Action Alert: Keep Our Communities Welcoming!

Dear Friends,

As proposed pieces of legislation continue to advance during state legislative sessions across the country, we want to raise your attention to some anti-immigrant bills that have unfortunately been gaining some traction in the states of Georgia and Tennessee. As time ticks, it will become more imperative (and challenging) to stop these bills from advancing further.

We encourage you to call your lawmakers in your respective states and speak with their offices about these harmful pieces of legislation. Click here to identify your State Representative and State Senator and find their district number.

Read more below for a brief policy update on these bills and more information on how to take action.

Georgia: HB 1105, “Georgia Criminal Alien Track and Report Act”

• Requires local law enforcement agencies to act as federal immigration officers and arrest any individual they encounter whose immigration status they cannot verify and for whom they have probable cause to arrest based on impeding felony charges and misdemeanor charges- which includes minor traffic violations.

• Withholds state and state-administered federal funding from local governments who do not choose to comply with this policy.

• Subjects local police officers to be charged with a misdemeanor for not complying.

• Requires sheriffs to hold individuals in custody indefinitely until their immigration status is confirmed by ICE.

• Anyone suspected of being undocumented who is convicted of a felony or misdemeanor offense is required to provide a DNA sample.

• This bill encourages profiling and will create a chilling effect across our communities, impacting our state workforce, local schools, and local neighborhoods.

Tennessee: HB 2124 & SB 2576

• Similarly to Georgia’s HB 1105, would require all local law enforcement agencies in Tennessee to communicate, cooperate and assist federal immigration officials in detaining (ICE)

• Perpetuates the possibility of family separation among immigrant families in TN.

• Places a tremendous burden on local law enforcement agencies and hinders their ability to meet the needs of residents by requiring them to operate as immigration agents. This will further erode trust among immigrant communities and local law enforcement.

• Waste of resources, time, and capacity for local law enforcement; infringes on the will of voters who elect Sheriffs to act with agency and local authority.

Tennessee: HB 1730 & SB 1717

• Aims to require all written driver license examinations to be administered in English only.

• Prohibits use of a translation dictionary, electronic device, or interpreter to assist with the examination.

• This bill would harm our economy by making it more difficult for some workers to get licensed and drive to their workplaces.

• As more people become unlicensed, driving and being on the road generally becomes more dangerous for all of us.

• The fact that Tennessee already offers the exam in a number of languages is a good thing for our workforce, local communities, and individuals who are lawfully present in our country and only trying to live their lives. It is mean-spirited and counterproductive.

Thank you for standing in solidarity with us as we aim to protect and defend refugee and immigrant communities across the Southeast. We appreciate you lending your voice.

With gratitude,
Aimee Zangandou
Executive Director of Refugee & Immigrant Services
Inspiritus

Two Years Later: Russia's Invasion of Ukraine

Dear Friends,

It’s been a little over two years since Russia’s most recent historical invasion of Ukraine, marking the beginning of an ongoing conflict that has forced approximately 14 million Ukrainian nationals to flee their country - up 93% since this time last year.

Since the launch of the Uniting for Ukraine (U4U) program in April 2022, more than 178,000 Ukrainian refugees were sponsored by U.S. residents, offering these individuals a pathway to safety and an opportunity to regain a sense of stability- even if temporary- in a new community that welcomes them.

For the Ukrainian refugees across Alabama, Tennessee, and Georgia, our Refugee and Immigrant Services team members who serve these particular refugees (most of whom are Ukrainian born) act as an indispensable resource, supporting them as they navigate new pathways essential for establishing stability and success, such as securing employment, enrolling in education programs, and connecting them to spaces of fellowship and community. As we work to help these individuals adjust to life in the U.S., we have also been working to advocate for them and uplift their culture and the contributions they make to our local communities.

Last Tuesday, the office of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announced that Ukrainians who entered the U.S. as Humanitarian Parolees are eligible to apply for re-parole, extending their visa by an additional two years if approved. We applaud this decision and are relieved that there is hope and greater certainty for our clients in what the short-term future may hold.

As we reflect on the work we’ve done in the past two years to welcome Ukrainian refugees, we’d like to introduce you to a very special family we’ve been blessed to walk alongside on their path from surviving to thriving!

Meet The Sorohin Family (Cumming, GA):

Yuliia, a linguist and interpreter, met her husband Andrii while he was studying to become an MD. After graduating in 2003, Andrii began his residency at a major hospital in Kyiv, marking the beginning of an impressive and dynamic career in the medical field and pharmaceutical industry. He and Yuliia would get married, welcome four children to their family, and continue building their lives and careers in Ukraine’s capital city.

However, by autumn of 2022, Russian forces had started bombing and shooting in major cities, destroyed many electrical stations, creating chaos, destruction and blackout throughout Ukraine. Yuliia notes the poignancy of this moment - her family cold, afraid, and surrounded by darkness, recognized it was no longer safe to stay. Saying goodbye to their beloved family, pets, neighbors, and family home, they made the heartbreaking yet necessary decision to leave Kiev.

Following a brief stay in Poland, the Sorohin family arrived in the U.S. in April 2023 through the Uniting for Ukraine sponsorship program. After initially spending some time with a sponsor in California, the family received an opportunity to relocate to Georgia. Thanks to a loan from a generous friend, Andrii and Yuliia purchased a used car and together with their four children, kicked off their cross-country road trip that would land them in Cumming.

Thanks to friends and American sponsors in Georgia, the family was able to settle and adapt in Cumming. The family who hosted the Sorohins were very kind and good people but as a family of six, they would soon need to find their own place and begin their own pathway forward in the U.S.

With the support and guidance of Inspiritus, Andrii and Yuliia were able to move out of their sponsor’s home and into their own place within three months of arriving. Additionally, our team worked with Andrii and Yuliia to get their (many) collective degrees translated and evaluated so they can be officially recognized among U.S. employers and educational institutions. It was through this experience that Andrii soon realized that state licensing policies do not offer a streamlined pathway for foreign-trained physicians like him to practice medicine in the state of Georgia. Reducing barriers to relicensing for foreign-trained doctors like him is a cause for which he’s become a community advocate and has even discussed with Georgia’s Secretary of State, Brad Raffensperger last month.

While he hopes to one day practice medicine again here in Georgia, in the meantime, Andrii works as a Pharmaceutical Technician at a local pharmacy where he’s able to remain connected to the medical field. Yuliia has thrown herself into nonprofit work as a regular volunteer with the U4UKids Project, a program dedicated to helping Ukrainian children whose fathers died in the war. Their eldest son, Daniel (18), is working his short-term dream job as a Starbucks barista while he works on his long-term dream of going to college for fashion design. Their other children, whose ages range from 16, 11, and 7 are loving their Forsyth County neighborhood schools and have course achievements. The family has joined a nearby Evangelical church, where they’ve found a place of community and fellowship.

Despite all the challenges and hardships this family has endured, these experiences have done little to shake the family’s faith and optimism. When asked about their hopes for the future, Yuliia remarks, “We believe that God will help us. Our hope is to have a good possibility for life in America. Good jobs, good moments…But our heart is broken about Ukraine. We know the war is evil. Good must win. It is painful to discuss, but as Bible teaches us, what your hand can do – do it with all your might! In other words: if you can help, you must help (Ecclesiastes 9:10). We try to help in any way we can…we don’t know how long the [Uniting for Ukraine] program will last but while we are here, we will help in any way to our Homeland.”

As a final thought, the Sorohin family has a message to share with our state lawmakers and the American people:

“Ukrainian families across the world ask you to continue praying for Ukraine, for the victory of good over evil, for God's blessing for Ukraine, and we ask you to support the people of Ukraine in this difficult time. Your contribution to start our lives here is so important and significant and we appreciate it! Thank you for your strong support. God bless Ukraine. God Bless America. Glory to God.”

With gratitude,

Aimee Zangandou
Executive Director of Refugee & Immigrant Services
Inspiritus

ACTION ALERT: Help Advocate For Those We Accompany

Action Alert: 3 Things You Can Do to Advocate for Refugees and Immigrants at the State and Federal Level

Dear Friends,

With our members of Congress busy back in Washington DC and our Georgia State legislators back in full swing under the Gold Dome, there are ample opportunities for advocates like you to raise your voice in support of refugees and immigrants with our state and federal lawmakers. We are in a pivotal moment that calls for courage among our elected officials to stand up for human rights and help retain the United States’ proud tradition of welcoming individuals who look to us for safety after enduring war, political oppression, and other forms of identity-based persecution.

There are three, easy actions we encourage advocates to take to help us in our efforts to preserve dignity and welcome for all. Here are the top three things you can do to show your support for refugees and immigrants in Georgia:

1. Register to attend the 2024 New Americans Celebration

The best way to do advocacy work is in-person and there is no better day to advocate for refugees and immigrants than the annual New Americans Celebration!

Inspiritus is one of 26 refugee and immigrant-serving nonprofit member organizations in the Georgia Coalition of Refugee Service Agencies. Collectively, we host events and engage in legislative advocacy with a goal of continuously uplifting the contributions of Georgia’s foreign-born communities. The New Americans Celebration is one of these events and each year around Valentine’s Day, we bring hundreds of foreign-born and native-born Georgians to the Capitol for a day of education, advocacy, and outreach, demonstrating to our lawmakers just how much we love the work we do and our communities we serve.

We’ll be back this year on Tuesday, February 13th! You can register for the event or sign up to volunteer by clicking the buttons below.

2. Sign up for CRSA Action Alerts

While Inspiritus will continue to share policy updates and action alerts for pressing matters at the federal level, we encourage you to connect with us and our partners through the Coalition of Refugee Service Agencies newsletter for updates and action alerts impacting refugees and immigrants at the state level. Click the button below to sign up for CRSA action alerts!

3. Speak out against legislation that dismantles access to asylum for vulnerable migrants in need of immediate safety

For the past few months, the White House and a small bipartisan group of Senators have been attempting to negotiate a legislative deal that would pair permanent policy restrictions to the asylum system with an unrelated supplemental funding bill that includes aid for Ukraine, Israel, humanitarian relief, and certain domestic needs issues. This legislation was unveiled Sunday night and includes the following elements:

• Authorizes the President and Department of Homeland Security to “shut down” the border if more than 4,000 migrants seek entry at our Southern Border on average within a seven day period.

• Mandated implementation of border closure if more than 5,000 migrants on average seek entry to the U.S. within one week’s time, or, when the daily number exceeds 8,500.

• Raises standard for “credible fear standard”, used to determine validity and severity of cases among individuals applying for asylum.

• Introduces a new process in which US Citizenship and Immigration Services would decide an asylum claim without it going through the immigration court system. (Exceptions for unaccompanied migrant children.)

• Expedites the asylum processing timeline from years to six months, and establishes work-authorization eligibility to asylum seekers while cases are pending.

• Pathway to legal permanent residency for our Afghan allies who entered the U.S. on with temporary status as Humanitarian Parolees.

Inspiritus commends the inclusion of certain, much-needed provisions such as expedited processing time for asylum applicants, work authorization for asylum applicants, and a pathway to legal permanent residency for Afghan Humanitarian Parolees; however, we remain deeply concerned about the unprecedented powers of expulsion, detention, and denial of due process for individuals and families seeking asylum at the southern border.

The right to seek safety across international borders is a right to which vulnerable migrants fleeing persecution are legally entitled and is part of a larger legacy in moral and global leadership that the United States should not relinquish.

Senate leaders have indicated they intend to put this bill up for a procedural vote tomorrow, Wednesday, February 7th. Please call Senators Ossoff and Warnock and ask them to vote “no” on any version of a supplemental emergency national security bill that places heavy restrictions on asylum access. You can refer to the script sample below when calling.

Script Sample:

Hello, My name is ___________ and I am a constituent of [city, state.] I am calling today to express my concern with the proposed restrictions on asylum access in the new bill the Senate revealed over the weekend. Access to asylum is not only a very real and necessary lifeline for migrant families and individuals fleeing persecution, but it is also a fundamental human right that speaks to our country’s history as a beacon of safety and hope for those who are unfairly persecuted in their home countries. While I celebrate some other elements of the bill such as a pathway to legal permanent residency for Afghan humanitarian parolees, I believe this bill will unfairly result in too many vulnerable families being denied a fair shot at safety and being sent back into harm’s way. As such, I am asking the senator to vote “no” on this bill in its current form or any form with similarly harsh restrictions on asylum access. Thank you.”

Thank you for your continued support.

With gratitude,

Aimee Zangandou
Executive Director of Refugee & Immigrant Services
Inspiritus

Afghanistan, Two Years Later: The Need for Permanent Welcome

Dear Friend,

It’s been two years since the Afghan government officially fell to Taliban rule. Since then, over 100,000 Afghans were invited to live in the United States and with the help of organizations like Inspiritus, dedicated community partners, and welcoming neighbors like you, they’re moving forward and successfully building new lives in their new country and new local community.

However, of those 100,000 individuals, the majority are here with a temporary form of immigration status known as Humanitarian Parole that is valid for two years at a time. Without legal permanent residency, Afghan parolees face the risk of returning to the same persecution from which they fled. They have found safety, stability, and promise in the U.S. and deserve the opportunity to continue moving forward with the new lives they've started to build.

Last month, Congress reintroduced its newest iteration of the Afghan Adjustment Act (AAA) with bipartisan versions of the legislation in both the House and Senate chambers, respectively. Originally introduced last year, the AAA is legislation that if passed, would create a pathway to permanent residency for Afghans who were granted Humanitarian Parole.

Now, more than ever, we urge our Members of Congress to provide our Afghan Allies with the appropriate protections they need to remain free from persecution and to pursue the American Dream they’ve already started building.

Please join us in advocating for this important bill and ask your Members of Congress to pass the Afghan Adjustment Act. You can learn more about the bill here and confirm who represents you in Congress here along with the phone numbers for each of your two U.S. Senators and House Rep. When calling on behalf of those we accompany, you may refer to the script below.

Sample Script:

• Hello Representative/Senator [Insert name] My name is [Insert your name] and I am a constituent and resident of [insert city], [insert state]. I am calling to ask that you support the Afghan Adjustment Act, a bill that would allow Afghans with Humanitarian Parole visas to apply for a green card and become a permanent resident. My community is one of thousands that welcomed Afghans seeking safety and I believe it is in our best interest as a country and in everyone’s individual best interest that they be given the option to permanently reside in the United States. With a temporary status, these individuals are subjected to constant uncertainty about whether they will have to return to Afghanistan, which should not be an option. I ask that the [Representative/Senator] support our Afghan allies who stood by us by supporting the Afghan Adjustment Act. Thank you.

With help of supporters like you, we have made a tremendous impact in the lives of the Afghan allies we have been fortunate to serve these past few years. If you would like to learn more about some of the incredible individuals we have had the privilege to accompany, click on their images below!

You can also find these stories on our Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn platforms.

Sincerely,

Aimee Zangandou
Executive Director of Refugee & Immigrant Services
Inspiritus

Afghan Refugees, Two Years Later: From Surviving to Thriving

Dear Friend,

Yesterday, on social media, we introduced you to some of the Afghan refugees we at Inspiritus have had the great pleasure of serving since welcoming them to the United States, over the last two years. Some of these individuals served as allies alongside U.S. military members, while others were resettled through the traditional U.S. Refugee Admissions Program. The individuals who have come through these immigration pathways are fortunate in that they have no-to-few barriers to U.S. legal permanent residency, enhancing the prospect of a more stable and certain future.

However, of those roughly 76,000 Afghans who were evacuated as part of the Operation Allies Welcome rescue mission, the majority were admitted with Humanitarian Parole, allowing them to temporarily enter the United States, “due to an emergency and urgent humanitarian reason.” While their parole was recently extended for another two years, their long-term futures remain uncertain until Congress passes the Afghan Adjustment Act, which will make them eligible to apply for a green card and continue building the lives they started creating for themselves in the U.S.

Nevertheless, for parolees like Suraiya, this sense of uncertainty has been no hindrance toward pursuing their future goals. Evacuated in late August 2021, Suraiya and her family were welcomed by Inspiritus in Atlanta and she is now working full-time at a local nonprofit health clinic while she takes steps toward enrolling in aviation school. Her goal? To be the first Afghan woman to fly a plane for Delta.

Suraiya is just one of many incredible individuals we have served in the past two years who have already made incredible gains for themselves and contributions to their local communities. You can learn more about Suraiya and other Afghan newcomers we’ve welcomed across our programming by clicking on their pictures below.

Make sure to follow us on social media this week as we continue to highlight the impactful stories of those we have the privilege to accompany. You can find these stories on our Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn platforms.

Sincerely, 

John R. Moeller Jr.
President & CEO
Inspiritus

Afghan Refugees, Two Years Later. Where Are They Now?

Dear Friend,

Tomorrow, August 15, will mark two years since the Taliban gained control of Afghanistan. For the thousands of Afghans evacuated to the U.S. as part of Operation Allies Welcome, and the approximate 2.6 million Afghan refugees around the world, this is a day of sorrow, conjuring painful memories of people, places, and a way of life they were forced to leave behind.

Despite these impossible hardships, we at Inspiritus have seen amazing strides from the Afghans we have welcomed, witnessing the creation of new memories with new friends in a new place, during a period of life that, for them, is equally novel and challenging. Amidst unfathomable loss and change, these individuals have demonstrated incredible courage and acceptance, approaching life in the U.S. as one of opportunity where they can once again find happiness, prosperity, and peace.

Example...Nargis Naseri, a young woman who came to Atlanta by herself with no local contacts and has now found purpose and a connection to her local community through her job at another refugee-serving nonprofit organization. There’s also Amin, an IT professional with young children, his former professional ties to the US government would ultimately pose a threat to his family, prompting them to leave Afghanistan. Less than two years after being resettled in Birmingham, he’s found a great job in his field and spends some of his free time doing volunteer IT work with a local nonprofit.

Nargis’ and Amin’s stories exemplify a trend we know to be true: When you invest in refugees, they’ll invest right back in the communities that welcomed them ten-fold.

As we reflect on the events that unfolded two years ago, we are also reflecting on the resilience of our new Afghan neighbors like Nargis and Amin, and the many successes they have achieved in such a short time.

Beginning tomorrow and for the rest of the week, we will be uplifting the stories of nearly a dozen Afghan refugees we have welcomed, who will share their own reflections on where they have been and where they are now, two years later.

We will also be sharing more information about the Afghan Adjustment Act, a piece of legislation that if passed by Congress, would ensure that Afghan evacuees would not be subject to return to Afghanistan and can apply for legal permanent residency in the U.S.

With help of supporters like you, we have made a tremendous impact in the lives of the Afghan allies we have been fortunate to serve these past few years. We can’t wait to share their impactful stories with you throughout the week!

You will be able to find these stories on our Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn platforms.

Sincerely, 

John R. Moeller Jr.
President & CEO
Inspiritus

Title 42 Immigration Policy & Team Libertad

Dear Friend, 

A little more than a month has passed since the expiration of Title 42, the pandemic-era public health measure that was issued more than 2.8 million times to expel migrants from claiming asylum at the U.S. southern border since its implementation in March 2020. In its place, our current Administration has introduced new federal policies that do little to protect vulnerable individuals who are seeking asylum and do even less in the way of offering sustainable, long-term solutions to help repair our nation’s broken immigration system.  

This new rule instituted on May 11 severely restricts the ability of migrants to effectively claim asylum at the U.S. border unless they can demonstrate that they were denied asylum in another country. Additionally, this rule mandates that asylum applicants first make an appointment through a phone app, CBP One, now infamous for its frequent glitches and deficiencies in its facial recognition technology, which has resulted in discriminatory outcomes for hopeful asylum seekers. And while we commend the Administration for expanding legal pathways for individuals seeking temporary safety such as the 2-year Humanitarian Parole program for Afghans, Ukrainians, Venezuelans, and others, Congress will need to take action to ensure these individuals can access a green card and continue investing in themselves and this country since starting a new life in the United States. 

While the timeline around Congressional action remains uncertain, it is absolutely certain that Inspiritus, along with members of our local communities, will continue to do the work on the ground to support individuals escaping violence and persecution along every step of their journey to safety and stability.  

One of our newly added programs, Team Libertad, is an exemplary model for how local communities are welcoming asylum seekers in Atlanta. Relying almost entirely on volunteers, Team Libertad depends on compassionate individuals to help serve the 50-100 travelers it greets at the airport on a weekly basis who are leaving the state to reunite with loved ones and wait their day in asylum court.

These travelers are individuals seeking asylum who were recently released from the Stewart Detention Center in Lumpkin, Georgia. Arriving at Hartsfield-Jackson Airport with many emotions and few resources, Team Libertad steps in to welcome them to Atlanta and to help meet any immediate or expressed need such as access to food, a cell phone, or assistance getting to their gate. While the road to asylum approval is long and arduous, these small acts of kindness make a big difference in the lives of the travelers we encounter.  

As we look toward World Refugee Day next week, we invite you to join us in the work we are doing on the ground every day to make our communities a more welcoming place for those in need of humanitarian protection. Here are three things you can do:

• Volunteer with Team Libertad in Atlanta: No matter your availability, there are opportunities for you to be a welcomer to weary travelers morning, afternoon, or night. Click here to sign up, or contact Program Coordinator Andrea Espinoza for more information at andrea.espinoza@weinspirit.org  

• Donate to Team Libertad: Your donations will help cover the costs of meals, backpacks, hygiene items, and other resources necessary to support our work. Click here to donate and please mark “Refugee Services: Team Libertad” as the recipient of your donation.  

• Attend a World Refugee Day Celebration: No matter where you are located, Inspiritus is hosting events at all four of our resettlement sites. On June 20th, we will be celebrating in Nashville, Birmingham, and Savannah, while June 25th will mark our 10th annual Clarkston celebration. Check out the graphics below for more details on where and when your local celebration will take place.

Thank you for your continued support in empowering the families and individuals we accompany on their journey from surviving to thriving.

With gratitude,

Aimee Zangandou
Executive Director of Refugee & Immigrant Services
Inspiritus

Help Send A Refugee Child To Summer Camp

Dear Friend,

Last week, we introduced you to some of the refugee children we at Inspiritus have the great pleasure of serving. This particular group of children endured an arduous journey on their path to safety, alone and unaccompanied before arriving to the United States with the goal of being reunited with their families or a family friend here in Georgia. With their migration journey at an end, they begin their journey of adjusting to life in a new country and new community. Inspiritus is there to guide them on this journey, providing support in areas of English language acquisition, academic enrichment, and social-emotional wellness that can help these children heal from the often-traumatic experiences they encountered since leaving home. 

Our friends at Lutheranch, a Christian summer camp and conference center, have joined us in our mission to help these children on their path from surviving to thriving, and have graciously offered to host 10 of these children at camp this summer where they can continue their journey of growth and healing in a safe space. Your help can make it possible for a child to experience healing & growth at Lutheranch camp this summer! 

How exactly does summer camp make a profound difference in the life of a refugee child? Family Reunification Coordinator Kari Ellers witnessed the powerful impact that camp had on two of our girls who attended last summer. Here’s what she says:

“Camp means the possibility for many children to be children in a world where so often, because of their life circumstances, they quickly learn how to act and live beyond their years. Camp provides children with an opportunity to connect with nature and each other, to explore and have fun, to learn experientially without the pressure of grades and testing. Camp is a sacred healing space, planting seeds of love and self-care that continue to blossom for years to come. Camp is about the personal breakthroughs, the ‘aha’ moments, and it is those moments that even during our darkest of times, help to carry us forward.” 

With your support, you can similarly help be a part of our work in helping to carry these children forward on their path from surviving to thriving. 

This week, we’d like you to meet Marcos, Sophia, and Diego- three of the ten hopeful campers eager to spend a week at Lutheranch this summer. 

Meet Marcos:

At 16-years-old, Marcos already has a clear vision for what kind of person he wants to become. “I want to be a person with values- a positive person who does good things like helping my family, working for my country, having my own house, car, and business.”

An avid fan of true crime television, Marcos’ plan for pursuing his own version of the American dream involves a college degree in Criminology and a career in law enforcement.

Marcos is described by his Inspiritus case workers as, “sweet, curious, and just lovely”, and they talk about how rewarding it has been to see Marcos become more open and outgoing with people over time.

While at Lutheranch this summer, he is most excited about the idea of playing soccer with other campers and spending time in nature among the mountains and a river or lake.

Meet Sophia & Diego: 

Eleven-year-old *Sophia has a huge heart for a little girl. Described as “generous and sweet” by her Inspiritus case workers, she is the type of child who is always thinking about others. Upon realizing that Inspiritus accepts donations to families in need, she took it upon herself to bring in an old dress she no longer wears so another child could enjoy wearing it as much as she did.

During snack time at her after school program, she is the one who always makes sure the other kids have enough to eat and will offer some of her snacks to share with her friends. She loves to color and while at camp this summer, is most looking forward to painting outdoors and feeding the animals.

In classic “younger sibling” fashion, her little brother, *Diego, wants to be included in whatever his big sister does, including the opportunity to attend Lutheranch. Seven-year-old Diego is super excited to make new friends this summer. His dream is to travel the world and (unsurprisingly) like big sister, Sophia, he wants to be a police officer when he grows up.

If you would like to empower children like Marcos, Sophia, and Diego on their path from surviving to thriving, please consider donating to our "Refugee Services: After School & Summer Camp" fund.

While the cost of each camp varies slightly by age range and the activities it includes, the majority of our children are registered for horse camp, which costs $725.00/week. All donations allocated to this fund will be used to send children to Lutheranch this summer!

You can make a monetary donation by clicking the button below. After selecting the "Refugee Services: After School & Summer Camp" fund, please enter "Lutheranch Donation" in the comment box.

Thank you for your continued support in empowering those we accompany on their journey from surviving to thriving!

With Gratitude,

Aimee Zangandou
Executive Director of Inspiritus Refugee & Immigrant Services

Help Send 10 Refugee Children To Summer Camp

Dear Friend,

The end of another school year is upon us. For many fortunate children, summer is a special time when they pack a bag and head away to summer camp. More than just s’mores and a break from homework, camp can be a transformative place where children experience the therapeutic power of the great outdoors, explore new interests, and make lasting friendships.

Our friends at Lutheranch care about the children we at Inspiritus have the privilege of serving, and have offered to provide a unique opportunity for a special group of children cared for by Inspiritus to attend a Lutheranch camp experience where they can grow and heal in a safe space. Your help can make it possible for a child to experience healing & growth and Lutheranch camp this summer!

The group of children invited to this Lutheranch experience have come to the United States unaccompanied, alone and on an often traumatic journey. Inspiritus staff have worked with them to help them adjust to their new lives in Georgia where they have been reunited with family or a family friend, and we continue to work with their households to help ensure the children have access to the support and care they need.

Our partnership with Lutheranch, a Christian camp and conference center located in Tallapoosa, Georgia has become one of these resources. Last year, Lutheranch graciously helped provide funding for sisters *Lucia and Mari to attend a week of summer camp. Recognizing the positive impact camp had when picking them up last year, Family Reunification Coordinator Kari Ellers notes how the girls came back more confident, willing to take risks and try new things, adding, “Camp planted a seed that allowed them to grow…to be reminded of their goodness and ability to dream beyond their current situation.”  

At Inspiritus, we believe every child should have these opportunities to grow and dream and with your generous support, can send 10 children to Lutheranch this summer!

Over the next three weeks, we’ll be introducing you to some of these hopeful new campers so you can get to know them and learn more about how a week at summer camp can make all the difference as we walk with them on their path from surviving to thriving.

Meet Beatriz & Paola:

Sisters *Beatriz and Paula (14 and 17 respectively) are known for their sweet disposition and compassion toward others. Originally from Mexico, the girls have found a new home and community in Georgia with their mother, who has found work on a local farm since arriving to the United States. The horses, chickens, and other livestock on this farm have become a source of joy and comfort for Beatriz and Paula, and as a result, they have cultivated a shared love of animals and intellectual interest in the natural world.

When asked about what they hope to do while at camp, both girls gleamed at the opportunity to ride horses and “learn even more about animals”- a reference to the long list of fun animal facts they’ve absorbed in recent months. While Beatriz is additionally excited to spend time exploring the outdoors and go swimming, Paola is looking forward to spending her time outdoors under a shady tree with a good book.

Although both girls are a little shy by nature, they see camp as an opportunity to spend time with kids their age and make new friends using their English language skills they’ve been working hard to develop this academic school year.

Beyond desiring a week at camp, Beatriz dreams of serving in the United States military and Paola, the National Guard. Having the opportunity to practice English conversation and leadership /teamwork skills in a non-threatening environment at camp will be foundational steppingstones for their vocational journey ahead.

If you would like to empower children like Beatriz and Paula on their path from surviving to thriving, please consider donating to our "Refugee Services: After School & Summer Camp" fund. All donations allocated to this fund will be used to send children to Lutheranch this summer! You can make a monetary donation by clicking the button below.

Thank you for your continued support in empowering those we accompany on their journey from surviving to thriving!

With Gratitude,

Aimee Zangandou
Executive Director of Inspiritus Refugee & Immigrant Services

Team Libertad Joins Inspiritus

Dear Friend,

Inspiritus is proud to announce the addition of Team Libertad to our current suite of programs aimed at serving Georgia’s Refugee and Immigrant communities. Team Libertad was founded in May 2022 with the purpose of providing resources and assistance to recently detained asylum seekers who are leaving Georgia to reunite with loved ones and wait their day in asylum court.

Comprised of about 100 active volunteers, Team Libertad depends on compassionate individuals from welcoming communities to serve the 50-100 travelers it greets at the airport on a weekly basis. These travelers are individuals seeking asylum who were recently released from the Stewart Detention Center in Lumpkin, Georgia. Arriving to Hartsfield Jackson with many emotions and few resources, Team Libertad steps in to welcome them to Atlanta and to help meet any immediate or expressed need such as:

• Access to language interpretation

• Use of cell phones to contact loved ones

• Assistance obtaining tickets and boarding passes

• Guidance through security screening and locating departure gates

• Distribution of travel essentials such as personal hygiene items, food, weather-appropriate clothing, and backpacks

Inspiritus aims to help the individuals we serve to discover their inner strength and resilience. In acting as a resourceful and comforting presence to vulnerable asylum seekers who endured long periods of isolation and hardship, Team Libertad walks alongside these individuals as they find their inner strength to navigate the last step on their long journey to safety. We are thrilled to welcome them to the Inspiritus Refugee and Immigrant Services team!

Want to help welcome asylum seekers at the airport with Team Libertad? Sign up for a volunteer shift at bit.ly/airport-signup.

For questions or more information, contact Andrea Espinoza, Team Libertad Program Coordinator, at andrea.espinoza@weinspirit.org.

Sincerely,

Aimee Zangandou
Executive Director of Refugee & Immigrant Services

CALL TO ACTION: Asylum Seekers Need Your Help

Dear Friend,

Inspiritus is grateful for advocates like you who help us accompany and speak up on behalf of our most vulnerable neighbors who are seeking refugee and/or asylum in the United States. If you are interested in advocating for asylum seekers, please prayerfully consider this action alert and call to action:

On February 23, the agency for U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) proposed a set of new rules pertaining to the asylum process for vulnerable immigrants seeking to enter the U.S. from the Southern border. Current law under the Immigration and Nationality Act explicitly permits any individual with a well-founded fear of persecution to seek asylum from within the U.S. or at a port of entry. This newly proposed rule, entitled “Circumvention of Lawful Pathways”, would automatically disqualify cases from individuals who seek asylum directly at the border.

If this rule is enacted, it will require that individuals first apply for asylum in a nearby country, and then apply for asylum in the U.S. if their case in this initial country was formally denied.

The process is already very difficult or near impossible for some asylum seekers to navigate on their own. For example, the only way individuals can formally apply for asylum is the CBP One app, the platform through which applicants receive confirmation of appointments and additional correspondence. While access to a smart phone or accessible WiFi is an obvious barrier, the app has reportedly experienced widespread technical glitches and is available in only English, Spanish, and Haitian Creole.

While there are a few exceptions to the proposed rule (such as for unaccompanied minors or individuals with exceptionally grave medical needs), these changes would essentially deny tens of thousands of asylum seekers due process when attempting to exercise their legal right to seek safety. It also will put them back in harm’s way. If passed, these changes would take effect on May 11 and would remain in place for the next two years.

The administration is reversing course on its previous commitment to restoring asylum and it is imperative that we speak out. You can help advocate against these proposed changes by submitting a public comment online by March 27th. Click here to submit your comment.

You can find a template below to use as a guideline.

Hello, my name is [insert name] and I am writing from [insert hometown and state] to oppose the newly proposed changes to asylum policy outlined in “Circumvention of Lawful Pathways.” If implemented, these new changes would severely undermine the ability of vulnerable peoples to seek asylum according to U.S. and international law. The additional barriers these regulations would impose are arbitrary and will only prolong the dangerous circumstances from which migrants are seeking to escape. It is imperative that the U.S. uphold its role as beacon of safety and opportunity for immigrants facing persecution in their home countries and as such, it is critical that we do not close pathways for seeking asylum for the tens of thousands of vulnerable individuals and families for whom humanitarian parole or refugee resettlement is not an option. As a(n) [immigrant, person of faith, volunteer, staff of an immigrant-serving organization, etc.], I implore you to reconsider these proposed changes and find solutions that help restore asylum access, rather than dismantle it.

With gratitude,

Aimee Zangandou
Executive Director of Inspiritus Refugee & Immigrant Services

One Year Later: Russia's Invasion of Ukraine

Dear Friend,

One year has passed since Russia invaded Ukrainian territory, marking the beginning of an ongoing conflict that has forced 6.3 million Ukrainians to flee their country. Since last April’s launch of the Uniting for Ukraine program, around 102,000 Ukrainian nationals were welcomed to the US with the help of highly committed individuals or groups who sign on as their legal sponsors, and organizations like Inspiritus, who provide support to newcomers and their sponsors as they navigate processes like school enrollment, securing employment, and other post-arrival essentials that set them up for success. To date, the Ukrainian Support Services Team at Inspiritus has connected with 384 Ukrainians across Georgia and Alabama.

Photo Credit: Time Magazine

Unlike refugees who come through the formal refugee admissions program, Ukrainians do not currently have a pathway for legal permanent residency, and are instead offered Humanitarian Parole, a form of temporary protected status that while grant authorization and other benefits, does not guarantee a permanent future in the US. Despite these uncertainties, the Ukrainians served by Inspiritus have chosen to turn hardship into opportunity and are on a path toward thriving in their new local communities.

Below are just a few stories of Inspiritus clients whose stories exemplify the resilience and optimism refugees bring with them to the United States.

Meet Sofia Castillo Kozhujovskaya (Atlanta, GA):

Sofia Castillo Kohzhujovskaya is no stranger to moving around. With one parent from Central America and another from Ukraine, she grew up in Costa Rica, El Salvador, and Mexico before eventually moving to Ukraine as an adolescent. While she grew up speaking Ukrainian and Spanish, she grew fluent in both English and Russian while in school. A high school senior when the war broke out, she would eventually earn her high school degree through an online English-language high school equivalency program and graduated while spending five months in a refugee camp in Poland.

Sofia arrived to Atlanta on July 27, 2022 with the help of her sponsor, a friend of her mother’s and former Marine. Sofia describes the Georgians she’s met as “very expressive” and “so polite,” emphasizing the strong level of support she felt from Kristian Dawson, Ukrainian Services Program Supervisor in Atlanta, someone with whom she says she could easily connect.

Very soon after arriving, Sofia kept moving forward with her original plans to pursue higher education and is currently a freshman Psychology major at Kennesaw State University where she commutes to and from Alpharetta a few days a week to take classes and tutor other students in Russian as a work-study job through the university.

Sofia is a self-described “gym rat” and enjoys watching the “Walking Dead” when she’s not working out. She hopes to visit Senoia, Georgia sometime soon, where much of the popular tv show was filmed. While she has professional dreams to become a psychological profiler, the price she currently pays for out-of-state tuition complicates the process. While traditional refugees and asylees are eligible for in-state tuition after one year of residency in Georgia, humanitarian parolees like Sofia are considered international students regardless of how many years they ultimately live in the state.

“As an 18-year-old, my income isn’t much. Having in-state tuition next year would help me work toward my goals in a very big way. Some people, especially older people, want to go back, but the life they had in Ukraine does not exist. This is my life now and I want to stay.”

Meet Olha Piatak (Savannah, GA):

To say that Olha Piatak is lucky is an understatement. The day that the war broke out on February 24, 2022, she and her friend, Diana, were on a train on a pre-planned trip to the mountains. As panic ensued back home in Kyiv, Olha and her friend were able to safely make it to the Ukrainian-Polish border where they waited for 24 hours with no food or water before being permitted to cross. After staying with a family in Warsaw for a week, Olha and Diana went on to stay with friends in Berlin, parts of Southern France, and Paris for the next eight months. 

Olha taking in the beauty of Downtown Savannah.

Diana’s mother, who had moved to Georgia three years ago, would go on with her husband to formally sponsor the girls through the Uniting for Ukraine program, sending them across the Atlantic to Baxley, GA, a small town about two hours West of Savannah.

In Savannah, Olha was connected to a member of the Inspiritus team, Olha Maney, who helped her get on her feet as a new US resident. “Olha is an amazing person,” she says. “We’re so happy that we met her because she really did care about us. Not only did she help us with preparing documents and so on, she was always asking how we were doing. It is so sweet to realize that people care because you’re new to this country and don’t have many friends or people around.”

Olha has since left Savannah after reconnecting (and falling in love) with a former classmate from Kyiv. After moving to Chicago where her now partner was living, they chose to follow the footsteps of many other young dreamers and moved out to Los Angeles where they are happily living and preparing to take their drivers’ license exam. While Olha used to be a graphic designer in Ukraine, she hopes to combine her business degree and love of baking to eventually start her own line of sugar-free baked goods. Finding a job at a bakery is the next step after getting her license and a car.

Olha’s message for US lawmakers? “Ukrainian people are super hard working and open for opportunities to start and live our life here. Can you imagine a situation where you started a life and you’re thinking about your future and the government is telling you to go back because parole is over? Please do not destroy our plans. We want the opportunity to naturalize.”

Meet Olena Vyshyvanyuk (Birmingham, AL):

Olena Vyshyvanyuk epitomizes what it means to be a servant leader. As soon as it became clear she and her family would be sponsored by an American family in Birmingham, she started to look for employment opportunities that would allow her to help fellow Ukrainians seeking refuge in Alabama.

After learning more about Inspiritus online, conversations with our Ukrainian Services Support team began overseas and continued in-person both as a client receiving services after arriving in November 2022, and eventually as a new staff member who was hired in January 2023 as the Ukrainian Services Case Manager for Alabama.

Olena and her family on Christmas Day in front of the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church in Birmingham.

In little over three months since their arrival, Olena’s family has found a real home in Birmingham. Her husband, with whom Olena shared a fabric business back in Ukraine, is working in alterations currently and has plans to start up his own business again in the future. Her three daughters have quickly made new friends and spend their time after school engaged in various activities from dance, basketball, and art. Of Birmingham, Olena says, “I love the people here. People are really kind, sincere, and always trying to help with open hands. We love the schools here and the weather. Here, it’s not so cold!”

For Olena, helping other Ukrainians with similar experiences serves as an outlet for healing. Her ability to empathize with her clients, along with her fluency in Russian, Ukrainian, and English, similarly offers her clients a sense of trust and connection as they navigate challenges around finding their own housing, employment, etc.

“Inspiritus is doing a great job. We are making it easier for them and they really need help. I just hope we can help more people.”

HOW YOU CAN HELP:

With no imminent resolution to the conflict in sight, much remains uncertain, including the future of Ukrainians living in the US with humanitarian parole. Below are some ways you can take action to ensure these individuals can continue to live a life of safety and prosperity in the US.

• Call your members of Congress and tell them to support legislation that offers status adjustment for Ukrainians, Afghans, and other populations with Humanitarian Parole. Click here to find your US House Member and Senators.

• Sample Message: “My name is [Insert Name] and I am your constituent from [City, State]. [As a person of faith/a refugee/a veteran/community member], I am asking that you support legislation offers status adjustment for Ukrainians, Afghans, and other vulnerable populations we welcomed through the humanitarian parole program. Without the opportunity to become a legal permanent resident, groups that the US government helped evacuate or otherwise help escape conflict will face uncertainty and insecurity. Congress has historically passed similar bills for vulnerable evacuated populations, and this legislation is similarly needed now. I encourage you to revisit the advancement of an Afghan Adjustment Act and new legislation that can offer similar permanent protections for Ukrainians and others with humanitarian parole.

• Support US sponsorship of Ukrainian nationals and other vulnerable populations seeking safety. Uniting for Ukraine is still seeking US-based sponsors who can commit to providing temporary housing and assistance to Ukrainians willing to relocate to the United States. Ukrainian-Americans and Ukrainian or Russian speakers are especially encouraged to apply. Visit Welcome.US or contact Kristian Dawson, at Kristian.dawson@weinspirit.org for more information.

• Donate to help empower Ukrainians on their journey from surviving to thriving: www.weinspirit.org/donate

With gratitude,

The Refugee & Immigrant Services Team

Inspiritus

New Americans Celebration at the Georgia State Capitol

Dear friend,

We invite you to join Inspiritus, and our partners at the Coalition of Refugee Service Agencies (CRSA), on Tuesday, February 14, for the tenth annual New Americans Celebration at the Georgia State Capitol!

The New Americans Celebration is the annual day of education and outreach for refugees, immigrants and native-born allies. Every year we welcome hundreds of advocates to the Capitol to engage with legislators and promote policy reforms that help ensure immigrants, refugees, and all Georgians may prosper in our home state.

Registration for this event is now open! This event is free but guests are asked to please register in advance through Eventbrite by clicking here.

This year's event will kick off at the Catholic Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, located at 48 Martin Luther King Dr. SW, Atlanta, GA 30303. Check in will begin at 7:30 AM and the program will start at 8:00AM. 

If you have any questions, please contact me at sarah.burke@weinspirit.org. Don't miss this chance to show your support for refugees this Valentine's Day!

With Gratitude,

Sarah Burke
Community Engagement Manager

Your Favorite Inspiritus Programs: 2022 Highlights

As we look back on 2022, this year tells a story of resilience, strength, and determination despite the storms of life that affect each of us and those we have the honor of serving. From the family arriving from a war-torn country with nothing but the clothes on their back who is given a warm home and welcome from Inspiritus staff and volunteers in Alabama, Georgia, or Tennessee, to the disabled senior veteran whose home has been restored after the tornado (or flood, or hurricane) hit both his home and his hope. On behalf of the 8,504 survivors we accompanied this year through life’s storms, thank you for your compassion and commitment to empowering each one on their path from Surviving to Thriving.

Moeen Amini, Interpreter for the U.S. Military in Afghanistan, was interviewed by Allied News. He reflected, “We really lost hope to live. We faced a lot of Taliban checkpoints. I cannot explain how hard it was facing those people. You know, seeing hundreds of people with guns and stopping us and asking us, ‘Who you are, where are you going? And why are you leaving the country? Are you people the U.S. military supporters, is that why you’re leaving the country?'"

Moeen and his family were resettled in Clarkston, Georgia. Upon arrival, however, no one was willing to hire him. Thanks to supporters like you who help us respond to the urgent needs of refugees, like the newly arriving families from Afghanistan, Moeen and hundreds of others have found housing, work, and schooling this year.

Inspiritus’ mission is to empower families to do more than survive…but to also thrive. In 2022, the Inspiritus Refugee and Immigrant Services team pivoted from resettlement of Afghan Allies to the ‘Long Welcome’— the extended period after a family is housed, when our teams help them pursue upskilling and securing career recertifications so they can earn enough income to fully support their families. We are also helping them to apply for permanent immigration status. Your donations make it possible for families like Moeen’s to thrive again.

Elizabeth Moore and her husband rushed to get their children to safety as 6 feet of water filled their home, making it uninhabitable. They applied for assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency and were rejected three times. On July 26, Inspiritus deployed a team to East Kentucky to provide the critical help needed after these flash floods. Inspiritus leaders helped homeowners, like Elizabeth, navigate FEMA, and volunteers worked endlessly to clean up the debris from flood ravaged homes.

Elizabeth Moore and her husband rushed to get their children to safety as 6 feet of water filled their home, making it uninhabitable. They applied for assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency and were rejected three times.

On July 26, Inspiritus deployed a team to East Kentucky to provide the critical help needed after these flash floods. Inspiritus leaders helped homeowners, like Elizabeth, navigate FEMA, and volunteers worked endlessly to clean up the debris from flood ravaged homes.This year, Inspiritus deployed Response teams to help give hope to thousands of survivors impacted by the Mayfield Tornado, East Kentucky Floods, and Hurricane Ian.

In addition, Inspiritus Recovery teams repaired 70+ homes in Georgia, Tennessee, and Kentucky. When partners like you support our work on the ground, we can deploy teams faster to help the most vulnerable recover. Prayerfully consider donating or volunteering today with our disaster relief efforts.

We have come a long way as Inspiritus celebrates almost four years since we merged the organizations of Lutheran Services in Tennessee and Lutheran Services of Georgia. From the beginning, we have dreamed of ways to better meet the local community’s increasing needs from our site at the old St. Paul’s Lutheran Church. We are excited to tell you that we are on the verge of that dream being realized.

In the coming months, you will hear more about Inspiritus’ Campus Redevelopment that will expand our reach with 8,000 square feet of program space including a flagship “client choice grocery market” food pantry, affordable housing for seniors, community enrichment spaces for Inspiritus empowerment programs, and other services. We will not be able to accomplish this redevelopment without your support. We hope you will consider making a pledge or monthly gift to support this campaign, and will let us know if you have any friends, family, organizations, or foundations who might want to learn more about how to partner with us in this effort.

Your gift will empower our neighbors with the supports they need to thrive, right where they are.

Inspiritus’ Foster Care and Disability & Health Services programs provide person- centered housing with compassionate and well-trained Foster Care Parents or Support Companions for adults and children with critical needs. The need is great! If you or someone you know might be interested in learning more about becoming a Foster Parent or Support Companion in your home, please contact us or visit our website: weinspirit.org.

Our Foster Care program specializes in serving infants, children, and teens with significant medical, developmental, mental, physical, and/or behavioral challenges. These children often face harsh odds, and need highly qualified, well-trained foster parents to meet their needs so they can begin to thrive. This year, the program has made it possible for 38 medically vulnerable youth in Georgia to receive the care and support they need.

Inspiritus’ Disability & Health Services accompanies adult individuals who have intellectual and developmental disabilities. This year, Disability & Health Services empowered 82 adults in Georgia by ensuring they have the compassionate Support Companions and homes they need.

Your end-of-year gift will help empower more individuals and families on their journey from surviving to thriving.

We continue to need your support to keep our programs and services well-equipped to make a difference. Please consider making your end-of-year donation to Inspiritus. We are so grateful for supporters like you. We wish you safe and healthy holiday season!

Updates: The War on Ukraine

The sunflower, Ukraine’s national flower, is becoming a global symbol of solidarity.

Dear Friends and Colleagues,

Last week, the world woke to the grim news of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Those impacted may be loved ones of yours or strangers – all are in our thoughts and prayers during this devastating time. Please join us, in whatever way is right for you, in uplifting the citizens of Ukraine and all those impacted by this and other wars in your hearts, in your actions, and in your prayers.

Inspiritus stands in solidarity with our Ukrainian neighbors and is resolute in our commitment to supporting refugees and those impacted by wars. Inspiritus has been a U.S. resettlement agency in the Southeastern US since 1981, and has long accompanied refugees and families impacted by wars throughout the world. Our teams empower refugees, asylum seekers, and immigrants across Georgia, Alabama, and Tennessee.

The Inspiritus network includes many beloved individuals with Ukrainian roots and ties who have themselves been refugees, staff, volunteers, donors and friends. We want to recognize and lift them up during this difficult time. We recognize the trauma and fear they are enduring now. We also recognize that war and the threat of war, such as this, can be retraumatizing for those who have made the US their home after enduring wars in their own countries. For all of us, seeing images of and hearing of the violence and threat that is occurring can induce fear and stress. We lift up each of you in our hearts and prayers.

We invite you to strengthen your hearts, join us in prayer, and advocate on behalf of those impacted by this developing war on Ukraine. At this time, here are a few ways you can help:

ADVOCATE FOR UKRAINIAN REFUGEES

TAKE ACTION! Join Inspiritus in urging the Biden administration to support Ukrainians here and abroad by:

• Providing humanitarian assistance

• Rebuilding a robust, well-resourced refugee program

• Designating Ukraine for Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) or Temporary Protected Status (TPS) to protect Ukrainians already in the U.S.

• Granting Special Student Relief (SSR) to allow eligible students from Ukraine to remain in the U.S.

After sending a message to the administration, join us in calling on Congress to urgently pass an emergency supplemental appropriations bill for foreign assistance to Ukraine, where a majority of the emergency funding would go to helping Ukrainian refugees in Europe.

WILL THE UNITED STATES WELCOME REFUGEES FROM UKRAINE?

At this time, the United States is not expecting to receive Ukrainian refugees. It is currently anticipated that Ukrainian refugees will be accepted by European nations. We will continue to watch and be ready to assist refugees from this war in the future, if the United States government makes the determination to do so.

Where will they go? At this time, Ukraine’s neighboring countries, including Poland, Romania, Moldova, Hungary, and Slovakia, have indicated they will accept Ukrainian refugees. Central Europe is already home to millions of Ukrainians, given the region’s close geographical and cultural ties to their home country. It is unlikely, however, that these nations could successfully support a surge of millions of refugees without the support of the U.S. and the wider international community.

We will continue to monitor this situation and update you on new ways you can help, if changes occur.

JOIN US IN PRAYER

We invite you to join with us in accordance with your personal faith and beliefs in prayer for those impacted by this war.

An Interfaith Prayer

Love and Peace,

We pray for all people — men, women and children—

whose lives are in peril in the Ukraine and throughout the world.

We pray for the vision to see

and the faith to believe in a world emancipated from violence.

Heal the wounds of mind, body and spirit that occur due to the violence in our world.

Help us to devote ourselves to the task of making peace in our own neighborhoods and around the world. No one is hidden from your love.

Help us be home to others. Help us manifest your love and peace to the world.

SHARE

Inspiritus stands in solidarity with our neighbors impacted by the war on Ukraine and we pray for peace, healing, and resolution for all of those impacted. We invite you to repost and share a message of support, on all social media platforms, for our Ukrainian neighbors including: #StandWithUkraine.

Thank you for your continued support for the important work of Inspiritus in empowering those impacted by wars, disasters, and life-changing events locally and abroad. We are grateful for your compassion and commitment to empowering survivors to go from surviving to thriving. Thank you!

Rev. John R. Moeller, Jr.
President & CEO,
Inspiritus

Photo cred: NBC News

Inspiritus on CNBC: Afghan Ally Interview

Dear Friend,

We at Inspiritus feel it is important to give refugees an opportunity to tell their stories about their journey to the United States and for Americans to learn about the experience refugees go through in their pursuit of coming here.

Recently, an Afghan ally being resettled in Georgia by Inspiritus had the opportunity to share their story with CNBC on “The News with Shepard Smith.”

This impactful news piece shares the story of Syed (not his real name), a refugee who tried eight times to enter the airport in Kabul, Afghanistan so he could he fly his wife and children to safety. A former employee at the U.S. Embassy, he had the necessary paperwork but the large number of people attempting to flee made gaining access to the airport next to impossible.

On their second-to-last try, they got closer to the airport and he stepped out of line to ask a question. The Taliban beat him in front of his family. Twenty minutes after Syed and his family went home a suicide bomber struck the airport killing dozens of people.

On their final try, Syed and his family were able to enter and be approved for departure. Unfortunately, the Taliban guards seized all of their luggage and threw away all of the family’s belongings despite their pleading.

Hear Syed's story in his own words below:

We often say that refugees arrive in the United States “with only the clothes on their backs”. While each client’s story is different, Syed’s example helps us gain greater understanding into why that may be the case, especially for those coming to the U.S. from Afghanistan.

Coming to America is “a big chance, very big chance,” Syed told CNBC. “I’m trying to rebuild my life again like from zero.” His dream now is to work in finance again.

Syed isn't alone. All told, Inspiritus expects to welcome 200-300 families in the next 12 months, including 500 Afghan allies and 850 refugee arrivals from other countries. Most of these new neighbors will be children, accompanied by their parents.

When you donate to Inspiritus, you provide emergency financial support for families to cover any unmet housing and medical costs. You support the distribution of food, school supplies, hygiene kits and other resources to new Americans. You invest in our local staff capacity—the heart of our essential programs and services—so there are compassionate and empathetic professionals ready to welcome families to their new home and help them secure employment, learn English, enroll in school and start to rebuild their lives. No donation is too small!

We appreciate your support of our work to help individuals like Syed and his family go from surviving to thriving.

Thank you,

Virginia Spencer
Chief Development Officer
Inspiritus

Inspiritus in the News: Helping Afghan Allies

Dear Friend,

I hope you had a restful Labor Day weekend. I am so excited to share some good news with you. As you know, we have been actively spreading the word about our efforts to welcome Afghan Allies, to help raise funding so that every family we welcome can successfully go from surviving to thriving.

Recently, many news outlets have helped us get the word out. I'd like to share some of those highlights with you today.

On Labor Day, Inspiritus was included in a front page story in The New York Times and on "Your World with Neil Cavuto" on FOX News. Special thanks to John Moeller and Aimee Zangandou for their tireless advocacy on behalf of the Afghan families we are welcoming.

Click here to watch John's interview on Fox News or on image below:

Click here to read the The New York Times article featuring Aimee Zangandou.

In addition to those exciting national news stories, John, Aimee, and other Inpiritus staff and volunteers have been busy helping local news outlets share how the public can join us in welcoming Afghan Allies.

In Georgia, listeners to the 19 radio stations of Georgia Public Broadcasting (GPB) learned more about Inspiritus thanks to an interview with Aimee Zangandou, Inspiritus' Director of Refugee & Immigrant Services. GPB mentioned that the federal government offers only a 90-day period of assistance and nonprofit organizations need additional funding to help these families succeed. Click here to hear Aimee on Georgia Public Broadcasting, PBS, and NPR.

In Savannah, where nearly 100% of Afghans and other refugees Inspiritus resettles are financially self-sufficient within six months of arrival, media outlets are stepping up and helping to educate the community about Inspiritus and the Afghan families we are preparing to resettle locally.

Thank you to Savannah’s WTOC Ch. 11 CBS, WTGS Fox28, WSAV Ch. 3 NBC and WJCL 22 News ABC for their ongoing commitment to telling our story. This recent WJCL interview (featuring Aimee) typifies the support we have received from the Savannah media.

Please feel welcomed to share these news articles with your family and friends. Each one highlights a different aspect of our work to help Afghan allies who have given so much to support U.S. military efforts.

So many of our readers have begun to donate to this cause. Thank you. 100% of your donated funds will directly support Afghan families resettling in Georgia. If you have not yet given, we invite you to prayerfully consider joining us in this mission. You will help make sure every family we settle here in Georgia will have the housing, food, and clothing they need to go from surviving to thriving.

Please continue to join us in prayer for our Afghan friends, as well as our hard working staff, volunteers and donors who are giving them the hero’s welcome they deserve. Thank you for joining us in this mission.

Sincerely,

Virginia Spencer
Chief Development Officer
Inspiritus

UPDATE: Afghan Families are Arriving Now

Welcome Our Afghan Allies to Georgia.

Inspiritus staff and partners have welcomed the first Afghan allies family we are resettling in Georgia, following the fall of Afghanistan to the Taliban in August 2021. For those of you following the journey of the first two families arriving, this is the second family Inspiritus expected...they arrived first! Upon arriving on American soil, a hotel worker drove them across the country to help them arrive to their new home in Atlanta as fast as possible. We will provide an update soon on the next family to arrive in Savannah, Georgia.

(Left to right: Becca, Alix & Kimberlie) Inspiritus Refugee & Immigrant Services staff provided a warm welcome to the family.

Ahmad (a former Afghan refugee himself), an Inspiritus employee and Afghan advocate, helped welcome the first arrivals by sharing a meal, lovingly prepared by his family.

Inspiritus has a long history of welcoming refugees and Afghan Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) holders to Georgia and accompanying them on their journey from surviving to thriving in Georgia. Inspiritus has been approved by the U.S. government to resettle and support an estimated 15-25 Afghan families (mostly children) into the metro Atlanta and Savannah areas over the next 6 months. Please continue to pray for the families we are awaiting.

You can help. Here’s how:

So many of our readers have begun to donate to this cause. Thank you. 100% of your donated funds will directly support Afghan families resettling in Georgia. If you have not yet given, we invite you to prayerfully consider joining us in this mission.

When our Afghan allies and their families arrive at Inspiritus, they often have little more than the clothes on their backs. In some cases, there can be a gap between the families’ arrivals and the services they are eligible to receive through the United States resettlement program.

This is where you can help. Your financial support to sponsor an Afghan family will provide food, housing assistance, clothing, and other basic needs for our newest neighbors.

We need your urgent help to give them the hero’s welcome they deserve.

Many of our friends and colleagues want to help but don’t know how. Share this fundraiser, or host your own, and empower your friends to directly support Afghan families that Inspiritus will be resettling in Georgia. In addition to the two families we are welcoming, the Inspiritus teams in Atlanta and Savannah are preparing to resettle an estimated 15-25 Afghan families as they are able to safely travel to the United States. Follow this Fundraiser for updates on the status of these families.

As we anticipate to support a large influx of Afghan SIVs, securing affordable housing is our number one priority. If you live within 50 miles of Atlanta or Savannah, Georgia, and are willing to provide temporary housing in your home or have a rental property you would like to make available, please let us know. For more information, please email Sarah Burke.

You may also consider purchasing items from our Amazon Wish List or sharing it with your friends and family. The gift cards, household and personal care items purchased from our Amazon Wish List will go directly to the families we are helping to resettle in Georgia.

Lift up your hearts in prayer for our Afghan friends. Visit LIRS’ website for both a Christian and an interfaith prayer.

Sincerely,

Aimee Zangandou
Director of Refugee and Immigrant Services
Inspiritus

URGENT: Updates on families from Kabul

Our Afghan Allies need your help.

Inspiritus has a long history of welcoming refugees and Afghan Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) holders to Georgia and accompanying them on their journey from surviving to thriving in Georgia. Inspiritus is monitoring the situation very closely and our teams in Atlanta and Savannah are prepared to rapidly resettle and support a large influx of Afghan SIVs into the metro Atlanta and Savannah areas in response to this humanitarian crisis.

The U.S. government has already approved 14 Afghans (two families, mostly children) for Inspiritus to resettle and we are closely following their efforts to escape Afghanistan. These families had flights arranged to fly to Georgia last week but as Kabul fell to the Taliban last Sunday, all travel arrangements were shut down. These families are in grave danger as they attempt to enter the Kabul airport access points, but have been unable to enter due to the crowds and Taliban violence.

In light of the violence and explosions at the Kabul airport yesterday, we would like to share updates on the two Afghan SIV families we are awaiting now:

After a terrifying week, and five attempts to make it through the crowds and Taliban violence into the Kabul airport, one of the Inspiritus families made it into the airport last night with their children. They have since flown to Qatar, and flights have been arranged to bring them to the USA. We anticipate that we will likely be able to resettle them in Savannah, GA soon after their arrival, where Inspiritus staff and local volunteers and churches eagerly await them. We will keep you posted.

Please continue to pray for the second family we are awaiting. They have not yet been able to get safely inside the Kabul airport, but we have heard from them following today’s bombing, and they are safe and were not in the vicinity when it occurred. Prayers for their continued safety and successful escape. We have received word that Inspiritus will be requested to resettle many more Afghan families soon.

You can help. Here’s how:

So many of our readers have begun to donate to this cause. Thank you. 100% of your donated funds will directly support Afghan families resettling in Georgia. If you have not yet given, we invite you to prayerfully consider joining us in this mission.

When our Afghan allies and their families arrive at Inspiritus, they often have little more than the clothes on their backs. In some cases, there can be a 5-7 day gap between the families’ arrivals and the services they are eligible to receive through the United States resettlement program.

This is where you can help. Your financial support to sponsor an Afghan family will provide food, housing assistance, clothing, and other basic needs for our Afghan friends as they await the official services available to them through the US government.

We need your urgent help to give them the hero’s welcome they deserve

Many of our friends and colleagues want to help but don’t know how. Share this fundraiser, or host your own, and empower your friends to directly support Afghan families that Inspiritus will be resettling in Georgia. The U.S. government has already approved 14 Afghans for Inspiritus to resettle and we expect many more to come as soon as they are able to safely travel to the United States. Follow this Fundraiser for updates on the status of these families.

Contact your Members of Congress and the White House and demand they prioritize the evacuation of Afghan allies and urge them to provide urgent humanitarian protections, including immediate evacuation, for those who have put their lives on the line for our country and are now at risk.

Here is a sample script to use when calling your Members of Congress.

“Hello, my name is ______, and I am a resident of ______, GA. I am very concerned for the safety of Afghan allies who remain in Afghanistan after the recent government collapse. These allies put their lives and the lives of their families at risk to support the U.S. military. It is now time to protect them as they face imminent, immediate threat from the Taliban. First, we must urge the Biden administration to evacuate all of our Afghan allies. Secondly, we must improve and expedite the SIV program for Afghan nationals who have supported the U.S. military. We must push the Biden administration to provide a comprehensive evacuation plan that prioritizes the safety of the Afghan allies and others who are vulnerable. Thank you.

Senator Jon Ossoff: 202 224-3521

Senator Raphael Warnock: (202) 224-3643

To find your representative, please visit this link.

As we anticipate to support a large influx of Afghan SIVs, securing affordable housing is our number one priority. If you live within 50 miles of Atlanta or Savannah, Georgia, and are willing to provide temporary housing in your home or have a rental property you would like to make available, please let us know. For more information, please email Sarah Burke.

Lift up your hearts in prayer for our Afghan friends. Visit LIRS’ website for both a Christian and an interfaith prayer.

This situation has been heartbreaking for our Afghan staff, community, and the Refugee and Immigrant Services team. We hope to have good news to share with you soon.

– Aimee Zangandou
Director of Refugee and Immigrant Services
Inspiritus

URGENT: Help Welcome Afghan Allies to Georgia

Our Afghan Allies need your help.

What is happening in Afghanistan is devastating. Inspiritus is greatly concerned about the well-being and safety of human life in grave danger of Taliban retaliation. We stand in solidarity with our Afghani allies and their families.

Inspiritus has a long history of welcoming refugees and Afghan Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) holders to Georgia and accompanying them on their journey from surviving to thriving in Georgia. Inspiritus is monitoring the situation very closely and our teams in Atlanta and Savannah are prepared to rapidly resettle and support a large influx of Afghan SIVs into the metro Atlanta and Savannah areas in response to this humanitarian crisis.

You can help. Here’s how:

When our Afghan allies and their families arrive at Inspiritus, they often have little more than the clothes on their backs. In some cases, there can be a 5-7 day gap between the families’ arrivals and the services they are eligible to receive through the United States resettlement program.

This is where you can help. Your financial support to sponsor an Afghan family will provide food, housing assistance, clothing, and other basic needs for our Afghan friends as they await the official services available to them through Inspiritus.

We need your urgent help to give them the hero’s welcome they deserve.

Many of our friends and colleagues want to help but don’t know how. Share this fundraiser, or host your own, and empower your friends to directly support Afghan families that Inspiritus will be resettling in Georgia. The U.S. government has already approved 14 Afghans for Inspiritus to resettle and we expect many more to come as soon as they are able to safely travel to the United States.

Contact your Members of Congress and the Biden Administration and demand they prioritize the evacuation of Afghan allies and urge them to provide urgent humanitarian protections, including immediate evacuation, for those who have put their lives on the line for our country and are now at risk.

Here is a sample script to use when calling your Members of Congress.

“Hello, my name is ______, and I am a resident of ______, GA. I am very concerned for the safety of Afghan allies who remain in Afghanistan after the recent government collapse. These allies put their lives and the lives of their families at risk to support the U.S. military. It is now time to protect them as they face imminent, immediate threat from the Taliban. First, we must urge the Biden administration to evacuate all of our Afghan allies. Secondly, we must improve and expedite the SIV program for Afghan nationals who have supported the U.S. military. We must push the Biden administration to provide a comprehensive evacuation plan that prioritizes the safety of the Afghan allies and others who are vulnerable. Thank you.

Senator Jon Ossoff: 202 224-3521

Senator Raphael Warnock: (202) 224-3643

To find your representative, please visit this link.

As we anticipate to support a large influx of Afghan SIVs, securing affordable housing is our number one priority. If you live within 50 miles of Atlanta or Savannah, Georgia, and are willing to provide temporary housing in your home, please let us know.

For more information on volunteering, please email Sarah Burke.

Lift up your hearts in prayer for our Afghan friends. Visit LIRS’ website for both a Christian and an interfaith prayer.

This situation is very heartbreaking for our Afghan staff, community, and the Refugee and Immigrant Services team.

– Aimee Zangandou
Director of Refugee and Immigrant Services
Inspiritus