Refugee Organizations in Chicago

What organizations exist for refugee students (and their families) in the Chicagoland area?

Even if your child's CPS school does not provide non-academic support for incoming refugee students, Chicago is home to many programs specifically for refugee students and their families. I researched a few of these programs and discuss them below. Read below and click on the buttons that link to the program's websites to learn more about these refugee programs.

If you are not a refugee student or family and would like to help refugees in Chicago, the links below also include donation sections and volunteer positions available to anyone who would like to help. All of the information to do so can be found by clicking the links below.

Refugee One

Refugee One creates opportunity for refugees fleeing war, terror, and persecution to build new lives of safety, dignity, and self-reliance. Their primary focus is to assist these refugees in becoming independent, self-supporting members of their new community. Refugees are welcomed by the program through the US State Departments Refugee Admissions Program.

(Refugee One 2023)

Refugee One

World Relief

World Relief is a global Christian organization whose mission is to empower the local church to serve the most vulnerable. They aim to tackle the world's most greatest problems with holistic, locally-driven solutions that lead to lasting change. Refugees can get involved with World Relief by contacting them below or searching on their website for more information.

(World Relief 2023)

World Relief

CAIR-Chicago

Cair-Chicago is the only specialized, full-time non-profit organization in the city of Chicago working to represent the Muslim community in the courthouse and the newsroom, that is in the legal arena in terms of its civil rights, and on the airwaves in terms of its public image. Their mission is to defend civil rights, fight bigotry, and promote tolerance.

(CAIR-Chicago 2023)

CAIR-Chicago

Black Men United

Black Men United is a National Community Service organization that focuses on the restoration and rebuilding of Black communities across America under the leadership of Black Men. Their mission is to create an alliance of men of African descent to mobilize our resources and empower our communities through Economics, Safety, and Spirituality which will restore pride back to the black family while practicing being anti-nobody, building bridges and not walls.

(Black Men United 2023)

Black Men United

Why should refugee students participate in programs and organizations outside of school?

A child's life does not just exist in school. Children come home from a day at school to much more than school presents them with, especially refugee children who are experiencing a new country, home, food, bed, neighborhood, and so much more. Researchers from a 2023 study found that "To combat feelings of homesickness, sadness, and loss, it is ideal for refugee youth to engage in after school programs that allow them to process feelings and that reduce depression" (Cureton 2023). Allowing refugee children to participate in programs, such as the ones above and more, will "help these youth process and heal from past trauma during and after the formal school day" (Cureton 2023). Academic support, such as the programs offered by Chicago Public Schools duirng the school day, is not enough to help refugee youth thive. Programs such as these will help the process of integration into a new community go more smoothly, allow children to express their feelings, and give them the opprortunity to build connections with others.

Sources:

Black Men United to Donate Furniture, Household Goods to Ukrainian Refugees in Chicago on Saturday. (2022). In Investment Weekly News (pp. 93-). NewsRX LLC.

Cureton, A. (2023). “After the School Day, What’s Next?”: Exploring Refugee Youths’ Engagement in After-School Programs. Journal of Adolescent Research, 38(6), 1114–1141. https://doi.org/10.1177/07435584221144952