Spreading the Word! Refugees Join the Advocacy Efforts

In May our network Ambassador Reshad Ahmadi and Hearts & Homes founder Kathie O’Callaghan were in Washington D.C. to participate in Advocacy Days organized by Refugee Council USA. Reshad was invited to a refugee-only roundtable with representatives from the Office of Refugee Resettlement and the Bureau for Population, Refugees and Migration. During the roundtable, Reshad was invited to introduce himself, and he asked this question of the officials present:

“Is there a day where community sponsorship partnerships between organized community volunteers and resettlement agencies will be more widespread? What would it take to make community sponsorship part of the US Refugee Resettlement program? How can we at Hearts & Homes for Refugees help?”

Reshad reported that the officials were interested in his presentation of the our dynamic network. They responded that they have seen community partnerships before and it is not an official resettlement step, but they were interested to see more and talk more about it. Reshad shared brochures about Hearts & Homes for Refugees and our network with the Director of ORR.