OpEd’s & Press Releases
World Relief Announces Opening of New Location in North Texas in Response to Increased Refugee Needs
March 1, 2023
CONTACT:
Pinkston Team
wr@pinkston.co
Dallas, TX – In response to an increased number of refugees arriving in Northern Texas, today World Relief is opening a new office in Dallas County to meet the community needs for refugee resettlement services. World Relief North Texas Dallas County office services are now being made available to provide support to refugees in the initial stages of rebuilding their lives in Texas.
“As refugees continue to enter our communities, we are grateful to provide them with a warm welcome by expanding World Relief’s refugee resettlement resources in our state,” said Garrett Pearson, Office Director of World Relief North Texas. “With over forty years of serving the refugee community in Texas, we have experienced first hand how our state is made stronger by their presence and contributions, and we’re grateful for the opportunity to play a role in helping them rebuild their lives in their new home.”
World Relief’s Dallas County office will build upon the resettlement services provided by its longstanding Fort Worth location, helping newly arrived refugees and other vulnerable immigrants in the process of securing housing, finding employment, adjusting to a new culture and integrating into the Dallas community. The new location anticipates welcoming at least 80 refugees in its first year of operation. As in all World Relief locations, the new Dallas County office will work closely with local churches and volunteers to facilitate the integration process.
“Refugees are a uniquely vulnerable group of people who need support when they first arrive in their new communities,” said Aerlande Wontamo, Senior Vice President of US Programs at World Relief. “At World Relief, we aim to provide them with resources and support that empowers them to start their lives in the United States with confidence.”
To learn more about World Relief’s refugee resettlement work in Texas and how to get involved, please visit worldrelief.org/texas.
To download a PDF version of this press release, click here.
World Relief Mobilizes to Provide Immediate Support to Devastated Communities in Wake of Turkey and Syria Earthquake
February 7, 2023
CONTACT:
Pinkston Team
wr@pinkston.co
Baltimore, Md. – In the wake of a devastating earthquake that hit Turkey and Syria, World Relief has mobilized resources on the ground to provide immediate assistance and long term support for search and recovery efforts.
“We join with our international partners in grieving the significant loss of life from the earthquakes and extend our prayers to the impacted communities,” said Myal Greene, president and CEO of World Relief. “At World Relief, we desire to see a world free from suffering, and when disaster strikes, our faith compels us to respond. By providing immediate emergency aid, World Relief is committed to delivering hope to impacted communities and assistance in rebuilding from this disaster both in the short term and in the years to come.”
World Relief is partnering with local partners and churches on the ground in Turkey and Syria to provide support and resources to impacted communities including food and clean water, emergency medical assistance, safe shelter, sanitation and hygiene, and psychosocial support.
World Relief is committed to extending the love and compassion of Christ to suffering and grieving communities in Turkey and Syria by joining with its international partners to provide immediate support and build resilience.
To download a PDF version of this press release, click here.
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World Relief Chicagoland staff are praying for the people impacted by earthquakes in Turkey and Syria.
World Relief Urges Congress to Reject H.R. 29, Warns It Will Hinder Fight Against Human
Trafficking and Harm Vulnerable Children
January 31, 2022
CONTACT:
Pinkston Team
wr@pinkston.co
Baltimore, Md., January 31, 2022 – World Relief joined with other like-minded organizations to
send a letter today to members of Congress urging them to vote against H.R. 29, a bill recently
introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives. If signed into law in its current form, H.R. 29
would leave many vulnerable people fleeing persecution and violence shut out from protections
offered under current law, including unaccompanied children who are among the most
vulnerable to becoming victims of human trafficking.
“[H.R. 29] would effectively nullify several important provisions of the William Wilberforce
Trafficking Protection Reauthorization Act (TVPRA) of 2008 governing the treatment of certain
unaccompanied children. This bill, which was passed with broad bipartisan support and signed
into law by President George W. Bush, has been a vital tool in protecting children and others who
are uniquely vulnerable to human trafficking,” says the letter, which was signed by World Relief.
Other signatories include International Justice Mission U.S., World Vision U.S., the Ethics &
Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention, the National Association of
Evangelicals, the National Latino Evangelical Coalition, Bethany Christian Services and
Women of Welcome. “Our concerns are rooted in our Christian faith, believing that each person
is made in the image of God and is worthy of protection. In particular, a child unaccompanied by
his or her parent(s) is uniquely vulnerable.”
World Relief is deeply concerned that H.R. 29 would roll back significant anti-trafficking
protections by nullifying portions of the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act
(TVPRA), which stipulates proper treatment to protect unaccompanied children. The TVPRA
requires that unaccompanied children from non-contiguous countries who are encountered at
the U.S. border be cared for in secure, child-appropriate settings until the U.S. government can
determine their eligibility to remain lawfully in the United States.
“Unaccompanied children seeking asylum at our borders are uniquely vulnerable and worthy of
our protection. Thankfully, current U.S. law ensures that these children are protected and are
legally allowed to remain safely in the United States if they meet the necessary criteria,” said
Jenny Yang, Senior Vice President of Advocacy and Policy at World Relief. “But if H.R. 29 is
signed into law in its current form, many children will be turned away, forced to return to
countries where they face increased risk of violence or trafficking. This bill would fail to treat
unaccompanied children seeking protection in our country with the compassion and due process
they deserve.”
As an organization grounded in Christian principles, World Relief believes that each person is
made in the image of God and is precious in his sight. We urge Congress to continue protecting
“the least of these” by voting against the H.R. 29 bill in its current form, and we urge Christians to
voice their concerns with their lawmakers.
To download a PDF version of this press release, click here.
To learn more about World Relief, visit worldrelief.org.
World Relief Urges Congress to Reject H.R. 29, Warns It Will Hinder Fight Against HumanTrafficking and Harm Vulnerable Children
January 31, 2022
CONTACT:
Pinkston Team
wr@pinkston.co
Baltimore, Md., January 31, 2022 – World Relief joined with other like-minded organizations to
send a letter today to members of Congress urging them to vote against H.R. 29, a bill recently
introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives. If signed into law in its current form, H.R. 29
would leave many vulnerable people fleeing persecution and violence shut out from protections
offered under current law, including unaccompanied children who are among the most
vulnerable to becoming victims of human trafficking.
“[H.R. 29] would effectively nullify several important provisions of the William Wilberforce
Trafficking Protection Reauthorization Act (TVPRA) of 2008 governing the treatment of certain
unaccompanied children. This bill, which was passed with broad bipartisan support and signed
into law by President George W. Bush, has been a vital tool in protecting children and others who
are uniquely vulnerable to human trafficking,” says the letter, which was signed by World Relief.
Other signatories include International Justice Mission U.S., World Vision U.S., the Ethics &
Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention, the National Association of
Evangelicals, the National Latino Evangelical Coalition, Bethany Christian Services and
Women of Welcome. “Our concerns are rooted in our Christian faith, believing that each person
is made in the image of God and is worthy of protection. In particular, a child unaccompanied by
his or her parent(s) is uniquely vulnerable.”
World Relief is deeply concerned that H.R. 29 would roll back significant anti-trafficking
protections by nullifying portions of the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act
(TVPRA), which stipulates proper treatment to protect unaccompanied children. The TVPRA
requires that unaccompanied children from non-contiguous countries who are encountered at
the U.S. border be cared for in secure, child-appropriate settings until the U.S. government can
determine their eligibility to remain lawfully in the United States.
“Unaccompanied children seeking asylum at our borders are uniquely vulnerable and worthy of
our protection. Thankfully, current U.S. law ensures that these children are protected and are
legally allowed to remain safely in the United States if they meet the necessary criteria,” said
Jenny Yang, Senior Vice President of Advocacy and Policy at World Relief. “But if H.R. 29 is
signed into law in its current form, many children will be turned away, forced to return to
countries where they face increased risk of violence or trafficking. This bill would fail to treat
unaccompanied children seeking protection in our country with the compassion and due process
they deserve.”
As an organization grounded in Christian principles, World Relief believes that each person is
made in the image of God and is precious in his sight. We urge Congress to continue protecting
“the least of these” by voting against the H.R. 29 bill in its current form, and we urge Christians to
voice their concerns with their lawmakers.
To download a PDF version of this press release, click here.
To learn more about World Relief, visit worldrelief.org.
World Relief Spokane Applauds Creation of the Welcome Corps, A New Refugee Private Sponsorship Program
CONTACT:
Barbara Comito
bcomito@wr.org
Pinkston Team
wr@pinkston.co
Media welcome: Monday, January 30 at 5 p.m. World Relief Spokane will hold an informational meeting on the Biden Administration’s new Welcome Corps at 1522 N Washington Street. Come learn more about this new program, what it means for refugees and other newcomers, what it means for community members, and how World Relief Spokane plans to support the effort.
This week the State Department launched the Welcome Corps, a new refugee private sponsorship program that will allow everyday Americans to privately sponsor refugees coming to the United States. This new program will expand community support for refugees and also eventually allow private citizens to sponsor refugees they identify abroad to be resettled to the United States. World Relief Spokane applauds this effort and is eager to partner with the U.S. government and the Spokane community to welcome refugees, both through our own refugee resettlement program and the new private sponsorship program.
The Welcome Corps has a goal to mobilize at least 10,000 Americans to partner with members of their communities to help refugees secure initial housing in the U.S., greet them at the airport, enroll children in school, and help adults to find employment. World Relief is committed to assisting the Welcome Corps reach that goal.
“The Spokane community is an extremely welcoming community,” said Executive Director Christi Armstrong. “Over the course of the past 30 years, World Relief Spokane has resettled more than 11,000 men, women and children. We eagerly endorse all the ways the community partners with us to make this a safe home for people fleeing violence and persecution.”
Through the Welcome Corps, groups of at least five individual American citizens or permanent resident adults are able to apply to privately sponsor refugees resettling to the United States. Private sponsors are responsible for independently raising funds to support refugees for their first 90 days in their new community, as well as helping refugees find housing, employment, and connecting them to community services.
For more information on the Welcome Corps, please attend the informational meeting on Monday, January 30, 5 p.m., at World Relief Spokane, 1522 N Washington Street. You can also find a wealth of information on the Welcome Corps website. Further information and education is also available on the World Relief website. We encourage churches, individuals, and other community organizations to explore these resources for more information and reach out with any questions or concerns.
World Relief Applauds Creation of the Welcome Corps, A New Refugee Private Sponsorship Program
January 19, 2022
CONTACT:
Pinkston Team
wr@pinkston.co
BALTIMORE — Recently, the State Department launched the Welcome Corps, a new refugee private sponsorship program that will allow everyday Americans to privately sponsor refugees coming to the United States. This extraordinary new program will expand community support for refugees and also eventually allow private citizens to sponsor refugees they identify abroad to be resettled to the United States. World Relief applauds this effort and is eager to partner with the U.S. government and communities all across the United States to welcome refugees, both through our own refugee resettlement program as well as through the new private sponsorship program.
The Welcome Corps has a goal to mobilize at least 10,000 Americans to partner with members of their communities to help refugees secure initial housing in the U.S., greet them at the airport, enroll children in school, and help adults to find employment. World Relief is committed to assisting the Welcome Corps reach that goal.
“At a time of unprecedented displacement, innovative programs like the Welcome Corps are needed to expand U.S. resettlement to the persecuted abroad. For years, faith communities have desired to welcome refugees independently, utilizing their resources and connections to create a sense of belonging for new Americans,” said Myal Greene, president and CEO of World Relief. “Our hope is that this program expands public-private partnerships and also catalyzes a greater movement of Americans to welcome refugees into their communities.”
Over the past few years, Americans have been overwhelmingly supportive of welcoming refugees, including Afghans, Ukrainians, Venezuelans, Haitians, Cubans, and Nicaraguans. The launch of the Welcome Corps helps formally support these efforts and will hopefully lead to a greater number of refugees eventually being resettled to the United States.
“The introduction of the Welcome Corps program is a meaningful step in the right direction, empowering our communities to support vulnerable individuals who are seeking protection from persecution in their countries of origin,” said Jenny Yang, Senior Vice President of Advocacy and Policy at World Relief.
Through the Welcome Corps, groups of at least five individual American citizens or permanent resident adults are able to apply to privately sponsor refugees resettling to the United States. Private sponsors are responsible for independently raising funds to support refugees for their first 90 days in their new community, as well as helping refugees find housing, employment, and connecting them to community services.
For more information on the Welcome Corps or to become a private sponsor, visit the Welcome Corps website. Further information and education is also available on the World Relief website. We encourage churches, individuals, and other community organizations to explore these resources for more information and reach out with any questions or concerns.
To download a PDF version of this press release, click here.
World Relief Sacramento Announces New Office Director, Mark Dandenaeu
June 21, 2022
CONTACT:
Audrey Garden
audrey.garden@pinkston.co
571-405-1606
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Today, Mark Dandeneau was announced as the new office director of World Relief Sacramento. Mark is an experienced senior executive for both for-profit and nonprofit organizations, having served California’s most vulnerable populations for more than 20 years. Mark will continue the hard work of Kerry Ham, who was promoted to divisional director with World Relief, U.S. Programs.
“Early on in life, I made a commitment to a continuous lifestyle of learning, growing and developing, both personally and professionally, in service to the world’s most marginalized,” said Dandeneau. “I am eager for the new experiences, insights and opportunities that this position with World Relief Sacramento will provide.”
Before joining World Relief Sacramento, Mark worked with children in foster care and fought for healthcare equity throughout the state of California. A Los Angeles native, Mark received his bachelor’s degree in Social Work from California State University, Los Angeles. He soon went on to the University of Southern California, where he received his master’s degree in Social Work.
“I have found it extremely rewarding to provide a lifelong career of service,” said Dandeneau. “I am amazed at the incredible work being accomplished by World Relief Sacramento in defending and protecting the most vulnerable. Together, we will act as a community of welcome for our immigrant neighbors by helping them to flourish and find a sense of belonging as they rebuild their lives.”
Mark and his family have lived in the Sacramento area for over 20 years. In his free time, he enjoys traveling and spending time with his wife and two daughters.
World Relief Sacramento has been a welcoming community for immigrants and refugees since its opening in 1989. World Relief Sacramento is part of a national network of offices through which over 400,000 immigrants and refugees have been welcomed into this country.
To learn more about World Relief Sacramento, visit https://worldrelief.org/sacramento/.
To download a PDF version of this press release, click here.
About World Relief
World Relief is a global Christian humanitarian organization that brings sustainable solutions to the world’s greatest problems – disasters, extreme poverty, violence, oppression, and mass displacement. For over 75 years, we’ve partnered with churches and community leaders in the U.S. and abroad to bring hope, healing and transformation to the most vulnerable.
Learn more at worldrelief.org.
World Relief Rebrands Western Washington Locations
May 2, 2022
CONTACT:
Audrey Garden
audrey.garden@pinkston.co
571-405-1606
KENT, Wash. — World Relief announced this week a rebrand for its office locations in Seattle and Bellingham to World Relief Western Washington (WRWW). With an expansion to Whatcom County last year and the expected addition of a Thurston County location this year, the refugee resettlement and immigrant services agency updated its name to reflect its regional impact.
“This expansion not only provides the opportunity for more communities to welcome new neighbors, but it also gives us the opportunity as World Relief Western Washington to build capacity through our long-standing expertise in resettlement and welcoming families and individuals,” said World Relief Western Washington Executive Director Medard Ngueita.
The new branding includes the launch of a new logo and website: worldrelief.org/western-wa. World Relief Western Washington is holding a virtual town hall on Thursday, May 5, at 7:00 p.m. PDT to share about the vision behind the new name and how services are expanding. Registration for the virtual town hall is accessible via: worldrelief.org/western-wa/events.
As the largest refugee resettlement and immigrant services organization in Western Washington, WRWW has served more than 40,000 refugees, immigrants, and asylees since 1979 and activates and empowers community partners to participate in building a welcoming community for newcomers. By 2023, WRWW plans to serve over 10,000 immigrants and refugees per year through a suite of comprehensive wraparound services.
To download a PDF version of this press release, click here.
About World Relief Western Washington
Since 1979, World Relief Western Washington has worked alongside the community to welcome refugees by following a philosophy of co-empowerment, collaboration and contextualization. Founded in response to the needs of refugees fleeing wars in Southeast Asia, World Relief’s Seattle location grew to support refugees, asylees, asylum seekers and immigrants from all around the world as they rebuild a sense of home in Western Washington. World Relief Western Washington envisions every refugee and immigrant welcomed by community, rooted in community, and empowered for community.
Learn more at worldrelief.org/western-wa.
World Relief Awarded Grant to Expand Reconciliation, Stabilization and Resilience Trust Fund Project in South Sudan
December 3, 2021
CONTACT:
Audrey Garden
audrey.garden@pinkston.co
571-405-1606
BALTIMORE – Today, the Reconciliation, Stabilization and Resilience Trust Fund Project (RSRTF) Phase II program in Koch County, Unity State, was approved by the United Nations Development Programme Steering Committee for 24 months, spanning December 1, 2021, to November 30, 2023. The total value of the program is $8.7 million, of which World Relief, as the lead agency, is budgeted $3.84 million.
“We are so happy and very thankful to God for this opportunity to continue our peacebuilding work in South Sudan through Phase II. This project provides us with great opportunities for expansion to other counties and will allow us to diversify our programming,” said Abiyot Mulugeta, World Relief South Sudan Country Director.
In Phase II of the program, World Relief will geographically expand to four new counties surrounding Koch County: Guit County, Rubkona County, Mayom County and Mayendit County.
“The RSRTF Program has been the first pilot Area Based Program launched with a goal of restoring peaceful coexistence in Koch County in Unity State,” said Charles Franzén, World Relief Humanitarian and Disaster Response unit director. “Programs introduced in Phase I, such as Village Saving and Loan Associations (VSLAs) and the Self-Help Groups (SHGs), successfully provided alternative sources of livelihoods especially for vulnerable women and youth prone to violence, and have continued to build community resilience against conflicts.”
During Phase I, 72% of surveyed participants reported a decrease in violence and a 24% increase in acceptable food security levels. Also, 365 leaders trained in conflict resolution, and 2,559 individuals received information on human rights, legal frameworks and rights and responsibilities. Forty-two chief court members were trained on South Sudanese law.
“Before the RSRTF program, women and children suffered a lot from violence which was inflicted on them by the armed rebellion. Killings, raping and kidnapping used to be the order of the day. However, since the intervention of the consortium, the aspects of violence have been reduced,” shared one adolescent benefiting from Phase I of programming in Koch County.
The Phase II program will expand upon Phase I and have as its main elements the following expected outcomes:
- RSRTF Outcome 1: Individuals, particularly children and women, are facing less violence at the community and local level.
- RSRTF Outcome 2: Communities have effective mechanisms in place that meaningfully include women and youth to resolve conflicts peacefully.
- RSRTF Outcome 3: Justice sector actors are more effectively delivering justice, even in areas with previously limited or no judicial infrastructure.
- RSRTF Outcome 4: Communities, including women, youth and disadvantaged groups, are empowered and increasingly able to participate in local and broader political, peace and security processes.
- RSRTF Outcome 5: Community resilience is strengthened through increased economic opportunities and sustainable livelihoods.
- RSRTF Outcome 6: Reconciled communities have increased access to equitable and reliable basic services and reduced humanitarian aid dependency.
Various drivers of conflicts, such as cattle raids, have continued to perpetuate violence in Koch County, and cultural practices of blood feuds have risen as members of clans and communities who have lost relatives engage in revenge killings. Many of these cattle raidings and revenge dynamics transcend county lines. Phase II will allow World Relief to expand its reach to the regions surrounding Koch County for a more comprehensive peacebuilding approach to this widespread problem.
“Koch County and its surrounding counties have been volatile areas for many years. The fact that we are able to implement peace programs in South Sudan that are still ongoing is incredible,” said Myal Greene, World Relief President and CEO. “Phase II marks a milestone of peacebuilding in South Sudan, and we’re grateful for the opportunity to continue building peace alongside our partners for the next two years.”
Other partners in the consortium led by World Relief include CARE, MercyCorps, the United Nations Mission in South Sudan.
For more information on World Relief’s work in South Sudan, visit https://worldrelief.org/tag/south-sudan/.
To download a PDF version of this press release, click here.
About World Relief
World Relief is a global Christian humanitarian organization that brings sustainable solutions to the world’s greatest problems – disasters, extreme poverty, violence, oppression, and mass displacement. For over 75 years, we’ve partnered with churches and community leaders in the U.S. and abroad to bring hope, healing and transformation to the most vulnerable.
Learn more at worldrelief.org.
World Relief Memphis Partners With Welcome South, Launches Fundraising Campaign to Cover Legal Costs for Arriving Afghan Allies
October 12, 2021
CONTACT
Audrey Garden
audrey.garden@pinkston.co
571 405-1606
MEMPHIS, Tenn. – As Afghan allies flee their homes in search of refuge in America, World Relief Memphis is partnering with Welcome South, a coalition of law firms comprised of Advocates for Immigrant Rights, Community Legal Center and Mid-South Immigration Advocates, to help newly arrived Afghan families acquire the legal services they need to build stable, safe futures in the Memphis community.
“Unlike most refugees who receive approval on their cases before entering the U.S., arriving Afghans were forced to leave their country so abruptly that most didn’t have an opportunity to complete the application process,” said World Relief Memphis executive director PJ Moore. “For Afghans arriving, legal support will be needed to make hope and healing possible through the adjustment of their temporary legal status to a permanent one. Our partnership with Welcome South is coming at a critical time.”
Upon seeing the crisis unfold in Afghanistan, and in conjunction with the complicated nature of the immigration system, both parties decided to come together in a unified response to help Afghan allies present their cases to U.S. immigration authorities.
Afghans will need legal services upon arrival to the Memphis area to live without fear of being returned to a dangerous country. Through giving, the Memphis community has an opportunity to show the world that America is a place of welcome.
“Since 2006, the Community Legal Center has provided family and humanitarian-based immigration legal services in the Mid-South,” said Community Legal Center executive director Diana Comes. “We look forward to welcoming our new Afghan neighbors alongside World Relief Memphis and working with our partners in Welcome South to provide high-quality legal care for these allies.”
Afghans arriving through the Afghan Placement and Assistance Program may be eligible for free legal services through Welcome South. The organization will work to help Afghans maintain lawful status in the U.S., keep work authorizations current, and file applications for asylum and for lawful permanent residence. World Relief Memphis and Welcome South will continue their partnership and campaign until the need is met.
“It is our duty and responsibility to stand by our Afghan Allies as they try to rebuild the lives that they lost when they left their country,” said nonprofit law firm Advocates for Immigrant Rights executive director Casey Bryant.
World Relief Memphis and Welcome South are encouraging the Memphis community to join together in an effort to bring hope, healing, and restoration to Memphis’s new Afghan neighbors. Learn more about donating and getting involved at https://welcomesouth.org/about-us/helping-our-afghan-allies/. Learn more about Welcome South at https://welcomesouth.org/.