities. Your gift will ensure these families have the food they need this month.

Donate HERE

$50 will provide art therapy kits for kids

Inspiritus is guiding children through healthy ways of coping with traumatic experiences. Your gift will provide art therapy kits for children living in low income communities in Middle Tennessee.

Donate HERE

$125 will help build gardens for hungry families

Inspiritus is planting hundreds of home gardens for families and seniors living in low-income communities and food deserts. Your gift will help build two gardens this month.

Donate HERE

$250 will help families impacted by the pandemic

A year later, COVID-19 is still impacting families across Middle Tennessee. Your gift will ensure these families receive the help they need.

Donate HERE

$500 will help give hope to tornado & flood survivors

Inspiritus is assisting families whose homes have been damaged by recent floods in Nashville. We are still on the ground in Cookeville helping families rebuild after last year’s tornado. Your gift will ensure these families have the help they need to recover and thrive again.

Donate HERE

Thank you for your donations during this very important fundraising day!

Even if you're unable to give, you can show your support today by sharing this email across your personal and social networks. Please use the hashtags #TheBigPayback and #Inspiritus when sharing across your social networks.

Your generosity will help more individuals and families get back on the path from surviving to thriving. We are so grateful for your support.

With Gratitude,

Janet Arning
Regional Director, Middle Tennessee
Inspiritus

The Big Payback Starts Today!

Hi Friends,

The Big Payback starts today! The next 24-hours is a very important fundraising event for us. Join us and please spread the word.

The Big Payback, hosted by The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee, is a community-wide giving day which shines a spotlight on local giving and motivates Middle Tennessee to “give back” in a big way.

This 24-hour online giving event helps Inspiritus raise funds and brings awareness to pressing needs in our community. It’s also the prime time of year to give!

Here are ways you can help:

$25 will help end hunger for families in need

Inspiritus is providing food to the most vulnerable of families throughout Middle Tennessee, especially seniors and those living with disabilities. Your gift will ensure these families have the food they need this month.

Donate HERE

$50 will provide art therapy kits for kids

Inspiritus is guiding children through healthy ways of coping with traumatic experiences. Your gift will provide art therapy kits for children living in low income communities in Middle Tennessee.

Donate HERE

$125 will help build gardens for hungry families

Inspiritus is planting hundreds of home gardens for families and seniors living in low-income communities and food deserts. Your gift will help build two gardens this month.

Donate HERE

$250 will help families impacted by the pandemic

A year later, COVID-19 is still impacting families across Middle Tennessee. Your gift will ensure these families receive the help they need.

Donate HERE

$500 will help give hope to tornado & flood survivors

Inspiritus is assisting families whose homes have been damaged by recent floods in Nashville. We are still on the ground in Cookeville helping families rebuild after last year’s tornado. Your gift will ensure these families have the help they need to recover and thrive again.

Donate HERE

Thank you for your donations during this very important fundraising day!

Even if you're unable to give, you can show your support today by sharing this email across your personal and social networks. Please use the hashtags #TheBigPayback and #Inspiritus when sharing across your social networks.

Your generosity will help more individuals and families get back on the path from surviving to thriving. We are so grateful for your support.

With Gratitude,

Janet Arning
Regional Director, Middle Tennessee
Inspiritus

U.S. Annual Refugee Admissions Cap Raised to 62,500

Dear Friend,

I have waited four years for this day. As a former refugee, I was excited by yesterday's news that the United States will officially raise the refugee admissions ceiling for the 2021 Fiscal Year to 62,500. This puts us one step closer to America's historical average of 95,000 and it's a significant increase from the prior year’s record-low of 15,000.

We at Inspiritus rejoice in the spirit of welcome and are eager to empower these individuals and families on their journey from surviving to thriving.

As Rev. John R. Moeller, Jr., Inspiritus' President & CEO has shared:

“Inspiritus is excited to get back to the robust work of welcoming the stranger! Inspiritus and its partners live to offer this welcome. It’s who we are. It’s like sunshine, air, or water to our team. It’s our very life. For the last several years, Inspiritus has experienced a dark winter of the soul. It doesn’t mean we haven’t been busy. In fact, the team has used the time to plan, but now we know that spring is coming. I can see the life blood coming back into bodies, minds and spirits of our staff and partners. Together, we will be more than ready to roll out the red carpet and provide a warm welcome to the huddled masses who seek an opportunity to start anew in America!"

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

On a personal note, I wish to thank our many supporters who advocated on behalf of refugees. This increase is thanks to everyone who raised their voices and is proof that advocacy works.

Please consider donating to our refugee services and programs today, so we can continue our work to reunite families. As always, thank you for the compassion, support, and care you provide to the refugees we serve. We couldn’t do this work without you!

With Gratitude,

Aimee Zangandou
Director of Refugee and Immigrant Services
Inspiritus

A Word of Thanks from Assistance Recipients

Dear Friends,

When the CARES Act was signed into law on March 27, 2020 in response to the economic fallout of COVID-19, it provided $2.2 trillion to be distributed among American workers, families, and small businesses who needed it most.

Inspiritus was one of a handful of nonprofits selected to receive CARES funding to distribute to those in need. We have served 4,336 individuals to date through this important funding – helping residents pay their rent, mortgage, and utility bills to prevent evictions following their lost incomes.

However, this outcome was not achieved through CARES funding alone. This amazing work would not be possible without the unwavering support of generous individuals and congregations who rose to the occasion during this extremely difficult time. When our neighbors needed it most, our network of ministries and supporters across Georgia and Tennessee donated the funds to help children and families in their community.

Today, we invite you to hear from some of the individuals who benefited from your generosity (please click on the image below to play):

We invite you to share this video with your friends, colleagues, legislators, and faith-based organizations as you see fit. With your support, Inspiritus will continue to empower individuals and families on their journey from surviving to thriving!

With Gratitude,

Virginia Spencer
Chief Development Officer
Inspiritus

For over 90 years, Inspiritus' mission has been to guide individuals and families on a path from surviving to thriving. Inspiritus empowers those whose lives have been disrupted to discover their strengths and resilience, accompanying them as they grow into vibrant contributors to their community. To learn more: weinspirit.org.

Join the Conversation: Rebuilding Refugee Resettlement

Dear Friend,

We want to invite you to join Inspiritus’ Director of Refugee & Immigrant Services, Aimee Zangandou, and Inspiritus President & Chief Executive Officer, Reverend John R. Moeller, Jr., in their conversation to discuss our long-standing refugee resettlement program.

It's an exciting time for our Refugee Services as we're getting ready to welcome more and more refugees to Georgia. This includes the important work to be done to rebuild the infrastructure for resettlement, and to prepare our communities on how to welcome their new neighbors.

We hope you’ll join us on Thursday, March 18 to learn more about Inspiritus’ refugee resettlement program, and to hear how we are working to make Georgia a welcoming state for those seeking safety and opportunity in our country!

Inspiritus will be holding two webinar sessions (depending on your location):

THURSDAY, MARCH 18

SAVANNAH: Webinar at 10:00 AM

Register Here

ATLANTA: Webinar at 6:00 PM

Register Here

Be sure to register today so you don't miss out on this informative session. Look forward to seeing you on March 18!

Kind Regards,

Sarah Burke
Community Engagement Coordinator
Inspiritus

Inspiritus speaks to ABC News: "Everyone Needs A Family."

Below is an excerpt from today's ABC News article. Please note, the views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Inspiritus, Inc., a nonpartisan and nonprofit agency.

The hope for refugee resettlement

In 2016, there were nearly 325 refugee resettlement agency offices across the United States. By the end of 2019, more than 100 of those sites had to permanently shut down or suspend their services, according to Krish O'Mara Vignarajah, the president and CEO of Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service. Vignarajah said her organization, alone, had to close 17 affiliate programs during the Trump era.

"Our organization has had to reduce staff almost every quarter over a four-year period, and it's always agonizing to figure out who's the next staff member who's going to have to go," said John Moeller, head of Inspiritus, a resettlement agency that works in Georgia and Tennessee.

His organization's capacity has been reduced by 80% in the Atlanta area and, between the two states, has lost 50% of its staff.

"That means that you lose cultural competence, you lose language skills, you lose specialization in this field," he added.

To keep programs across the country alive, agencies moved staff to other immigration services that were less severely impacted or digging into their own funds as federal resources dried up.

For Zakaria Abdulrazek, 44, that has meant losing co-workers and sweating whether he was next -- even as he struggles to bring his own family to the U.S. from his native Sudan.

Abdulrazek fled Darfur in 2003 amid the genocidal violence, escaping to Libya and then Malta -- and seven long years later, he arrived in the U.S.

Now, Zak works for Inspiritus in Atlanta as a case manager, helping the latest waves of refugees adjust to life in their new home country.

Zak Abdulrazek, a Sudanese refugee who's lived in Atlanta for over a decade, is trying to bring his wife to the U.S., but he told ABC News her application has faced long delays.

But that journey has been a lonely one. He met his wife a few years ago while visiting Sudan, marrying in 2018 and having a daughter last year. But between the coronavirus pandemic's impact on visa processing and Trump's ban on immigration from Sudan and other Muslim majority countries, his family remains separated.

While Zak's encouraged by Biden's executive order (Biden pledged to increase the annual refugee admissions cap to 125,000 in the 12-month period starting Oct. 1.), he's still waiting to see how it will impact his wife's visa application.

"Still we need actions, so we are waiting, hoping it will be better than before," he said.

In the meantime, he worries for their safety, especially as violence flares up again in the Darfur region and Sudan struggles with fuel and food shortages and an economy on the brink of collapse. He said that a close friend returned last month to visit family in Darfur when militant forces targeted him as a U.S. citizen and killed him.

Josine Izabayo, a 24-year-old refugee from Democratic Republic of Congo, moved to the U.S. last year and is adjusting to life in Georgia on her own. She told ABC News she's had a hard time adjusting to life in the U.S., especially without her family who remain overseas.

'Everybody needs a family”

Advocates say the U.S. must do more to meet the historic need. There are more than 80 million people forcibly displaced worldwide, according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, including 26 million refugees.

Josine Izabayo, a 24-year old refugee from Democratic Republic of the Congo, made "the very difficult decision to quit your country" in 2014, fleeing the DRC's relentless conflict that made her an orphan. She spent six years in Uganda stuck "in process," she said, awaiting word on resettlement.

"I came to a new country, new life without knowing anybody," Izabayo told ABC News.

One year ago, she moved to Clarkston, Georgia, outside Atlanta. But her adopted family of nine has not been admitted, their applications left in the balance.

"Everybody needs a family to support and to be with, and so it is very challenging for me," she said. "Hopefully, it will be good... soon."

We hope so, too, Josine!

Please consider donating to our refugee services and programs today, so we can continue our work to reunite families. As always, thank you for the compassion, support, and care you provide to the refugees we serve. We couldn’t do this work without you!

With Gratitude,

Virginia Spencer
Chief Development Officer
Inspiritus

Inspiritus in U.S. News & World Report

U.S. News & World Report
Feb. 5, 2021, at 5:24 p.m.
By Claire Hansen, Staff Writer

Long Shadow of Trump's Refugee Restrictions Threatens Biden's Bid to Up Admissions

Resettlement agencies, crippled by Trump’s policies, say they’re determined to rebuild as President Joe Biden promises to increase refugee admissions.

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Inspiritus, Inc., a nonpartisan and nonprofit agency.

The Rev. John Moeller has had to lay off a lot of employees since the Trump administration began slashing refugee admissions four years ago."We have a skeleton staff today," says Moeller, the chief executive officer of Inspiritus, an Atlanta-based nonprofit that provides refugee resettlement services."All of the specialization and professional skills and languages we had on our team have all had to go," he says.

But in some ways, Inspiritus is lucky. It is still open. More than 100 organizations in the U.S. have had to close down or suspend their refugee services in the last four years as former President Donald Trump lowered refugee admissions to rock-bottom levels, drying up federal funding doled out to resettlement agencies. Many organizations that didn't have to close were, like Inspiritus, forced to scale down. Now, the diffuse refugee resettlement infrastructure in the U.S. is facing a new, albeit more welcome, challenge: rebuilding.

President Joe Biden on Thursday said he will raise the refugees admissions cap to 125,000 for the next fiscal year, fulfilling one of his campaign promises while pledging to restore the refugee resettlement system. He also intends to propose raising admissions for this year after a consultation with Congress.

As with many other programs, Biden will be contending with the long shadow cast by Trump administration policies. It'll likely be years before the crippled system is able to once again process and handle such an influx – a fact Biden seemed to acknowledge.

"It's going to take time to rebuild what has been so badly damaged. But that's precisely what we're going to do," Biden said during a speech at the State Department.

Refugee agencies say they're excited and determined, despite the long road ahead.

The president has the authority to determine how many refugees – the world's neediest people, often fleeing devastating violence and persecution in unstable parts of the world – are admitted to the U.S. each year. The fraction of those allowed to settle in the country go through extensive background and security checks that can take up to two years in some cases.

April 7, 2020 | Bogota, Colombia | Venezuelan migrants leaving Colombia walk on a highway with their belongings. Thousands of Venezuelan migrants living in Colombia have lost their jobs and in some cases been evicted from their homes due to the recession caused by the spread of COVID-19. Groups of Venezuelans gather in walking caravans and head to the border crossing in Cucuta, Colombia. (Guillermo Legaria/Getty Images)

Trump, who campaigned on an anti-immigrant message, targeted the refugee program as soon as he took office, almost immediately slashing admissions from 110,000 to 50,000 and pushing the cap down further each year, ending with a ceiling of 15,000 for the current fiscal year.

It was an enormous deviation for the program, which has been robustly supported by both Republican and Democratic presidents and held up as an example of American's moral leadership. The annual ceiling on admissions has historically averaged about 95,000.

Resettlement in the U.S. involves a complex web of private and public partners. It is largely handled by nine major nongovernmental organizations that work with the State Department and either have local offices around the country or partner with local agencies. The federal government, which vets and processes refugees before they are allowed into the country, gives the agencies funding based on how many refugees they settle. Most states also contribute funding, and agencies also rely on volunteers and donations.

Pushing admissions to record lows, therefore, has had a domino effect: Significantly fewer admissions means significantly less money. Less money means fewer staff and fewer offices. "If you wanted to kill a refugee program, this was the way to do it. You squeeze it to death, you strangle it slowly," Moeller says.

The loss of expertise and intellectual capital will be difficult to restore, experts say. Moeller notes that refugee resettlement is an economy of scale: The larger number of refugees an agency serves allows it to be more efficient with staffing and services. Significantly lower admissions also affect whole ecosystems of services that have been grown and nurtured over the years to support newly settled refugees, says Hans Van de Weerd, interim senior vice president, Europe, at the International Rescue Committee, one of the nine major resettlement agencies. "A lot of the systems that benefit from the regular flow of refugees and immigrants arriving get really, really damaged," Van de Weer says of lowered admissions.

Employers that partner with resettlement agencies to provide opportunities for refugees, for example, needed to find other streams of workers when refugee admissions dried up, Van de Weerd says. Losing those partnerships will have a lasting impact, even as admissions ramp back up under Biden.

"The infrastructure and capacity is not there," Moeller says. "The sinews have not been maintained to ensure that the partnerships we need to be effective are knit together."

It wasn't just the raw admissions numbers. The Trump administration also imposed additional bureaucratic barriers on refugees while shuttering refugee offices and reassigning refugee officers.

March 25, 2020 | Berlin | A poster supporting homeless people and refugees is displayed at the window of an apartment building. The German words read: "Racism Kills." (Markus Schreiber/AP)

Trump's travel ban – which was rescinded by Biden on Day One of his term – barred refugees from countries with some of the worst humanitarian crises, like Syria and Yemen. The administration also reset admissions priorities, ditching international standards that push the neediest refugees to the top of the list for guidelines that tend to favor Christians and white Eastern Europeans.

"If you think about the program as a car, not only did the previous administration slam on the brakes, it intentionally sought to dismantle the engine," says Krish Vignarajah, chief executive officer of the Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service, one of the major U.S. resettlement organizations. Vignarajah said 17 of the organization's affiliated refugee agencies had to close in the last four years as a result of Trump policies. Biden seems eager to start reversing some of those policies. He on Thursday signed an executive order aimed at restoring the resettlement system that included a laundry list of action items. The order directs the government to streamline the refugee process and calls for a review of existing programs and some Trump policies. It also rescinds several Trump actions.

Experts involved in resettlement say changes at the federal level concerning policy and staffing will be crucial in building out the resettlement system again, but refugee agencies themselves will still face formidable obstacles in preparing to handle more admissions. Even just finding and hiring qualified staff back will take time."That whole infrastructure was basically strangled, and rebuilding is going to take a massive amount of time," Van de Weerd says.

April 6, 2020 | Ciudad Juarez, Mexico | Cesar, an asylum seeker from Nicaragua waits with his wife, Carolina (right) and his 8-year-old son Donovan at a U.S. port of entry to change their asylum court dates. (PAUL RATJE/AFP/Getty Images)

Agencies are also facing less tangible obstacles. Trump's rhetoric demonizing immigrants and a charged political atmosphere have contributed to a more hostile and xenophobic environment in some places for refugees, agencies say, though they note that their communities are still overwhelmingly welcoming.

"We have seen a shift in how refugees are treated, because sometimes they're lumped into the pool of immigrants, and people aren't always educated on who refugees are," says Shalaina Abioye, the director of refugee services at Catholic Charities Fort Worth in Dallas and Fort Worth, Texas.

The Trump administration's restrictions on the system, however, came with a few silver linings – some of which could prove crucial in the coming years. Some agencies reassigned staff members from refugee programs to efforts helping asylum-seekers and other immigrants. Those shifts, and the drop in needed refugee services, also allowed organizations to focus heavily on helping communities through the coronavirus pandemic. With less federal funding flowing in, refugee organizations have put more effort into private fundraising, which will come in handy as admissions ramp up and agencies begin to rebuild.

And agencies say they're seeing even more community buy-in and enthusiasm from volunteers – not, perhaps, in spite of the current political environment, but rather because of it.

March 28, 2020 | Lesbos Island, Greece | A migrant family wearing handmade protective face masks stand next to their tent in the Moria refugee camp. (MANOLIS LAGOUTARIS/AFP/Getty Images)

"All of this negative policy attention really did trigger a lot of support in communities," Van de Weerd says. "We will be able to scale up rapidly because there are communities that are willing to help and to stand up and to make local resources available as well."

No one can say for sure how many refugees the U.S. will be able to settle in the next year or two, but many people who work in resettlement say it's unlikely the country will be able to hit 125,000. Some are cautiously optimistic about seeing somewhere between 30,000 and 60,000 refugees admitted in fiscal 2022. The ongoing coronavirus pandemic will likely continue to impose additional barriers on travel and resettlement. Despite a demoralizing four years and the looming challenges ahead, resettlement agencies say they're both hopeful and committed to rebuilding and serving as many people as are admitted to the U.S. Some have already crafted or implemented plans to start expanding their operations again.

"We'll be ready to reach out and hire staff, since there's so many staff who have been laid off from different agencies and across the United States," Abioye says. Moeller, in Georgia, says his staff is determined.

"We will find a way to overcome," he says. "At one level, you might look at the infrastructure and say it's impossible, but at another level, we say that's what we do. We do the impossible."

Please consider donating today to join with us in doing "the impossible."

If you'd like to share a link to this article, please do so here. As always, thank you for the compassion and support you provide to refugees, asylum seekers, and immigrants.

With Gratitude,

Virginia Spencer
Chief Development Officer
Inspiritus

#refugeeresettlement #SurvingtoThriving #Inspiritus

Inspiritus MLK Day of Reflection 2021

A day of service, learning and advocacy to commemoratethe life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

This will be an enlightening afternoon of reflection. We are very excited to announce that we will have a children's pastor and two youth pastors facilitating an age-appropriate learning experience for the first half of the afternoon's event.

Our children will be lead by: Deacon Mary Houck. She serves as Director of Children's Ministry and Special Needs Ministry at Lutheran Church of the Redeemer in Atlanta and has been involved in leadership of the Inspiritus MLK Day of Service for several years.

Our youth will be lead by Reverend Michael Jannett and Hillary Nelson. Reverend Michael is the Assistant to the Bishop for Communication and Formation for the Southeastern Synod of the ELCA. Hillary Nelson is the Director for Middle and High School Youth Ministry at Lutheran Church of the Redeemer in Atlanta.

The adult sessions will have a multi-sensory approach with musical performances and artist, GW Harper, painting through out the event. We will reflect on Dr. King's messages of peace, hope, and service through poems, lectures, and break-out group discussions.

Families, please register each of your children separately, and indicate whether you'd like a children's ticket (5th grade and under) and/or a youth ticket (6th grade through 12th grade) on our registration page.

Please note that families will begin the event together, on the parent's Zoom link, then we will ask the children to log on to a separate Zoom on their own devices after the introductory portion of the program.

We look forward to learning, serving, and advocating with you on January 18th!

A Special Zoom Event

Monday, January 18, 2020

1:00 PM to 3:00 PM EST

Pass The Georgia Hate Crimes Bill Now!

Hello friends,

We're reprinting an important statement regarding the passage of The Georgia Hate Crimes Bill known as HB 426, signed by our CEO, John Moeller:

In the wake of the recent extrajudicial killing of minority citizens in Georgia and across the nation,The Georgia Interfaith Public Policy Center calls for passage of HB 426, The Georgia Hate Crimes Bill.

Statement Against Racism and Violence

ATLANTA (June 2, 2020) -- The Georgia Interfaith Public Policy Center condemns racial violence and racism in all forms.

We bear witness to the profound outrage, horror, and trauma following the inhumane murder of George Floyd by members of the Minneapolis Police Department on May 25, 2020, the killing of Breonna Taylor on March 13, 2020, the murder of Ahmaud Arbery in Brunswick on February 23, 2020, and the violence sustained by our brothers and sisters of color throughout the history of this state and country rooted in systemic racism.

Whereas, we recognize that these acts stem from centuries of racial violence against innocent, unarmed black and brown men, women, and children in this country to uphold systems of white supremacy. Now Therefore, we specifically call for the passage, without amendment, of Georgia House Bill 426, also known as The Hate Crimes Bill.

We recognize that the violence of white supremacy became institutionalized with the enslavement and exploitation of Africans and people of African descent. We believe the chronicity of this violence is located in the institution of slavery which demeaned those made in the image of God to property.

We further recognize that the violence of white supremacy continues to be perpetuated in policies and practices that inflict undue suffering and harm to communities of color. We recognize that the violence of white supremacy stretches back to the founding of this country. We recognize that the violence of white supremacy began with the genocide of Indigenous Nations inhabiting this land.

We believe this is a defining moment when we, as people of faith and good will, cannot stand by in silence. We must stand up and speak out. We pray for all individuals, families, and communities enduring pain, sorrow, rage, and shock due to the impact of racial violence. We believe that faith leaders have a unique responsibility and a sacred mandate to lift up the dignity and value of all human beings.

We recognize that all faiths believe in justice and therefore we call on people of all faiths and good will to join us in advocating systemic changes to dismantle institutionalized racism. This tragedy makes it even more urgent for us to draw closer together as partners across all religions, races, and ethnicities to fight for justice and equality.

Further, we condemn the use of violence against peaceful protesters and the misuse of the symbols of any faith, not for justice or peace, but for propaganda and partisan posturing.

We declare our commitment to achieving racial justice and equity in the State of Georgia.

Signed by:

• Hilton M. Austin, Jr., Chair of the Board of Directors

• Rabbi Peter Berg, Chief Rabbi, The Temple, Director

• Ann Cramer, Board Secretary

• Robert B. Currey, Founder, Currey & Company, Inc., Director

• Chester Fontenot, Jr., PhD, Baptist Professor of English and Director of the African American Studies, Mercer University, Macon, Georgia, Director

• Soumaya Khalifa, Executive Director, Islamic Speakers Bureau, Director

• The Reverend Shelli Latham, Pastor, Druid Hills Presbyterian Church, Director

• The Venerable Carole Maddux, Archdeacon of the Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta, and Executive Director, Georgia Interfaith Public Policy Center

• John Moeller, Executive Director, Inspiritus, Director

• David Marmins, Partner, Arnall Golden Gregory LLP, Director

• Howard Mosby, Senior Vice President, Grady Healthcare System, Atlanta, Director

• Brenda Joyce Smith, Independent Scholar, Director

• The Reverend Kevin Strickland, Bishop, Southeastern Synod, The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Director

• The Reverend Taryn Strauss, Senior Minister, Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Atlanta, Director

• The Right Reverend Robert C. Wright, Bishop, The Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta, Director

While the events of the last couple of days in Atlanta and across the US are grievous and, in some cases, hard to comprehend, we can’t, and won’t, let our confusion and fear immobilize us. We look forward to deeper engagement with our partners and with all who are ready to say, “This must end. We can do better than this. We are better than this. God grant us strength to be better than this.”

With Gratitude,

Virginia Spencer

Vice President of Development

Inspiritus