Welcome Corps

Individuals displaced in Latin America may be eligible for refugee resettlement through the Welcome Corps. This includes individuals registered for Movilidad Segura (Safe Mobility) initiative and some individuals with requests pending under the parole process for Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans, and Venezuelans. Through Welcome Corps, U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents form a sponsor group and apply to support a refugee or refugee family. The sponsor group helps the refugees transition to life in the United States and provides services to support their first 90 days in the country. Apply by June 30 to be a sponsor! For info on sponsor eligibility, applying to sponsor, and more — visit bit.ly/3WMCfPY. [Para información en español, visite bit.ly/3WMCfPY]

The Association for Congolese in Austin (ACA) is a community nonprofit that supports Congolese diaspora in Austin, Texas. When the opportunity to welcome refugees through the Welcome Corps arose, the group members — all of whom are refugees or immigrants themselves — felt called to offer the same love and support they received as newcomers in the U.S. “I know how hard it is to be in a refugee camp. You leave your country where you had everything and move to a country where you have to sleep in a tent, or sleep on the floor, sometimes outside, no water, no electricity … Helping one refugee, you make a big difference in their life,” said Willy, an ACA leader. Yoliana, Ronald, and their 15-month-old daughter Aparicio, are now benefiting from that help. Originally from Venezuela, their journey to the U.S. began eight years ago, when they first relocated to refugee camp in Colombia. In March 2023, they matched with ACA through the Welcome Corps, and finally, in December 2023, they arrived to the U.S. With the resources and support provided by ACA and IRIS: Integrated Refugee & Immigrant Services, Yoliana, Ronald, and Aparicio are settling into their new community. Ronald and Yoliana are taking English classes and exploring the job market. They look forward to providing their daughter with an enriching education and more resources than they had in their home country. Yoliana hopes more Americans take the opportunity to help others through the Welcome Corps. “If this help could be extended to other families in need in Venezuela, it would be of critical importance and will make a huge difference in the lives of many people.” Read their story and learn more about becoming a sponsor ➡️ https://bit.ly/3ymBHX7

Through the Welcome Corps, sponsors work on teams to sponsor a refugee or refugee family and help them transition to life in their community. This means helping with things like finding and furnishing an apartment, getting a job, enrolling kids in school, and accessing community services. Sponsor groups provide practical support alongside hope, possibility, and a sense of belonging for a refugee’s first 90 days in the United States. Throughout their time with the Welcome Corps, sponsors receive ongoing guidance, including access to tools, resources, and fundraising support. If you’re a good neighbor, guide, and friend, you already have all the skills you need to succeed as a sponsor. Learn more about the application process at https://lnkd.in/ef2ajTtn!

At just 2 years old, Meshack Asende and Aimerance Bilewane both became refugees — and years later, the couple started their married life together. Now, decades later and with children of their own, their son and daughter will grow up with a different, more hopeful experience. The Beacon Heights Welcoming Friends private sponsor group welcomed the family to the United States in September 2023, and they are now settled in a safe and diverse community in Fort Wayne, IN. The combined expertise of the sponsor group contributed a variety of skills and vast connections to services and resources in their community. When Meshack and his family first arrived, the group quickly enrolled them in ESL classes, helped them find housing, connected them to WIC assistance, and nurtured their health and well-being. They also successfully connected the Asende family to the Congolese diaspora community in Fort Wayne. Meshack is hopeful for where this new journey in the United States might take them. “I hope to be part of many stories like immigrants who have come to the U.S., to just share the same dream, to live a good life, and hopefully to get a better life for my family and for my children.” Learn more about their story and becoming a sponsor ➡️ bit.ly/4a7Uum4

People interested in sponsoring refugees from Latin America and the Caribbean, including those who may have applied to the parole processes for Cuban, Haitian, Nicaraguan, and Venezuelan populations, have an opportunity to do so through the Welcome Corps. Community Sponsorship Hub's Esmeralda Hoscoy spoke with Samantha Lugo for Hispanic Conexion podcast to discuss how the program works. Catch the full episode here: https://lnkd.in/e-E3Hy3n Las personas interesadas en patrocinar a refugiados de América Latina y el Caribe, incluyendo aquellos que hayan aplicado a los procesos de libertad condicional para las poblaciones de Cuba, Haití, Nicaragua y Venezuela, pueden hacerlo a través del Welcome Corps. Esmeralda Hoscoy del Centro de Patrocinio Comunitario habló con Samantha Lugo en el podcast de Conexión Hispana para discutir cómo funciona el programa. Mira el video completo aqui.

In 2022, eight members of the Welcoming Project in New Britain, CT co-sponsored their first Syrian family. It was such a positive experience that they — along with the Syrian family they co-sponsored — decided to sponsor a new family, this time choosing the Welcome Corps program. In March 2024, they welcomed a Syrian family of six: Zyad Al Mahameed, Souzan Al Jarad, and their children. In Syria, Zyad said his family lived a nice, simple life before civil war broke out in 2011. They were able to cross the border into Jordan in 2012 — but their lives were still so difficult and Zyad worried about his children’s future. “It was a very wonderful shock and surprise to see these wonderful people waiting for us. There was a person who spoke Arabic who was helping us communicate,” Zyad said. “They brought us to a little apartment which was furnished which was waiting for us. There was actually even dinner, a meal which was even warm when we arrived.” After sponsor Susan Graham-Handley took the family to tour the elementary school, they stopped by the park on the way back to the family’s apartment. All four kids raced to the swings. It was a moment Susan said she’d never forget. Sponsorship is providing Zyad, Souzan, and their children with a second chance. Read their story and learn more about becoming a sponsor ➡️ bit.ly/3WEVknn

Are you thinking about becoming a sponsor with Welcome Corps? Join Welcome Corps on Campus on May 16 at 12 PM ET for a virtual application support session on becoming a private sponsor group! Welcome Corps on Campus is an opportunity to sponsor refugee students, providing them with a softer landing and an educational pathway, setting them up for academic and overall success. Register now at bit.ly/3JRjX8A

Michiganders: Join us at this year’s Grand Rapids Neighborhood Summit on May 18th! Along with Community Sponsorship Hub, we’ll be hosting workshop sharing about the Welcome Corps program, which makes it possible for communities to help refugees find freedom and security. We will be in classroom 119E at 2:10 pm. Registration is free! Visit: bit.ly/4aenLLY Looking forward to seeing you there!

People who are willing to join you in helping refugees rebuild their lives can be right within your network! That was the case for the Portland Project Sponsor Group, formed by friends in a longstanding book club. If you’re thinking about sponsorship, share your interest in making a difference with those around you, and you’ll be amazed by what a like-minded community can do! Visit WelcomeCorps.org today to learn more.

The compassionate care of a team of sponsors has given Meshack and Aimerance, a couple who met in a Tanzanian refugee camp, hope for a brighter future for their children.  When the young Congolese family sought safety in the U.S., the Beacon Heights Welcoming Friends private sponsor group provided refuge and resources for the family in Fort Wayne, Ind. To help them find belonging beyond the fellowship of their Welcome Corps sponsorship group, the Beacon Heights Welcoming Friends were diligent in connecting Meshack and Aimerance with Fort Wayne’s Congolese community, giving them a greater sense of home in a new place. Read more of this inspiring story, and learn how you can support refugees needing a new start through the Welcome Corps ⤵️