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Community Programs

Washington

A state that welcomed refugees from Vietnam in the 1970s, Washington continues to open its doors to those who are looking for a new home. In 2019, Washington ranked as one of the top states for initial resettlement. Today, newcomers from Afghanistan and Ukraine add to an ever-evolving and vibrant immigrant population. The Community Programs team in Washington is actively engaged with local nonprofit organizations, serving in the community, and developing opportunities for collecting and sharing refugee stories.

Demographics
ARRIVALS

FY 2017-2021 data source: Wrapsnet.org

FY 2022 data source: Provided by Washington State Department of Social Services. Includes refugees, SIVs, and Afghans arriving under Humanitarian Parole.

TOP COUNTRIES OF ORIGIN
TOP NEWCOMER LANGUAGES
  • Dari
  • Pashto
  • Ukrainian
  • Arabic
  • Kurdish
  • Somali
  • Burmese

FY 2022 data source: Languages based on the official and/or most common language of arrivals’ country of origin.

Story Gallery
Explore the stories of the people who call Washington home.
Share Your Story
Aidan Perkinson 1
Aidan Perkinson  ·  United States
The Immigration System That We Have Doesn't Really Work
Photo by kari alfonso square
R. Sarah J.  ·  Afghanistan
Once You Leave Your Country, You'll Be Homeless Forever
0626 Seattle AID NW Anne Underwood 2
Anne Underwood  ·  United States
It's Very Easy to Do
Anonymous Among Us from Myanmar
Myanmar
Still Hoping For Freedom
2 High School Students
Anoushy and Noor
Two High School Students Distribute Hope
Mariia
Mariia  ·  Ukraine
We Are a Welcoming Community
More stories
Blog Posts
Learn more about our work and our team.
Cato Graph 1
 The Real Cost of Immigration July 1, 2026
Story Shield Workshop Edited
 Preparedness Before Crisis June 25, 2026
A Broken Promise Refugees in America
 A Broken Promise: Refugees in America March 31, 2026
More blog posts
Events
Join us at an upcoming local or virtual event.

We're building our calendar of upcoming events. Check back soon or subscribe to our email list for updates.

Partners
Volunteer alongside our team with these local organizations.
Leadership
Get to know our Washington leadership team.
Sarah OJTSOS
Sarah Jacobsen
Community Grants Manager; Community Programs Coordinator, Washington
Chrissy TSOS
Chrissy Ellsworth
Graphic Design/Art Specialist
Kristen Dayley
Kristen Smith Dayley
Executive Director
Contact Us
Reach out to our local team with any questions. We love to connect with people interested in welcoming newcomers to our community.
What would you do if you had to leave everything behind?

By the end of 2025, more than 117.8 million people worldwide had been forcibly displaced by war, persecution, or human rights abuses — and 45 million of them are children.

They arrive in refugee camps and countries seeking safety and carrying little: legal papers, if they're lucky. A backpack. A child's hand in theirs.

What they carry that we can't see is heavier: fractured families, homes they'll never return to, professions they loved, friends and relatives they may never see again.

In a climate where immigrant stories are often ignored or twisted, we believe stories are a form of justice. When someone shares what they survived, they reclaim their voice. When we amplify it through film, photography, and advocacy, the world listens. Hearts soften. Policy begins to shift.

Because when a lawmaker sees a person instead of a statistic, and a neighbor understands instead of fears, rebuilding becomes possible.

Your support helps us share these stories where they matter most.

— Kristen Smith Dayley, Executive Director, Their Story is Our Story

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