Alabama Interfaith Refugee Partnership Inc

Our specific goals are

1. Educating the community and elected officials about the current refugee crisis and the process of refugee resettlement;
2. Advocating for policies that address the root causes of the refugee crisis, and that increase U.S. support for refugees; and
3. Providing direct support for refugees and asylum-seekers in the United States and in the Birmingham community.

The ALIRP is an entirely volunteer-run non-profit 501C3 charitable organization. We have no paid staff. Our 11-member board of directors provides overall guidance and decision-making for the organization. The Treasurer, Vice-President, and President serve as members of the one board committee (Finance) and assume overall responsibility for the financial management of the organization. Other Board members serve as chairs or co-chairs of our five advisory committees (Advocacy, Communications, Direct Support/Volunteer, Education, and Fundraising/Outreach). Volunteers serve on each of these committees and help us to achieve our goals and objectives. Volunteers indicate their interest in serving on a committee by filling out an online Volunteer Interest Form. A member of our Direct Support/Volunteer Committee connects volunteers with the committee that best fits their interest. All volunteers complete a volunteer orientation program. Volunteers who provide direct support or serve on care teams for the refugee or asylum-seeking Partners we serve, must also complete a background check and sign a Volunteer Agreement form. ALIRP Friends and Supporters who are not interested in serving as volunteers can also support the ALIRP by signing up for our bi-monthly newsletter, and by making financial contributions.
Specific actions projected for 2021 are listed below under each of the three main goals of the organization.
1. Educating the community and elected officials about the current refugee crisis and the process of refugee resettlement, the challenges faced by asylum-seekers, and general immigration-related issues
The ALIRP Education Committee plans to sponsor or co-sponsor at least four community-wide educational programs in 2021 focused on the current global and local migration crisis. Because of the COVID pandemic, we anticipate that most of these programs will be held virtually over the Zoom platform.
2. Advocating for policies that address the root causes of the refugee crisis, and that increase U.S. support for refugees
The ALIRP Advocacy Committee plans to develop an Advocacy toolkit in order to prepare committee members for effective advocacy initiatives. In addition, the committee will monitor changes in immigration policy proposed by the new Biden administration, participate in a Virtual Advocacy Day in April 2021 organized by the Refugee Council USA, and develop advocacy fact sheets and position papers to disseminate via social media and other venues.
3. Providing direct support for refugees and asylum-seekers in the United States and in the Birmingham community.
The ALIRP Direct Support/Volunteer Committee has a goal of sustaining partial or full support to at least 10 refugee or asylum-seeking families in 2021 with the goal to increase resources so we may provide support to a greater number of partners. The committee will also partner with other community organizations in order to mobilize and navigate support for the Partner f

The ALIRP has 11 board members who each commit to offering at least 8 hours of service to the organization per month. Each board member is a chair or co-chair of one of the organization's 8 committees (Advocacy, Direct Support, Education, Fundraising, Communications, Outreach, Finance, and Volunteer Engagement). The organization has over 70 active volunteers who help achieve our tri-partite mission of providing education, advocacy, and direct assistance to support refugees and asylum-seekers globally and locally. In 2021 the organization partnered with the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) to hire its first paid staff member, an AmeriCorps/VISTA Service Member. The organization also has strong partnerships with many other faith-based and community organizations which help it to achieve its goals.

In 2021, Over 77% of the grants and donations received by the ALIRP were used to provide direct support for asylum-seekers, with the remaining 23% used for administrative expenses. This year the ALIRP has hired our first paid staff member, an AmeriCorps/VISTA Service member, who is making significant contributions to all three of our missions and helping us as we expand our services to help more families.
In 2021, the ALIRP has done much to address our three missions of direct support, advocacy, and education. We are currently providing direct support to 53 individuals in 17 asylum-seeking families. This support includes providing donations of food, clothing, and furniture, and providing financial support to help with rent, utilities, health care, educational, and legal expenses. Volunteers have worked with families to help them obtain health services, including COVID vaccines and required school immunizations. They have also helped with school registration, tutoring, and served as a source of ongoing support as the families adjust to life in a new country.
Our education programs in 2021 have included a Virtual Film night featuring the film “Paper Children,” two Virtual Book Discussions (The Ungrateful Refugee, and Somewhere in the Unknown World-A Collective Refugee Memoir), two programs on the global refugee crisis, a program on global climate migration, and a program focused on “Refugees Among Us: Cultural Competence and Public Health Challenges.” We have also launched a partnership with the One Small Step initiative of Story Corps to record conversations about issues related to immigration.
Our advocacy initiatives in 2021 have included partnering with the Refugee Council, USA and with Episcopal Migration Ministries on Virtual Advocacy Days in April and September 2021. ALIRP board members and volunteers met with staff from the offices of our Alabama Senators and US Congressional Representatives to discuss issues related to immigration reform and support for Afghan refugees. We have also supported several advocacy initiatives organized by the Alabama Coalition for Immigrant Justice.