View this email in your browser

December 2017 News & Highlights

Adopt-a-Family 2017 Success

We're happy to be wrapping up another great holiday season with our Adopt-a-Family donation program, providing Christmas gifts over 200 newly resettled refugee clients!

The 294 recipients, in 60 different families, were gifted items from kitchenware, computers, toys, bicycles, and beyond. Forty-five of refugee families were adopted by Intel and they hosted a drop-off day at their headquarters in Folsom. To help us haul the gifts back to Sacramento, Rich Cazneaux, of East Sac Real Estate, allowed us to borrow his box truck (see pictures below)! This year's donors also included UUSS, LDS, and other community members, who gifted $24,000 worth of goods to make the holidays merry & bright for many families!

If you missed this year’s Adopt-A-Family but would still like to contribute, check out Rescue.org/Sacramento for more ways to get involved and take action!

Interview Workshop

Each month the IRC in Sacramento hosts refugee empowerment workshops to expand on topics clients want to dig deeper into and engage community members who are unable to join us during the week.

This month the topic was interviews! Interviewing is a skill that is integral to success for our clients. It's what can make the difference in helping them to land their ideal job. The group began by going around and introducing themselves--their name, professional background, and the kind of job they ideally hoped to apply for. Then Katie (pictured) and Arghawan (an interpreter) led a discussion and practice. Clients were able to practice a variety of mock interview scenarios such as one-on-one, panel, group, and phone interviews to prepare for any of the different ways they might need to interact with future employers.

At the end of the workshop, one of our clients shared his gratitude for the support provided by IRC and volunteers. We look forward to hearing about the interview successes of everyone who participated in the near future!

Check out our Facebook to see more photos from the workshops.

Less than 1% of the world's refugees are ever resettled; even fewer are selected for resettlement in America.

Learning to Knit

Two months ago we put out a call asking you all to help us supply one of our women's groups with knitting supplies--and did you ever come through! We received dozens of knitting needles, crochet hooks, and skeins of yarn for the ladies to work with. Knitting and crocheting provides a fun, productive, and dynamic hobby that can be done in moments at home, while watching tv, and even better--while sitting in a circle with new friends and having a chat. Above is a pair of newly finished baby booties, ready to wear!

Client Spotlight

“Kayla is a goldadore,” says Ms. Ramsina Szanto with an infectious smile. Her guide dog is a mix between golden retriever and yellow Labrador, she explains. Ms. Szanto is an Iranian pianist, a singer, and a nutrition science student at the Sacramento City College. She enjoys her time here in America and appreciates “what America has done for me in terms of freedom and education.”

Staff Spotlight: Luke

Luke is a Career Development Coordinator at the IRC in Sacramento. Refugee resettlement matters to Luke because it gives people living in a dangerous environment the opportunity at a better life in a place where they are safe, where they are needed, and where they can find success.

IRC in partnership with Sesame Street is honored to have been selected as the winner of The MacArthur Foundation's 100&Change competition, a one-time $100 million grant to "make measurable progress toward solving a significant problem of our time." This award allows the IRC and Sesame Street to create what will be the largest early childhood intervention in the history of humanitarian response. Watch IRC's full presentation here or listen to NPR's segment, "$100 Million Prize Will Deploy Muppets To The Middle East".

Get Involved with IRC Sac This Month

BUY Bedding! We are always in need of sheets, pillows, and blankets for full and twin-sized beds. You can drop off at 2020 Hurley Way, Suite 420 in Sacramento on Mondays & Tuesdays from 10:30a - 3:30pm. Or donate directly using our Amazon Wishlist!
ATTEND January, 18th @ 7:30p! The IRC's HOPE Anti-Human Trafficking program is partnering with WEAVE to host a film screening of "Sands of Silence: Waves of courage", a film by Chelo Alvarez-Stehle which identifies and speaks out again sexual violence. Event will be held at Sac City College, click here for more information.
VOLUNTEER Help refugees save thousands on their taxes this year by becoming a trained and certified VITA volunteer. Email Shelina.Noorali@Rescue.org for more information.

Twitter

Facebook

Website

This email was sent to <<Email Address>>
why did I get this? unsubscribe from this list update subscription preferences
International Rescue Committee · 2020 Hurley Way, Ste 420 · Sacramento, CA 95825 · USA