The Linking Communities Project Announces Grants for OH and PA Initiatives

Projects that develop leaders among refugee populations in Ohio and Pennsylvania, as well as educate and engage communities across these states on refugee issues, just received an infusion of financial support from the Linking Communities Project: Creating Welcome for Refugees—an initiative by HIAS and our partner organizations.*

Refugees, like all immigrants, contribute culturally to American’s rich diversity and economically to the cities and towns where they settle, which is why the Linking Communities Project awarded grants to local initiatives in Ohio and Pennsylvania that promote refugee resettlement and facilitate their integration.

The Pennsylvania Immigration and Citizenship Coalition will recruit refugee leaders to participate in advocacy and organizing training, legislative visits, and relationship building.

Seven local organizations in PA will collaborate to produce a video highlighting the success of local refugees which will be utilized for World Refugee Day activities.

Partners across PA will work to increase opportunities for refugees to engage in volunteerism and civic engagement and utilize their voices for advocacy. They also will recruit refugees and help them to grow as leaders; tell their own stories to their communities; and participate in advocacy, organizing training, and legislative visits.

The International Institute of Akron will facilitate a series of “welcoming opportunities” to allow both new Americans and their established neighbors to learn about each other, to share stories, and to celebrate the ethnic diversity of the region.

Community Refugee & Immigration Services, US Together, World Relief Columbus, and TESOL Ohio, will produce a comprehensive report that demonstrates the economic value that refugees bring to Central Ohio.

The Immigrant and Refugee Welcome and Support committee of Lucas County’s Welcome Toledo-Lucas County program will organize a series of roundtables on local refugee resettlement including community stakeholders, a strategic marketing working group, and a mentor refugee program.

Generating broad support for refugee resettlement mitigates potential backlash in the U.S. The Linking Communities Project is excited to support cutting edge local projects to combat resistance to resettlement and proactively create increased welcome for refugees. With these grants, the Linking Communities Projectempowers local communities to accomplish their goals and serve as models for other localities. Our goal is to cultivate a national movement to create a welcoming environment for refugees throughout the country. READ MORE 

*TLC Project partners include: HIAS; Center for Applied Linguistics; Church World Service; Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service; U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants; and United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. We work closely with Welcoming America and Refugee Council USA.