TSOS's Brandi Kilmer, Community Program Coordinator for D.C., Maryland, and Virginia was honored to be a guest on the ECDC African Community Center DC Metro's podcast "Resettlement: A Human Journey" to discuss the role of storytelling in the resettlement process. You can listen to the 45-minute Episode 2 on the ECDC ACC-DC Resettlement: A Human Journey website or by searching for their podcast Podbean.
Uniting for Ukraine: U.S. Sponsors Needed
Just as citizens in Europe and the U.K. have heroically supported displaced Ukrainians by opening up their homes or securing other housing, assisting with school enrollments, employment needs, and language learning, Americans now have the opportunity via the Welcome.us Sponsor Circles program to directly help newly arrived Ukrainians. The United States has committed to welcoming 100,000 Ukrainians temporarily for a period of two-years and the ability to apply for employment authorization in the U.S. as long as they have a U.S.-based sponsor to petition for them.
Inviting others to help write a story of success
I quickly realized that in order for my friend Jahan to re-establish her upended art career, she would need some help from a local artist. Enter Ann Marie Coolick, an artist from Arlington, Virginia.
Why celebrate World Refugee Day?
To me, the label “refugee” is a badge of honor. I invite you to honor and celebrate refugees and welcomers with me this month and to meet some of these heroes at TSOS's Virtual World Refugee Day event on 17 June.