Good afternoon and welcome to the Lab Brief.

As we prepare for the fall, we’re calling for a reinvestment in refugee resettlement, an economic contributions narrative that doesn’t lose sight of our shared humanity, and we are getting ready to advocate for inclusive state policies in the upcoming 2024 state legislative session. 

Let’s take a closer look.

Lab Highlights

WELCOME #MOREIN2024 CAMPAIGN

Every September, the President sets the goal for the number of refugees to be admitted into the United States for the upcoming fiscal year. Last year, President Biden set out to welcome 125,000 people, but as the year comes to a close, we are on track to admit less than half of that number. 

 

We’re encouraging partners and friends to join us in sending a message to President Biden to do more to welcome refugees and meet the FY2024 refugee admissions goal. Take Action TODAY -  Call on the President to Welcome #MoreIn2024!

RESOURCES

Economic Contributions Guide

The Lab and Refugee Congress have released  “Best Practices for Framing Economic Contributions: Advice from Refugee Leaders to Advance Inclusive Narratives.” The guide includes advice from displaced leaders on how to best frame the many economic contributions they make while not losing sight of the rights and dignity of people seeking safety, uplifting their experiences and the diverse ways they make U.S. communities and economies stronger.

 

State Legislative Review

As the 2023 state legislative session has come to a close in most states, we are pleased to share “2023 Lab State Legislative Session in Review,” a recap of policy successes – and challenges – on the ground. This year we saw a dynamic play out across the country and in Lab states. There were several historic gains, including in Utah and Georgia, but also important setbacks. As we prepare for an election year and political rhetoric becomes increasingly divisive, we will continue to build partnerships and support champions on both sides of the aisle to advance an inclusive agenda in states across the country.

WOMEN OF REFUGE

The Refugee Storytellers Collective has continued our partnership with Daughters of Change on the "Women of Refuge" podcast series featuring the powerful voices of refugee women across the United States. 

Matilda’s Story

Matilda Issata Sawie is the Refugee Congress Delegate for Pennsylvania, a TB Screening Coordinator in the Department of Public Health, and is completing a master’s in public health at West Chester University. Matilda’s experience as a former refugee from Liberia gave her a lifelong commitment to public health and her work as a storyteller raising awareness about domestic violence and refugee and immigrant rights.

State Spotlight

To highlight the work of hundreds state and local elected officials across the country who are champions of inclusion, the Lab uplifts a different initiative in each edition of The Lab Brief.

VIRGINIA

Virginia State Senator Ghazala Hashmi championed several bills this legislative session focused on language and workforce access for refugee and immigrant communities. This included a College and Career Readiness Fund to support English language learner students, an incentive program for educators pursuing English language instruction, and a New Americans Navigator Program which would assist immigrant entrepreneurs with starting up and growing small businesses in Virginia. These bills will be reintroduced next session as Senator Hashmi knows that: 

“Immigrant communities are essential to Virginia. Our New Americans contribute in every way possible to the Commonwealth: economically, culturally, and socially. Investing in language access across agencies, supporting English language learners in public schools, and developing navigator and other support programs are investments in Virginia’s future.” 

Are you an elected official working at the state and local level to promote the inclusion of displaced people in your community? Share your work with us to be featured in The Lab Brief! Email info@refugeeadvocacylab.org.

Stay in Touch

Thanks for reading!

Are you interested in state advocacy or Lab resources? Reach out.

The Refugee Advocacy Lab partners with varying groups on different activities, and as such, partnership with the Lab does not necessarily imply a partner’s support for any specific activity or policy. Similarly, the Lab does not necessarily support or endorse specific activities or positions of partner organizations.

 

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