Refugees International

ADVOCATE FOR LIFESAVING ASSIST.& PROTECTION FOR DISPLACED PEOPLE AND SOLUTIONS TO DISPLACEMENT CRISES

ADVOCACY:AS REFUGEES INTERNATIONAL CONTINUED TO WORK IN A VIRTUAL ENVIRONMENT FOR MUCH OF 2021, WE EXPANDED LOCAL PARTNERSHIPS AND UTILIZED EXISTING FIELD RELATIONSHIPS TO STRENGTHEN OUR ONGOING REPORTING AND ANALYSIS. A FULL LIST OF REPORTS AND ISSUE BRIEFS MAY BE FOUND ON OUR WEBSITE.MAIN OUTCOMESOVER THE PAST YEAR, REFUGEES INTERNATIONAL ACHIEVED THE FOLLOWING AS A RESULT OF OUR REPORTING AND ADVOCACY EFFORTS:THE IMPACT OF COVID-19:REFUGEES INTERNATIONAL HAS WORKED TIRELESSLY THROUGHOUT THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC TO ENSURE THAT DISPLACED PEOPLE ARE NOT LEFT BEHIND IN THE RESPONSE TO THE CORONAVIRUS, TO PUSH FOR EQUITY IN VACCINE ACCESS, TO PROMOTE RESPONSES TO HUMANITARIAN NEEDS EXACERBATED BY COVID-19, TO DEFEND REFUGEE RIGHTS THAT HAVE BEEN PUT IN GREATER PERIL BY OFFICIAL ACTIONS DURING THE PANDEMIC, TO LISTEN TO DISPLACED PEOPLE ABOUT THEIR NEEDS, AND TO HOLD LEADERS TO ACCOUNT. FOLLOWING MONTHS OF INDIVIDUAL AND COALITION ADVOCACY EFFORTS ON INCREASING INTERNATIONAL COVID FUNDING, THE $1.9 TRILLION COVID PACKAGE, WHICH WAS SIGNED INTO LAW BY PRESIDENT BIDEN IN MARCH, ULTIMATELY INCLUDED $10.8 BILLION FOR INTERNATIONAL COVID FUNDING, PRIMARILY FOR GLOBAL HEALTH AND FOOD ASSISTANCE.WITH THE GOAL OF COMING TO A WORLDWIDE CONSENSUS ON HOW TO END THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, PRESIDENT BIDEN ANNOUNCED THAT THE UNITED STATES WOULD CONVENE THE "GLOBAL COVID-19 SUMMIT: ENDING THE PANDEMIC AND BUILDING BACK BETTER" ON THE MARGINS OF THE 2021 UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY. COMMUNITIES IN CONFLICT AND HUMANITARIAN CRISIS ZONES HAVE BEEN HIT HARD BY BOTH THE DIRECT AND INDIRECT EFFECTS OF THE PANDEMIC, AND PLANS TO ENSURE THAT THESE POPULATIONS HAVE ACCESS TO VACCINES ARE FALTERING. AHEAD OF THE SUMMIT, REFUGEES INTERNATIONAL RELEASED "LESS THAN A LIFELINE: CHALLENGES TO THE COVAX HUMANITARIAN BUFFER" TO HIGHLIGHT THE IMPORTANCE OF CLOSING THE VACCINATION GAP IN HARD TO REACH AREAS AND STRESS THAT ACCESS TO VACCINES FOR VULNERABLE POPULATIONS NEEDS TO BE A TOP PRIORITY FOR STAKEHOLDERS IN THE GLOBAL VACCINATION EFFORT.

PUBLIC EDUCATION:REFUGEES INTERNATIONAL ENGAGED IN A WIDE RANGE OF PUBLIC EDUCATION ACTIVITIES AND INITIATIVES THROUGHOUT 2021. THE ORGANIZATION PRODUCED 214 RESEARCH AND ADVOCACY PRODUCTS, INCLUDING 30 REPORTS AND BRIEFS, 27 OP-EDS, 39 BLOGS, 75 STATEMENTS, AND 43 ADVOCACY LETTERS. TRAFFIC TO REFUGEE INTERNATIONAL'S WEBSITE GREW BY 38 PERCENT WHEN COMPARED TO THE PREVIOUS YEAR. IN ADDITION, REFUGEES INTERNATIONAL ALSO EARNED CONSIDERABLE MEDIA COVERAGE IN 2021, GARNERING HUNDREDS OF MEDIA CITATIONS AND INTERVIEWS ACROSS THE YEAR. REFUGEES INTERNATIONAL APPEARED IN NEWS STORIES CARRIED BY THE NEW YORK TIMES, WASHINGTON POST, WALL STREET JOURNAL, FINANCIAL TIMES, GUARDIAN, USA TODAY, TIME, NEWSWEEK, U.S. NEWS & WORLD REPORT, NATIONAL INTEREST, UN DISPATCH, NPR, REUTERS, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS, BLOOMBERG, BBC, CNN, MSNBC, NBC, PBS NEWSHOUR, AND NUMEROUS OTHER PRINT, ONLINE, AND BROADCAST NEWS OUTLETS. WIRE SERVICE NEWS STORIES THAT INCLUDED COMMENTS BY REFUGEES INTERNATIONAL STAFF PROVIDED EVEN GREATER REACH, SINCE OTHER NEWS OUTLETS PICKED UP AND FURTHER DISSEMINATED THOSE STORIES TO EVEN WIDER AUDIENCES. IN 2021, REFUGEES INTERNATIONAL ALSO ACHIEVED CONSIDERABLY GREATER REACH ON SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS SUCH AS TWITTER, FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM, AND LINKEDIN. THE ORGANIZATION'S TWITTER HAS MORE THAN 305,000 FOLLOWERS, AND ITS FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM, AND LINKEDIN AUDIENCES HAVE GROWN TO MORE THAN 24,300, MORE THAN 3,700, AND MORE THAN 11,300 FOLLOWERS RESPECTIVELY. MANY OF THE ORGANIZATION'S TWITTER FOLLOWERS HAVE SIZABLE AUDIENCES OF THEIR OWN - SOME WITH MORE THAN A MILLION FOLLOWERS - FURTHER AMPLIFYING REFUGEES INTERNATIONAL'S MESSAGING THROUGH RETWEETING OF OUR CONTENT. REFUGEES INTERNATIONAL'S EXPERTS ALSO ENGAGED IN PUBLIC EDUCATION THROUGH SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS AND PUBLIC EVENTS, INCLUDING TESTIFYING AT CONGRESSIONAL AND MULTILATERAL HEARINGS. IN OCTOBER 2021, REFUGEES INTERNATIONAL SENIOR ADVOCATE YAEL SCHACHER TESTIFIED BEFORE THE UN REFUGEE AGENCY EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE. REFUGEES INTERNATIONAL ALSO LED A ROBUST DIGITAL EVENTS PROGRAMMING INCLUDING PROGRAMS FEATURING INFLUENTIAL LEADERS LIKE NOBEL PRIZE LAUREATE NADIA MURAD, ANGELINA JOLIE, U.S. REPRESENTATIVE JOSEPH D. NEGUSE, JORGE RAMOS, AND MORE. REFUGEES INTERNATIONAL ALSO CONTINUED ITS PUBLIC EDUCATION EVENT SERIES ENTITLED "VOICES FROM THE BORDER," THAT HUMANIZES, INFORMS, AND DEEPENS POLICY DISCUSSIONS RELATING TO MIGRATION AND PROTECTION ALONG THE U.S. SOUTHERN BORDER AND FEATURES INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE BEEN DIRECTLY AFFECTED BY U.S. BORDER AND ASYLUM POLICIES. THESE EVENTS AFFORD THE ORGANIZATION WITH OPPORTUNITIES TO FURTHER EDUCATE THE PUBLIC AND POLICYMAKERS ALIKE.

STRATEGIC OUTREACH:REFUGEES INTERNATIONAL'S STRATEGIC OUTREACH TEAM LEADS THE REFUGEE ADVOCACY LAB INITIATIVE. THE REFUGEE ADVOCACY LAB IS AN INITIATIVE HOUSED AT REFUGEES INTERNATIONAL AND CO-LED WITH THE INTERNATIONAL RESCUE COMMITTEE, REFUGEE CONGRESS, AND IRAP. THE LAB WORKS TO ADVANCE THE MOVEMENT FOR U.S. LEADERSHIP ON REFUGEE PROTECTION AND INCLUSION. IT DOES SO BY DEVELOPING STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS RESOURCES; CHAMPIONING INCLUSIVE STATE POLICIES; AND BUILDING THE FIELD THROUGH NEW PARTNERSHIPS AND REFUGEE LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT.AFTER TWO AND A HALF YEARS OF IN-DEPTH RESEARCH, IN THE FALL OF 2021, THE LAB AND OUR PARTNERS AT THE OPEN SOCIETY POLICY CENTER (OSPC) AND GOODWIN SIMON STRATEGIC RESEARCH (GSSR) RELEASED AN EVIDENCE-BASED GUIDE ON MESSAGING DESIGNED TO BUILD BROADER SUPPORT FOR REFUGEE INCLUSION AMONG DIVERSE U.S. AUDIENCES. THE RECOMMENDATIONS IN THE REPORT ARE INTENDED TO BETTER EQUIP ADVOCATES, INCLUDING PEOPLE WHO ARE OR WERE THEMSELVES REFUGEES, WITH MESSAGING TOOLS AND STRATEGIES. THE LAB HAS BRIEFED HUNDREDS OF ADVOCATES, REFUGEE LEADERS, BUSINESS LEADERS, VETERANS SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS, MEDIA AND PRODUCTION PROFESSIONALS, ACADEMICS, HHS-AFFILIATES, REPRESENTATIVES OF NONPROFITS AND OPERATIONAL NGOS, AMONG OTHERS, ON THE FINDINGS OF THE RESEARCH SO THEY CAN USE THE BEST PRACTICES DEVELOPED THROUGH THE RESEARCH IN THEIR OWN COMMUNICATIONS. THE LAB HAS ALSO CREATED INFORMATION SHEETS AND TALKING POINTS INFORMED BY THE RESEARCH TO SUPPORT ADVOCACY PARTNERS AND REFUGEE LEADERS. ADDITIONALLY, THE LAB HELPED SUPPORT A SERIES OF MEDIA ENGAGEMENTS TO HELP PROMOTE REFUGEE INCLUSION INFORMED BY THE STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS BEST PRACTICES DEVELOPED IN THE OSPC-SUPPORTED RESEARCH.THE LAB CONTINUED TO DEVELOP THE REFUGEE STORYTELLERS COLLECTIVE, A GROUP OF INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE EXPERTS IN THEIR LIVED EXPERIENCES. BY SHARING THEIR STORIES AND PERSPECTIVES, MEMBERS OF THE COLLECTIVE CAN SPEAK TO THE CHALLENGES REFUGEES AND ASYLUM SEEKERS FACE AND THE CONTRIBUTIONS THEY MAKE TO OUR SOCIETY. IN DOING SO, THE COLLECTIVE BUILDS COMMUNITY AND AFFECTS CHANGE THROUGH STORYTELLING. THE LAB CONNECTS MEMBERS OF THE COLLECTIVE WITH MEDIA INTERVIEWS, TALKS, WORKSHOPS, PANELS, AND OTHER OPPORTUNITIES THAT HELP TO BUILD SPACE FOR REFUGEES TO TELL THEIR OWN STORIES.IN 2021, THE LAB ALSO HELPED TO LEAD THE BUSINESSES FOR REFUGEES PLEDGE, A PARTNERED CAMPAIGN EFFORT THAT HELPED ORGANIZE MORE THAN 420 BUSINESSES FROM ALL 50 STATES TO UNITE AND SHOW THEIR SUPPORT FOR REFUGEES. BUSINESSES THAT SIGNED THE PLEDGE INCLUDE HP INC., DOORDASH, BEN AND JERRYS, HYATT HOTELS, TRIPADVISOR, CHOBANI, COTOPAXI, ZENDESK, WESTERN UNION, AND MANY MORE, INCLUDING SMALL BUSINESSES FROM A DIVERSE ARRAY OF INDUSTRIES. PLEDGE SUPPORT FOR REFUGEE INCLUSION FROM THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY CAME AT A CRITICAL JUNCTURE DURING THE AFGHAN EVACUATION IN THE FALL OF 2021. LAB STAFF ENGAGED BUSINESSES THAT SIGNED THE PLEDGE AND WERE INTERESTED IN DOING MORE TO SUPPORT AFGHAN REFUGEES BY CONNECTING THEM WITH OPPORTUNITIES AT WELCOME.US AND OTHER PARTNERS TO WORK ON EMPLOYMENT, TRAINING, AND DONATIONS OF IN-KIND GOODS AND SERVICES. THE LAB HAS LOOKED TO THIS GROUP OF BUSINESS LEADERS, WHO ARE WILLING TO BE VOCAL ABOUT THE SUPPORT FOR REFUGEE INCLUSION, AS IMPORTANT ADVOCACY AND MESSAGING PARTNERS BOTH TO SUPPORT OUR STATE WORK AND IN ONGOING AND FUTURE INITIATIVES. THROUGHOUT 2021, THE LAB ALSO WORKED TO CONVENE ELECTED OFFICIALS, PARTNERS, LEADERS, INFLUENCERS, AND THE PUBLIC TO SHARE LEARNINGS AND ADVANCE OUR MISSION. IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE IRC, THE REFUGEE ADVOCACY LAB CO-HOSTED ITS FIRST-EVER "READY TO WELCOME: STATES LAY THE FOUNDATION" VIRTUAL SUMMIT FOR WORLD REFUGEE DAY IN JUNE, BRINGING TOGETHER CELEBRITIES, REFUGEE LEADERS, LAB PARTNERS, AND SEVERAL BIPARTISAN PANELS OF STATE AND NATIONAL LEGISLATORS TO LEARN ABOUT HOW STATES ARE LEADING THE WAY ON PRO-REFUGEE POLICIES. IN 2021, THE LAB WORKED TO SECURE THE INTRODUCTION AND ENACTMENT OF PRO-REFUGEE LEGISLATION IN STATES ACROSS THE COUNTRY. THIS INCLUDED BILLS THAT EXPAND LANGUAGE ACCESS POLICIES WITH STATE AGENCIES SO OUR NEW NEIGHBORS CAN ACCESS NEEDED SERVICES; CRAFTING WORKFORCE STUDIES TO ASSESS THE SKILLS AND EXPERTISE OF REFUGEE AND IMMIGRANT ARRIVALS AND ALSO DETERMINE THE BARRIERS TO STATE LICENSURE REQUIREMENTS THAT PREVENT THEM FROM RETURNING TO THEIR CHOSEN PROFESSIONS; POLICIES ON SCHOOL ENROLLMENT TO HELP FAMILIES REGISTER THEIR CHILDREN; POLICIES TO EXPAND DIGITAL ACCESS AND FUNDS FOR PROGRAMMING FOR VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES; AND FUNDING FOR UNIVERSAL REPRESENTATION. IN TOTAL, LAB EFFORTS SECURED ALMOST $5 MILLION IN STATE FUNDS TO SUPPORT THESE PROGRAMS IN 2021. THROUGH IT ALL, THE LAB ADVANCED INCLUSIVE POLICIES IN A MANNER THAT ENGAGED AND CULTIVATED NEW PARTNERS AND CONSTITUENCIES.