Project Grant 16VSWKS001

THE MISSION OF THE INTERNATIONAL RESCUE COMMITTEE, INC. (IRC) IS TO RESPOND TO THE WORLD'S WORST HUMANITARIAN CRISES AND HELP PEOPLE SURVIVE AND REBUILD THEIR LIVES. IN THE UNITED STATES, IRC RESTORES SAFETY, DIGNITY AND HOPE BY RESETTLING REFUGEES THAT HAVE FLED VIOLENT CONFLICT AND PERSECUTION. IN 26 REGIONAL U.S. OFFICES, INCLUDING THE IRC OFFICES IN WICHITA AND GARDEN CITY, THE IRC PROVIDES REFUGEES WITH AN ARRAY OF SERVICES INCLUDING CASE MANAGEMENT, COMMUNITY ORIENTATION, ENGLISH LANGUAGE CLASSES, EMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE, AND IMMIGRATION SERVICES. THE PROPOSED VISTA PROJECT ALIGNS WITH THE ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY FOCUS AREA. THE GOALS OF THE VISTA PROJECT ARE TO: (1) INCREASE THE SCALE AND REACH OF THE IRC'S ADULT EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES IN WICHITA; (2) INCREASE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF IRC'S IMMIGRATION SERVICES TO PROVIDE LOW COST IMMIGRATION SERVICES TO NOT ONLY REFUGEES RESETTLING IN WICHITA AND SOUTHWEST KANSAS, BUT ALSO TO ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED CITIZENS LIVING IN KANSAS; AND (3) LEVERAGE VOLUNTEER AND IN-KIND RESOURCES TO SUPPORT EMPLOYABILITY, HOUSING AND CLIENT SELF-SUFFICIENCY. IN THE THIRD YEAR OF THE PROJECT, THE IRC IN KANSAS HOPES TO RESETTLE 252 REFUGEES. TEN VISTA MEMBERS WILL CONTRIBUTE TO THE GOALS OF THE PROJECT BY PERFORMING COMMUNITY-ORIENTED ACTIVITIES, INCLUDING: COMMUNITY ASSESSMENT, COMMUNITY AWARENESS AND ENGAGEMENT, EXPANSION/STRENGTHENING OF PARTNERSHIPS/NETWORKS, MATERIAL DEVELOPMENT, OUTREACH, AND PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT AND DELIVERY. IN MAY 2017, THE IRC BECAME A MULTI-SITE PROJECT AS IT AMENDED ITS VISTA GRANT PROJECT TO INCLUDE A VOLUNTEER COORDINATION VISTA FROM EPISCOPAL MIGRATION MINISTRIES (EMM). IN THE COMING PROJECT YEAR, THE KANSAS REFUGEE ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT PROGRAM (KREEP) HOPES TO EXPAND UPON ITS CURRENT HOST SITES AND WILL WORK TOWARDS HAVING 10 VISTA VOLUNTEERS WORK WITH THE PROJECT.