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New American Cities: Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service receives Walmart grant to foster financial mobility amongst refugees and migrants
$1,000,000 award will help progressive program serving to New People entry alternatives to upskill and construct pathways to financial and social inclusion
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 19, 2022
Contact: Tim Younger | tyoung@lirs.org | 443-257-6310
Washington D.C. — Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service, a number one nationwide refugee resettlement nonprofit, introduced that Walmart has awarded the group a $1,000,000 grant to implement New American Cities – a program to boost collaboration between native governments, workforce facilities, employers and resettlement businesses within the pursuit of a greater method to financial self-sufficiency for refugee and migrant households.
“The challenges refugees face in rebuilding their lives in america are daunting. They’re usually required to simply accept low-wage, entry-level positions providing little alternative for progress,” stated Krish O’Mara Vignarajah, President and CEO of Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service (LIRS). “Due to Walmart’s help, we are able to reimagine help methods to unlock the potential of latest People and revitalize the cities they name residence.”
The New American Cities program builds on the success of a earlier LIRS pilot program funded by Walmart., by means of which 167 refugees discovered a big impression on profession development and wages and 81% of these positioned in a job have been positioned of their chosen profession pathway.
One participant within the pilot program was Julienne, a former refugee from Rwanda. When Julienne started this system, she had a job as a caregiver in a nursing residence making about $8 per hour. After working with a profession navigation specialist, she was capable of safe a profession as a Group Help Employee for pregnant girls and new moms, lots of whom are former refugees themselves. Julienne now makes practically $20 per hour and feels a way of success in her work.
“I began working with Carla, this system supervisor, and he or she helped me with the applying. I used to be hesitating due to the language and since my bachelor’s diploma was from Africa, however she helped me put together, and that’s how I obtained this job,” Julienne stated. “I’m so grateful to Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service. Now, I like my job as a result of I’m serving to mothers with infants.”
Profession Navigators within the New American Cities program assist refugee and migrant shoppers create individualized profession plans, hook up with abilities coaching, conduct job readiness workshops, and obtain job placement. Pathway Builders, a second place throughout the program, work with employers to establish alternatives for profession development and be sure that trainings provided to New People in this system instantly goal native employers’ highest precedence talent gaps.
“We’re excited to help LIRS because it builds on its pilot program to offer profession alternatives for a whole bunch extra New People,” stated Larry Jackson, Senior Director, Alternative at Walmart. “Offering abilities coaching and pathways to high-demand careers creates higher alternatives for these people, and in addition strengthens the communities and companies the place they reside and work.”
Walmart funds at the moment help program operations in 4 deliberately chosen places, representing a various set of New American Cities, to show the effectiveness and applicability of the mannequin inside a variety of neighborhood profiles. These places embody Albuquerque, NM; Denver, CO; Fayetteville, AR; and Utica, NY.
“When resettlement businesses and cities assist refugees attain their full potential, it advantages all of us,” stated Lionel Jordan, Mayor of Fayetteville, Arkansas.
The New American Cities undertaking is designed to be adaptable and scalable to every taking part neighborhood primarily based on its New American inhabitants and labor market. LIRS estimates that this two-year program will instantly profit about 600 New People and not directly support numerous others of their households and communities. Up to now, LIRS has enrolled 91 whole shoppers throughout the 4 Walmart-supported New American Cities places.
“With Walmart’s help, we look ahead to leveraging our greater than 80 years of experience to innovate a mannequin of programming that meets the current want and units a shining instance for the way forward for welcome,” continued Vignarajah. “By means of this partnership, we are able to change lives, strengthen native economies, shift the narratives round refugees, and create an inclusive framework that may help 1000’s extra to return.”
To study extra in regards to the New American Cities program, contact LIRS Press Secretary Timothy Younger at tyoung@lirs.org
To study extra about the way you or your basis can help New American Cities, contact LIRS Company and Basis Relations Specialist Leah Johnson at: funding@lirs.org
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