Supporting Refugee-Led Integration and Inclusion in the United States

When resettled refugees join new communities, they have many challenges to overcome. New cultures, languages, and customs can all be difficult to navigate, along with the struggles of supporting family and rebuilding livelihoods. As challenging as these circumstances can be, they also best equip resettled refugees to lead in welcoming new Americans and building bridges between refugees and their new communities.

USA for UNHCR, Welcoming America and Refugee Congress created the Sparking Change grant to support creative, community-building solutions developed and delivered by refugees in the United States. The grant was offered to forcibly displaced individuals living in Louisiana, Oklahoma or Texas with innovative ideas on how to promote welcoming, inclusion and collaboration in their communities.

Ten individuals were selected to join the inaugural cohort for the 2023 Sparking Change grant. The project proposals, ranging from initiatives that uplift refugee youth to innovative workshops led by refugee women, aim to improve integration and inclusion for displaced people in their communities.