Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization

?? REFUGEE PROGRAM UPDATE: ?? For the first time since 1980, when the federal Refugee Resettlement Program was created, the United States will not be welcoming refugees into our country. As a part of this historic policy shift, local refugee programs, like ours, have also been defunded. This decision will have a devastating impact on vulnerable families across the country, leaving thousands who have entered the U.S. since October 2024 without critical social services to turn to. It will also deprive over 120 million refugees around the world - who have been forcibly displaced because of persecution, conflict, violence or human rights violations - of hope of rebuilding their lives in the safety of the United States. Founded by refugees for refugees, IRCO has been serving Oregon’s refugee and immigrant communities for nearly 50 years. While IRCO’s Refugee Reception and Placement (R&P) program has been terminated by the federal government, we remain committed to our mission of welcoming, serving, and empowering refugees in Portland through IRCO’s other essential wraparound services. Join us in standing with refugees and immigrants by donating today at irco.org, ensuring we can continue this important work for many years to come. ??

The vision of the Murdock Trust is human flourishing for the common good, which applies to all communities, cultures, and people. We remain steadfast in this vision and in our support of #nonprofits doing critical work to make this vision a reality. Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization (IRCO) is one such organization that has been dedicated to serving Oregon's vulnerable communities for almost 50 years. Their mission is to welcome, serve, and empower refugees, immigrants, and people of all cultures and generations. Thank you, IRCO, for your deeply necessary and important work! To learn more about IRCO, read our blog from a few years ago outlining their programs and offerings linked below.

It is always a rewarding experience to work with a local charity that serves individuals and families in need. Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization (IRCO) has served people starting over, often from nothing, since 1976. #GivingBack #CommunityImpact #PrincipalForGood #CommunityFirst #PrincipalFinancial

? Early bird tickets are now available for Celebrate 2025: IRCO Gala! Join us on May 22nd for an incredible evening celebrating and sustaining IRCO's critical work in the Portland community. Buy early and save! ? Now is a pivotal time to stand with refugees and immigrants seeking safety and a better future. Join us for an unforgettable night of live performances (featuring special guest @seffarinemusic), delicious food, engaging speakers, and more benefitting IRCO's work with refugees, immigrants, and people across cultures. Learn more and purchase tickets at: https://lnkd.in/gRe8sCs5

Many thanks to the team at Principal Financial Group for your invaluable support and dedication to serving refugee families during this year's Community Impact Week! We loved having you volunteer at our New Beginnings Market. ??

March is Women's History Month, a time to honor and celebrate the invaluable contributions of women to both our past and present societies. During this time in history, when long-secured women's rights are being challenged, it is especially important to center the voices of women at the intersection of multiple identities - refugee and immigrant women, trans women, indigenous women, disabled women, and women of color. 57% of the thousands of clients IRCO serves each year are women, and 72% of IRCO staff are women. We are proud to celebrate and honor the contributions of the many remarkable women who have influenced our lives, shaped history, and made contributions to the IRCO community during this significant month. ????

Program Spotlight: Africa House?? For the last day of #BlackHistoryMonth, we want to shine a light on our Africa House community center in NE Portland. Established in 2006, Africa House is the only culturally and linguistically specific one stop center targeting the increasingly diverse and rapidly growing number of African immigrants and refugees living in Oregon. Serving over 5,000 community members from 22 ethnic and cultural backgrounds yearly, Africa House has received national attention for moving beyond intercultural strife to be the only center serving Africans from every country in the continent. Africa House is led by an advisory board of cross-cultural community leaders and staffed by a multicultural, multilingual team. Checkout IRCO's cultural center, Africa House, and the communities we serve here: https://lnkd.in/gVTT5NMV

DID YOU KNOW over 1/3 of IRCO's programs are federally funded? For nearly 50 years, IRCO has provided the essential services people across cultures need to thrive. Now, that work is more critical than ever. ?? IRCO is facing: - Budget Cuts: IRCO relies on federal funding for over 30% of our operating and program costs. - Staffing Impacts: Over 140 IRCO jobs could be lost or impacted by federal funding cuts. - Program Losses: Thousands of community members in Oregon and SW Washington depend on IRCO services each year. A brighter future starts with each of us. You can help by making a donation today at https://irco.org/donate/. Whether you can give $10 or $100, your contribution helps sustain key supportive services for refugees and immigrants in our community.

IRCO's Early Beginnings Preschool: Glisan Landing is beginning to take form! As construction continues, we want to thank our generous partners for their support of this project: Holst Architecture, Essex General Construction, Inc., Related Northwest, and many more funders and donors. We look forward to ending construction in June 2025 and opening this space up to our community in the months following. ?? ------ About the Project: In September of 2024, we were excited to announce the groundbreaking of our newest project, IRCO Early Beginnings Preschool: Glisan Landing. Located in the heart of the Montavilla neighborhood, the building's model will foster an inclusive environment designed to meet the diverse needs of our clients. This location offers convenient on-site parking and laundry facilities, along with spacious units, some featuring up to four bedrooms to accommodate larger families. In addition, this site will house the Early Beginnings Learning Center, a pre-kindergarten school that provides families with seamless access to early childhood education. We are also excited to offer instructional centers for tenants, where they can gain valuable job skills in textiles and youth education.

A great opportunity to make a positive impact!