READ OUR OFFICIAL STATEMENT ON THE U.S. FY2026 REFUGEE ADMISSIONS CAP AND PRIORITIZATION
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In The NewsPodcast

Top of Mind: Making Room for Refugees

Associate Director, Liz Jevtic-Somlai, was interviewed by Julie Rose on the Top of Mind podcast.

May 30, 2022

Creating a Community of Refugee Helpers

As we strengthen our relationships with resettlement agencies, friends, and community partners, we are discovering that the work doesn't have to be big to be important.

May 21, 2022

Advocacy: a privilege of citizenship

Not only is restoring welcome the right thing to do as humans and as Americans, this week's meetings with fellow Virginians affirmed that I am not alone in believing that "it is vital to our nation."

May 12, 2022

Switzerland stands with Ukraine

For a small corner of the world, in Switzerland, what has happened in Ukraine has opened a door I didn’t think I would ever see.

May 4, 2022

As more Ukrainians are forced to flee their homes, more Germans are ready to open their homes

Months after welcoming Afghan evacuees, Ramstein Germany offers support to Ukrainians

May 4, 2022

A Life of Waiting

For those who are displaced in Egypt, inflation and long-term limbo impact the realities of life and livelihood.

May 4, 2022

Strong Women Building Strong Communities

The inspiring side-by-side work of smart, capable, empathetic Afghan friends in support of new arrivals.

May 4, 2022

Volunteer Perspective

The Traditions of Ramadan

It is a privilege to have friends from other cultures, countries and faith. Learning from them is an even greater privilege. This month of Ramadan has opened my eyes to a beautiful tradition and sign of devotion held by an estimated 1.8 billion people in this world. And according to, Pew Research Center, Islam is the fastest growing religion worldwide.

May 3, 2022

TSOS May Book Club: We Are Displaced

Come read with us!

May 2, 2022
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What would you do if you had to leave everything behind?

By the end of 2024, more than 123.2 million people worldwide had been forcibly displaced from their homes due to war, persecution, or human rights abuses.

An increase of 7.2 million over 2023, that’s more than 19,619 people every day — roughly one person every 4.4 seconds.

They arrive in refugee camps and other countries, like the US, seeking the one thing they’ve lost: safety.

Fleeing political imprisonment, ethnic violence, religious persecution, gang threats, or war crimes, they come with what little they managed to carry:

Legal papers – if they’re lucky.

A single backpack.

Sometimes a child’s hand in theirs.

They also carry the weight of what they left behind: fractured families, homes they’ll never return to, professions they loved, friends and relatives they may never see again.

They carry loss most of us can’t imagine – but also the truth of what they’ve endured.

At TSOS, we believe stories are a form of justice. When someone shares their experience of forced displacement, they reclaim their voice. And when we amplify that voice – through film, photography, writing, and advocacy – the world listens. Hearts soften. Communities open. Policy begins to shift.

That shift matters. Because when neighbors understand instead of fear…

when lawmakers see people, not politics…

when a teacher knows what her student has survived…

Rebuilding life from the ashes becomes possible.

We’re fighting an uphill battle. In today’s political climate, refugee stories are often twisted or ignored. They’re reduced to statistics, portrayed as national threats, or used to score political points.

The truth – the human, nuanced truth – gets lost, and when it does, we lose compassion.

We are here to share their truth anyway.

At TSOS, we don’t answer to headlines or algorithms. We are guided by a simple conviction: every person deserves to be seen, heard, and welcomed.

Our work is powered by the people we meet — refugees and asylum seekers rebuilding after loss, allies offering sanctuary, and communities daring to extend belonging.

Your support helps us share their stories — and ensure they’re heard where they matter most.

“What ultimately persuaded the judge wasn’t a legal argument. It was her story.”

— Kristen Smith Dayley, Executive Director, TSOS

Will you help us keep telling the truth?

No donation is too small — and it only takes a minute of your time.

Why give monthly?

We value every gift, but recurring contributions allow us to plan ahead and invest more deeply in:

  • New refugee storytelling and advocacy projects
  • Resources to train and equip forcibly displaced people to share their own stories
  • Public education that challenges fear with empathy
  • Local efforts that help communities welcome and integrate newcomers

As our thank-you, monthly supporters receive fewer fundraising messages — and more stories of the impact they’re making possible.

You don’t have to be displaced to stand with those who are.

Can you give today — and help carry these stories forward?

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