International Rescue Committee Spokane

"It is important for women to know that they have a place; They have a voice, and their voice matters. This is an environment where they can get that voice strengthened." Thank you to KHQ Local News for covering our International Women's Day event and showcasing the courage, resilience, and strength of refugee and immigrant women in Spokane and the impact they have on our community.

“To celebrate the bravery that it took for each of these women to leave home and the strength that all women hold is a special thing.” Thank you 4 News Now for highlighting our International Women’s Day event, and for sharing the inspiring stories of refugee and immigrant women in our community whose talents, cultures, and experiences make Spokane a more diverse and beautiful place!

Happy International Women’s Day to all of the incredible women around the globe and in our very own community whose resilience, triumphs, and accomplishments shine bright and make our world a better place! We gathered today at the Spokane Public Library with over 250 women, children, and partners for our 3rd annual International Women’s Day event! It was a beautiful day honoring women and girls who inspire us by demonstrating love and leadership in the choices they make in their day to day lives, and the impact they have on their families, friends, colleagues, and communities. It was a fun, full day with 25 partner organizations sharing community resources, delicious treats from Feast World Kitchen, henna, flower crown making, crafts and activities for children, and a donation room where women could shop for free for brand new items, including toys, baby supplies, and thousands of dollars worth of makeup and self-care items from Project Beauty Share. We ended the afternoon with a Mayoral Proclamation to commemorate the day and a beautiful presentation by talented women from the refugee and immigrant community, including Council Member Navarrete, who shared their inspiring stories and perspectives. We want to give a huge thank you to everyone who made this celebration possible, especially to our generous sponsors Community Health Plan of Washington, Better Health Together and Providence Inland Northwest. We also want to give a heartfelt thanks to all of the IRC volunteers and partners who showed up to support this event and celebrate the contributions of women from all backgrounds! #InternationalWomensDay #RefugeesWelcome #WeAllBelong

Our Immigration team has been working around the clock to provide legal support for naturalization, adjustments of status, employment authorization, and Temporary Protected Status. In the midst of all of the applications and deadlines, they hosted a workshop for Ukrainian parolees on immigration policy changes that have potentially serious implications for them. This session included a review of some of the rights granted by our constitution to everyone in the United States. We are here for our clients every step of the way to help navigate, educate, stabilize, and rebuild as they begin a new chapter of their lives in Spokane.

Our International Women’s Day event is just around the corner, and we couldn’t be more excited! It’s more important than ever to celebrate and highlight the voices, perspectives, and accomplishments of women from the refugee and immigrant communities, and we hope to see you there! Join us for free food, giveaways, and activities for women and children. Learn about programs and resources from organizations in the community, and hear from inspiring women. We hope to see you there!

Across the world, Muslims will fast from dawn to sunset with a special focus on reflection, prayer, community, charitable giving, and time with loved ones. Ramadan Mubarek, wishing health and happiness to all who observe!

“In the face of considerable uncertainty, IRC staff across 29 U.S. offices have continued to serve refugee clients with professionalism and grace. Through community support, local government engagement, and private sector partners, IRC will find ways to continue this critical work to serve refugee families. “Furthermore, the U.S. government should urgently restore the longstanding and effective programs and partnerships that have protected refugees for decades and re-affirm America’s commitment and leadership in ensuring people fleeing persecution can reach safety.”

Yesterday's shift from suspension to termination of the historical cooperative agreement between the State Department and the ten national resettlement agencies welcoming refuge under the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program, as well as the termination of 10,000 US AID contracts, will have a massive impact on our clients and the life-saving support we work to provide, both globally and locally. These decisions will leave some of the most vulnerable people in the world without services on which they depend for survival. "These programs are not just numbers on a spreadsheet; they represent real lives and real futures. The IRC calls on the U.S. government to reconsider this decision and to prioritize the needs of those who rely on this essential aid. Not only will these cuts have a tremendous human cost, they undermine the USA’s standing and influence as a credible actor in the most fragile and unstable parts of the world."

Every semester we get a new group of interns (pictured below) and happily welcome back several from precious semesters. This semester we have 21 interns helping with digital literacy, health & wellness, immigration, in-home youth tutoring, bus training, and across all of our employment programs. These dedicated students spend multiple days a week supporting clients and staff as we navigate both new and familiar challenges together! After a yearlong internship with us, one of our most recently graduated interns, Angela, shared what she has gained from her internship with IRC Spokane. “I feel better equipped to enter the professional and personal world with trauma-informed care and intercultural communication skills. I am a better graduate, global citizen, and community member because of this program. I recommend every student, no matter their major, to engage in an opportunity like this. I guarantee it will provide diverse international experience without having to ever leave the city, help prepare for future careers in any field, and leave you better able to respond to our increasingly interconnected world.” We value our interns and appreciate their incredible contributions to our work! We all feel so lucky to have them on our team! If you’re interested in pursuing an internship with IRC Spokane during the Summer/Fall 2025 semester, contact [email protected].

Today marks “three years since the war in Ukraine, and the conflict continues to take a devastating toll on millions of lives, with 12.7 million people in need of humanitarian assistance today.” This, and the many other ongoing humanitarian crises worldwide, are a stark reminder that solidarity has no expiration date.