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.
Almost any individual or group can apply to sponsor Ukrainians. Sponsors may be U.S. citizens, permanent residents, or other lawfully present individuals. This includes Ukrainian Americans, immigrants who have Temporary Protected Status (TPS), recently arrived refugees, and other everyday Americans, like you! Nonprofits, educational institutions, and employers can also help sponsor people fleeing Ukraine.
Sponsorship is a deep commitment, but a transformative one for both you and those you welcome. You are changing lives and strengthening your community and country. You don’t have to do it alone. Sponsorship can be most successful, and most joyful, when it is done in a community of friends, family, and colleagues. The Welcome.us website has detailed information to answer your FAQs, and includes interactive tutorials and checklists.
Additionally, the U.S. Department of State has recently announced the launch of the Welcome Corps, a new private sponsorship program that empowers everyday Americans to play a leading role in welcoming refugees from around the world, arriving through the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP). This program is intended to engage the public in supporting the resettlement and integration of refugees as they build new lives in the United States. To learn more about this new program click the link below:
Their Story is Our Story Applauds the Signing of Virginia House Bill 995 and Continues Efforts to Open Doors for Foreign-trained Medical Professionals in Other States
Their Story is Our Story (TSOS), a non-profit organization that collects and shares the experiences of refugees to deepen understanding and influence action, applauds the signing of Virginia House Bill 995 into law by Governor Glenn Youngkin, after its unanimous passage through the Virginia House of Delegates and Senate. It will create a pathway for foreign-trained doctors who have immigrated to the state, including those whose careers were interrupted by forcible displacement, to fill workforce gaps in medically underserved communities.
Idaho One Refugee Conference
Last fall I was able to attend the 1Refugee Conference in Idaho. The event was well organized and everyone who approached our table was interested in what we did and wanted to know how to get involved. There were at least 100 students majoring in a variety of things who attended the event and we had 20 students give us their contact information. Most were interested in our internship programs.
How I Learned about Trauma, Resilience, and Safety
Last week, I learned that, “Trauma is all about safety.” I attended a Trauma and Resilience class taught by Phoenix Refugee Connections. Three speakers and a panel of refugees spoke about helping refugees and volunteers through the trauma refugees and helpers encounter.