Bridging Worlds: A U.S. Veteran’s Mission to Welcome Refugees

Dear Friend,

At Inspiritus, we are honored to share stories of extraordinary individuals who embody resilience, compassion, and a deep commitment to welcoming those in need. Today, we’re sharing the journey of U.S. military veteran Josh Muehlendorf—a man whose dedication to service and faith in humanity continue to shape lives, including his own. With 22 years in the military, Josh’s experiences in Iraq and Afghanistan opened his heart to the powerful bonds formed across cultures, even amidst the challenges of war. Now, through Inspiritus, he and his family are creating new connections with Afghan refugees in Georgia, helping them find hope and belonging in their new home.

Read more about Josh’s inspiring story and the vital role he plays in our mission to support refugees and immigrants below:

Meet Josh Muehlendorf:

“Love me or hate me for it, I’m a person who…probably falls on the right side of the political spectrum. However, I feel like the whole conversation…especially as a Christian, when we talk about the refugee crisis, we are missing the mark politically.” 

In addition to his Christian values, Josh Muehlendorf’s firm belief in welcoming refugees is informed by his 22 years serving in the U.S. military. Born and raised in Texas, Josh would find “hope and reason for life” at a Christian church at the age of 18 and years later, would enlist in the army, specialize in army aviation and live out a childhood dream of becoming a helicopter pilot. Almost immediately after his training, he was deployed to Iraq, where he completed two tours in five years, one for nine months and another for 15 months. Advancing in his career, Josh would later join the special ops team and find himself deployed to the Middle East once again- this time, in Afghanistan. Throughout his seven stints in Afghanistan, Josh experienced a wide range of feelings and situations that encapsulate the emotionally strenuous nature of war:

“There were things that were hard to deal with… to look at…hard things to learn about myself, to continually process over and over…but there were also some very beautiful moments woven in that show humanity at its best.”

Among those beautiful moments of humanity are the many memories and day-to-day experiences Josh shared with his Afghan brothers and sisters in arms who worked alongside U.S. military members to help interpret and carry out other key roles essential to ensuring our soldiers remain safe and well-positioned for success in their mission abroad.

After returning to the U.S. following the end of his seventh deployment, Josh, his wife, and two kids moved to a base near Savannah, Georgia. It was through their new church that they would be introduced to Ali and Khatira, two former military members from Afghanistan, who were among the lucky ones to be airlifted out of the country in August 2021 before the country fell to the Taliban. Josh and his family were connected to the pair through their friends from church who ran a retreat center right outside Savannah and were partnering with Inspiritus to temporarily house some new refugee arrivals at the center while they waited for their new apartments to get set up. 

Josh met Ali and Khatira at a cookout hosted by their friends- a gathering that would become a recurring event whereby Savannah residents could break bread with their newest neighbors and help establish a sense of community and connections in their new hometown. For Josh and Khatira, that connection would be almost instantly forged. Josh recalls her pulling up some pictures to show him during her time as a soldier in the Afghan military. He quickly learned that their connection ran deeper than he had initially thought.

“When she showed me a picture of her in uniform on a base, I knew right where she was staying. We worked with the same people, doing the same work…in that moment sitting there with Khatira and realizing we were connected in space and time through our jobs…all of a sudden in that moment, I realized there was this deep connection with them.” 

After initially meeting at the cookout, Josh instantly became a dedicated volunteer for Ali and Khatira, providing rides to the grocery store or to various appointments while they save up to get a car of their own. He similarly helped them coordinate the logistics of securing donations for household goods, a task that would eventually lead him to helping Inspiritus coordinate donation drop offs for other Afghan families we resettled to Savannah. Inspiritus was the first human service organization Josh had been involved with, and it was eye-opening for him to learn exactly what it takes to carry out this kind of work. “I learned I cannot be anyone’s savior…it takes some real organization and requires a good team.” It also fully reinforced a belief he already held regarding the importance of continuing to welcome refugees to the U.S. “We need to be accepting refugees. We need to be investing in it and making sure we do it right.”

Josh and his family have recently relocated to Georgetown, Texas. However, he looks forward to reconnecting with Khatira and Ali, whose wife and four children have finally come to reunite with him in Savannah earlier this June. Reflecting on old memories of the cookouts and the Thanksgiving holidays spent together, Josh comments on the profound impact of the moments he shared with Ali, Khatira, and the other Afghans he helped welcome to Savannah. “Afghanistan is a place where I had been a part of some horrible destruction…to now be able to be part of something that was life-giving to those people is incredible. These are wonderful people with hearts of gold…they deserve a shot at this.”

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We’re incredibly grateful for supporters like Josh and all those who speak up on behalf of refugees and immigrants in their communities. Your commitment strengthens our shared communities. Together, we can make a lasting impact by welcoming and supporting new neighbors.

To support refugees, please click the button below and select the "Refugee Services" fund.

Thank you for your partnership and dedication to creating a more inclusive community for all.

Sincerely,

Virginia Spencer
Chief Development Officer
Inspiritus

We Cannot Do This Alone

Dear Friend,

The latter part of this week has been immensely challenging for our Refugee & Immigrant Services team at Inspiritus and the newcomer families with whom we walk alongside on a path toward safety, stability, and success in the United States. As a non-partisan and faith-based organization, we historically have always- and will always- continue to welcome the opportunity to work with our elected leaders on both sides of the aisle to ensure survivors of war and persecution can find safety in this country and access the resources they need to get settled and ultimately achieve their own version of the American Dream.

While we are entering a period of relative uncertainty under a new administration, we are simultaneously preparing for certain realities we can expect based on previous experiences. This period was marked by rampant anti-immigrant sentiments and policy changes intended to dismantle the national infrastructure for refugee resettlement entirely.

As we continue operating under the first quarter of a new federal fiscal year within the current administration, our team is on the ground, working tirelessly to meet the moment and help welcome as many new refugee arrivals as we possibly can until a new directive is issued. But we can’t do it alone.

It is our mission to walk with refugees on a path from surviving to thriving. As we await to see how our work and the future of refugee resettlement will be impacted come January 2025, we remain determined to continue paving this path so the world’s most vulnerable individuals may find light in times of darkness. Please help us shine this light and join us on the road ahead to upholding our commitment to human rights and ensuring the United States remains a safe haven for vulnerable families. Now more than ever, we need your support.

Sincerely,

Virginia Spencer
Chief Development Officer
Inspiritus

Our Commitment Stands.

Dear Friend,

Inspiritus has been welcoming refugees to the United States since 1981. Throughout the seven different presidential administrations that occupied the White House in these 43 years, we have opened our doors to survivors of war and persecution from all corners of the globe. Let us be clear- we don’t intend to stop now.

Our faith and belief in the United States as a beacon of light, compassion, and opportunity calls for us to welcome the stranger because it is the right thing to do. Our experience in helping thousands of refugees ascend on a path from surviving to thriving calls on us to continue this work because we see first hand how the economic, social, and cultural contributions of refugees and immigrants strengthen our local communities. More than just an ideal or a value, it is a reality we know to be true because we’ve seen too many success stories to count.

It is our mission to empower those whose lives have been disrupted to discover their strengths and resilience, accompanying them as they grow into vibrant contributors to their community. We thank you for the ways that you’ve helped us advance this mission so far in our collective vision to see transformed communities where all, regardless of their background or circumstances, thrive and enrich the world around them.

Now more than ever, it will be imperative that we stand in solidarity with our new American neighbors and preserve the integrity of the welcoming communities we’ve worked hard to build in Metro Atlanta, Savannah, Birmingham, and Nashville.

To learn more about volunteer opportunities, or to show your support by making a donation, click the buttons below.

Sincerely,

John Moeller
Chief Executive Officer
Inspiritus

Birmingham Fire Chief Addresses Refugee

Dear Friend,

As a dedicated volunteer and spokesperson for refugees, Chief Cory Moon exemplifies the spirit of service and inclusivity that we all strive to embrace. Growing up in Birmingham, Alabama, Cory knew from a young age that his calling was to serve his community as a firefighter. Today, as the head of Birmingham Fire and Rescue, he not only leads with bravery and compassion but also advocates for the safety and dignity of everyone in Birmingham—including newly arrived refugee families. Chief Moon believes that, as public servants, "it's our responsibility to make everyone feel welcome and safe." His firsthand understanding of the importance of community reminds us that regardless of our background or origins, we all share a common need for safety, dignity, and a place to belong.

Read more about Chief Moon’s story and his journey below:

Meet Chief Cory Moon:

Cory Moon knew he wanted to be a firefighter since he was five years old. Growing up around the corner from a fire station in his local Birmingham neighborhood, he would see the big, red fire trucks pass up and down his street; however, it wasn’t until a fire broke out at a neighbor’s home that 10-year-old Cory developed a deeper understanding of what the job truly entailed. After tending to his neighbor’s home that night, he recalls several of the firefighters on duty stopping over to chat with him a little bit—a gesture of kindness that left a profound impact on his life and would solidify his commitment to the field and serving his community.

A graduate of both Columbia Southern University and the Alabama Fire College, Cory went on to earn his degree in Emergency Medical Services along with his Firefighter's Certification, and began his first day on the job as a firefighter on March 26, 2001. Now, twenty-one years later, Chief Cory Moon acts as the head of the Birmingham Fire and Rescue Department, a role that he says allows him to “live the dream every day I wake up.”

This dream of pursuing a career in public safety is connected to a larger desire to help others. For Chief Moon, it’s quite simple—when new refugee families arrive in Birmingham, they become an interconnected part of the larger community.

The Birmingham Fire Rescue is a welcoming environment and we want to send the message that we are a good community partner…our services are for everyone.

He notes, “The Birmingham Fire Rescue is a welcoming environment, and we want to send the message that we are a good community partner…our services are for everyone. We want people to feel safe to contact us and reach out at any time. It’s our job to provide rapid, reliable, professional emergency services to everyone and keep all visitors and citizens of Birmingham safe—and we do that.” 

Chief Moon was initially connected to Inspiritus almost two years ago and has acted as a consistently present and engaged partner with our Birmingham office. Since representing Birmingham FD at our quarterly community stakeholder meetings, Chief Moon says he has “Learned about challenges that refugees face, but also learned that there are a lot of resources available—especially from Inspiritus—that can help them navigate through their challenges to become active, happy members of the community.”

In June 2023, Chief Moon had an opportunity to meet some of the refugee families we welcomed that year at our World Refugee Day Celebration, hosted by Homewood Church of Christ. When asked about some of the conversations he had, he notes, “They’re people who want the same thing as we do…they want community and safety—just like all of us.”

Cory D. Moon, Chief for the City of Birmingham Fire & Rescue Service and his older brother Rodney Moon.

When asked about what he might say to someone who might have concerns about continuing our country’s long tradition of welcoming refugees, he says: “Remember--this country is a nation of immigrants, and we all have family members that come from a different place. It’s very simple—everyone deserves to be treated with dignity, kindness, and respect. That’s how I live my life, and I expect our personnel to treat everyone with kindness, as well. Follow the golden rule.”

We’re incredibly grateful for supporters like Chief Moon and all those who speak up on behalf of refugees and immigrants in their communities. Your commitment strengthens our shared communities. Together, we can make a lasting impact by welcoming and supporting new neighbors.

To support refugees, please click the button below and select the "Refugee Services" fund.

Thank you for your partnership and dedication to creating a more inclusive community for all.

Sincerely,

Sincerely,

Aimee Zangandou
Executive Director
Refugee & Immigrant Services Program
Inspiritus

Elections are Scary for Refugee Agencies

Dear Friend,

I am honored that Inspiritus was able to spotlight our Refugee and Immigrant Services Program in the latest feature in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. I hope that my insights can reveal the challenges and uncertainties we face in this critical work, especially as we approach a pivotal election that could shape the future of refugee resettlement in the U.S. I invite you to read the full article and join us in supporting those seeking safety and hope.

Election a ‘scary moment’ for those helping refugees come to Georgia

Future of U.S. refugee program could hinge on presidential election between Trump and Harris

By: Lautaro Grinspan

Aimee Zangandou was just a teen in 1997 when she moved to metro Atlanta with her parents, leaving behind the violent aftermath of a bloody genocide in the family’s native Rwanda. They settled in Stone Mountain via the U.S. refugee program, a legal pathway into the country for people who fear for their safety back home.

Created under former President Jimmy Carter, the refugee program has allowed millions of vulnerable exiles from across the world to start new lives stateside, bringing profound changes to communities across the country — and helping reshape the face of metro Atlanta.

In DeKalb County, a steady stream of newcomers from places such as Bhutan, Somalia, Sudan, Liberia and Vietnam brought national attention to the refugee hub of Clarkston, earning the city monikers ranging from “the most diverse square mile in America” to “the Ellis Island of the South.”

But whether refugees will continue arriving in meaningful numbers is deeply uncertain. The 2024 presidential election has generated intense debate around immigration policy — the byproduct of years of crisis at the southern border — and, depending on the outcome, it could yield big cuts to the refugee program come 2025.

“It’s not easy to find the right words to describe what this moment feels like,” said Zangandou, now an executive director at Inspiritus, one of the five local resettlement agencies that help refugees relocate to Georgia. “Everybody’s nervous.”

The refugee program is coming off a banner year.

From October 2023 through September, Georgia resettled 3,227 refugees, more than all but 11 other states. Nationwide, the U.S. welcomed over 100,000 immigrants through the refugee program in that time span, a thirty-year milestone, according to U.S. Department of State.

The number of refugees who are vetted and cleared to come each year is decided upon by the president.

For the last three years, President Joe Biden has set the annual refugee cap at 125,000. His administration has also admitted tens of thousands of Ukrainians and Afghans through alternative humanitarian avenues outside of the cap.

That has marked a sharp break from the preceding administration. President Donald Trump set historic lows for refugee admission targets, reaching a nadir of 18,000 during his last year in office, with only 11,800 actually admitted.

Trump has said he would suspend refugee resettlement altogether should he retake the White House.

“It’s just such an opposite approach to this work,” said Paedia Mixon, chief executive officer at New American Pathways, a local resettlement agency. “It’s a really challenging thing to say that [after Election Day], something [could] happen that will change our operation night and day, dramatically.”

As a result of the Trump cuts, over 100 resettlement offices shuttered nationwide during his four years in office. In Georgia, local agencies saw their budgets slashed and were forced to downsize during the Trump years.

Inspiritus alone had an 80% capacity reduction in the Atlanta, and lost 50% of its staff across its entire organization, which also resettles refugees in Savannah, Nashville, and Birmingham.

“I think we all feel anxiety. I think the whole collective field feels anxiety,” Mixon said.

Carola Briceño Peña, a refugee from Venezuela, in her Clarkston, Georgia apartment. (Miguel Martinez/AJC)

Following the Trump-era downsizing, building capacity back up to adapt to Biden’s much higher refugee caps proved difficult. According to agency leaders, suitable caseworkers need to have a specialized skill set to serve new immigrants, including extensive language skills, which explains why the restoration of the refugee program was slow-going.

The U.S. resettled roughly 11,400 refugees in 2021; 25,400 refugees in 2022; and 60,000 in 2023 before crossing the 100,000 threshold this year.

Unprecedented polarization

Refugee resettlement leaders say the newfound volatility in the federal government’s approach to refugee resettlement is the product of deepening polarization around immigration. As newcomers who arrive via a regulated, legal pathway, refugees hadn’t engendered significant backlash in the past.

But that has started to change.

“Ever since President Carter codified refugee resettlement, and even before that, it was a bipartisan issue. It was bipartisan supported,” said Justin Howell, executive director of the International Rescue Committee (IRC) in Atlanta, a resettlement agency that relocated more than 1,500 refugees from 34 countries in fiscal year 2024, 44% of whom were children.

“It’s only recently that our politics have gotten to the point where immigration has become so heavily politicized,” he said. “I wish we could get back and really look at it from a policy lens, actual data, rather than just emotion. That’s the problem. That’s what this is about, right? It’s about emotion.”

Mixon and Zangandou explained that concerns over border security have led some to conflate refugees with migrants who come to the country illegally.

“There’s some rhetoric around the idea of there being a ‘good’ immigrant and a ‘bad’ immigrant. But I feel like anti-immigrant sentiment is anti-immigrant sentiment. It impacts refugees. It impacts everyone,” Mixon said.

According to Zangandou, evolving political realities and increased “animosity toward the work that we do” have led Inspiritus to spend more time thinking about safety for staffers and refugees.

A new sudden change in policy could have severe implications for agencies like Inspiritus, and it could represent a turning of the page for communities like Clarkston. Still, Zangandou said those facing persecution in other countries would be most affected, if the U.S. refugee program is drastically reduced or no longer exists.

“It’s about life and death for them,” she said.

Resettlement leaders say people locked out of the refugee program may see no other choice for themselves but to try to reach the U.S. via the southern border, and try their luck there.

To support refugees, please click the button below and select the "Refugee Services" fund.

Thank you for your continued support.

Sincerely,

Sincerely,

Aimee Zangandou
Executive Director
Refugee & Immigrant Services Program
Inspiritus

Middle Tennessee Newsletter

Dear Friends,

We are excited to share some incredible updates and highlights from our work here in Middle Tennessee. Thanks to your ongoing support, Inspiritus continues to empower individuals and families on their journey from surviving to thriving. Here are just a few examples of the impact you’ve helped us achieve recently:

Exciting News: Groundbreaking Soon for the North
Nashville Senior Housing Initiative!

We are just weeks away from the groundbreaking of our new North Nashville Senior Housing Initiative! Major construction will kick off within the next quarter at the corner of Rosa Parks and Garfield Blvd. Thanks to the generous contributions from individuals, foundations, churches, and state, federal, and local government, we are proud to announce that we are 97% funded for this $31 million project, which will provide essential housing and support services for older adults and the wider North Nashville community.

Stay tuned for the announcement of the groundbreaking ceremony date—we can't wait to celebrate this important milestone with you!

Empowering Our Volunteers

This year, we were honored to have Jason, one of our amazing volunteers, named a finalist for the 2024 Mary Catherine Strobel Volunteer Award. Jason’s dedication to our Nashville Food Pantry has been instrumental in serving vulnerable families, and we couldn’t be prouder of his accomplishments.

Thriving Through Our Refugee Services

Our Refugee & Immigrant Services program continues to grow, and we recently hosted a World Refugee Day celebration in Nashville. The event brought together refugees, community leaders, and supporters like you to celebrate the vibrant cultures and resilience of our new American neighbors. It was a day filled with music, food, and powerful stories of hope.

Thriving Spotlight: Barbara & Dennie

The word “thriving” is everywhere these days, and when we chose it to describe Inspiritus’ mission of helping individuals and families on their path from surviving to thriving, we couldn’t have anticipated its popularity. Thriving and flourishing in our surroundings brings inherent hope, but what does that look like in Empowerment Services in 2024?

Our friend Barbara has sparked many discussions about the urgent need for affordable housing. Thanks to collaborative efforts from partner agencies, Barbara is now thriving in her new apartment in North Nashville. With support from Inspiritus and generous donors who furnished her space, she can finally lay her head down in her own bed after 25 years. “I’m so happy,” Barbara said. “It’s so peaceful here.”

Dennie’s story is another testament to resilience. “I’m free!” she exclaimed in a DHS office recently. Two decades before this day, after a series of traumatic events, Dennie and her daughter ended up on the streets. Although Dennie has been housed and flourishing for years, she still owed the state back child support when her daughter went into state custody while they were unhoused. Every paycheck for the last 10 years has taken out a portion of her small income to pay back the state. Thanks to a generous donor, that debt was cleared this month, lifting a weight off her shoulders.

Policies often fail to reflect the realities faced by those living on the margins. Thriving can seem out of reach when low wages and debt weigh you down. Yet, with the support of Inspiritus, Barbara, Dennie, and many others thrive and inspire against the odds.

We look forward to continuing these important initiatives, and we’re grateful to have you as part of the Inspiritus family. Together, we’re making a real difference in the lives of those we serve.

If you’d like to learn more about our upcoming events or opportunities to get involved, please feel free to reach out to us. Your support is essential to our mission, and we couldn’t do this work without you!

If you are interested in making a monetary contribution to support our efforts in Middle Tennessee or would like to learn more about this impactful work, click the buttons below.

Thank you for your ongoing commitment to Inspiritus and the Middle Tennessee community!

Warm regards,

Janet Arning
Executive Director of Middle Tennessee
Inspiritus

The Presidential Declaration

Dear Friends,

Each year, the White House announces the number of refugees that will be welcomed into the US in the coming year. On behalf of the Inspiritus Refugees & Immigrants services team, we are excited to share the 2025 Presidential Declaration. Click the button below to read now. 

To further support our Refugee & Immigrant Services programming, visit our website to DONATE or VOLUNTEER.

Sincerely,

Virginia Spencer
Chief Development Officer
Inspiritus

Atlanta Journal-Constitution Features Inspiritus Refugee Story

Lviv Croissants' first United States location is in Roswell, Georgia.

Dear Friends,

Inspiritus is proud to share the inspiring story Petro Dudnyk, featured in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Lviv Croissants, a cherished Ukrainian eatery, is opening its first U.S. location in Roswell, GA thanks in part to the support of Thrive Community Lending, an innovative new program launched by Inspiritus this year. Petro, a Ukrainian pastor and franchisee, has brought this beloved brand to our shores, blending culinary tradition with a commitment to raising awareness for important causes. We invite you to read the full article from the AJC, which captures the spirit of this venture and the impactful work being done through Inspiritus. Read Petro's full story below.

Ukrainian restaurant Lviv Croissants set to open its first U.S. location in Roswell

By: Yvonne Zusel

A Ukraine-based eatery that’s gained popularity since debuting in 2015 is set to open its first U.S. location in Roswell.

Lviv Croissants will open at 11 a.m. Aug. 10 at 610 W. Crossville Road, with the official grand opening Aug. 14.

Founded in the city of Lviv, Ukraine, the chain has since expanded to 189 stores across Ukraine, Poland and Slovakia.

The store is majority-owned by Lviv Croissants corporate and Brett Larrabee, CEO of Lviv Croissants USA. Ukraine native Petro Dudnyk also serves as a franchisee for the location. Dudnyk, a pastor who also co-owns a Lviv location in Kramatorsk, Ukraine, came to the U.S. in 2022 for his son’s wedding and stayed after war broke out in the country. He funded his portion of the U.S. location through Thrive Community Lending, which provides microloans for refugees and immigrants.

Larabee, who has been in the food franchising business for nearly 40 years, said he and co-founder Andrii Galytskyi have been wanting to bring Lviv to the U.S. for years. Larabee was traveling in Ukraine for work when he began noticing the long lines that would form outside Lviv restaurants.

“Every time I went by a Lviv, they were packed,” he said. “After 37 years, I know what works and what doesn’t, what consumers want and don’t want. Lviv has a high-quality product and offers great coffee, great food and a great ambience where people can go and hang out and be part of a community.”

Petro Dudnyk (right) with Inspiritus President & CEO John R. Moeller Jr. (left) at the opening of Lviv Croissant in Roswell, GA.

While the menu for the Roswell restaurant will be very similar to European locations, some minor tweaks have been made, including removing the cheeseburger and teriyaki croissants.

Savory sandwiches on the American menu include the pastrami croissant; the Lviv croissant with salami, ham, Swiss cheese, lettuce, cucumber, tomato and garlic sauce; roasted pepper chicken; Italian charcuterie with salami, prosciutto and capicola; and a turkey avocado BLT

Sweet croissant offerings including a strawberry and mascarpone croissant and an option filled with pistachio cream, while savory breakfast croissants include one filled with cabanossi sausage, Swiss cheese, egg and Sriracha aioli and another with lox and cream cheese

Rounding out the menu are a handful of salads, soups and sides, as well as an extensive beverage list with espresso drinks, teas, lemonades and smoothies.

In addition to bringing a flavor of his home country to the U.S., Dudnyk also hopes to bring awareness to events unfolding there

The cups at the Roswell location will feature a QR code enabling guests to get information on United for Ukrainian (U4U) Kids, a program that Dudnyk and his wife started to connect orphans from Ukraine to host families in America for one month. Last year, they connected 100 kids — many of whom lost a parent to the war— with host families in the U.S.

Larabee said Lviv “checks all the boxes” when it comes to brands that are set up for success, and he has plans, along with Galytskyi, to open hundreds of Lviv locations across the U.S. in the coming years

“One of the things I look for are brands that can withstand challenged and work in tough environments,” he said. “What this chain has proved to me is that it’s a very resilient brand and product that consumers really appreciate.

To support micro-loans for refugee small businesses like Lviv Croissant, click the button below and select the "Thrive Community Lending" fund.

Thank you for your support.

Sincerely,

Virginia Spencer
Chief Development Officer
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

Register Now for Hunger Walk 2024 on March 10th!

Register Today for the 40th Annual Hunger Walk/Run - Hosted by the Atlanta Community Food Bank!

 Dear Friends,

Celebrate the 40th Anniversary of the Hunger Walk/Run with us on Sunday, March 10th at the Home Depot Backyard! This special 5k event, hosted by the Atlanta Community Food Bank, brings our community together to raise awareness and crucial funds for local hunger relief. By participating, you're supporting Inspiritus and other vital organizations that help those facing hunger in metro Atlanta and north Georgia.

This year, help us make an even bigger impact. Start or join a team, and let's exceed our fundraising goals together.

Event Details:

When: Sunday, March 10, 2024

Where: The Home Depot Backyard, 1 Backyard Way, Atlanta, GA 30313

• 12:00pm: Event Opens, Onsite Registration & Entertainment Begins

• 2:00pm: 5K Fun Walk & Run Begins

• 4:00pm: Event Ends

Register now to join Inspiritus and thousands of walkers and runners dedicated to ending hunger in metro Atlanta!

With gratitude,

Mary Armstrong-Reiner

Hunger Walk Coordinator

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