What’s New
Check out our Fall 2024 Newsletter for the latest information, including the current refugee situation in Washtenaw County and upcoming events.
Our Mission
Washtenaw Refugee Welcome is a volunteer organization designed to give long-term support to refugees building a new life in Washtenaw County, MI. WRW utilizes the talents and passions of ordinary people and partner organizations to help our newest neighbors build relationships and navigate their way around the community.
Refugee children playing soccer with AFC Ann Arbor members during WRW’s Summer Celebration (2022)
Refugee children enjoying crafts at WRW's Summer Celebration (2022)
Facts to Know
Refugee Crisis: Over 65 millions people have been forced to flee their homes and are currently displaced. The BBC has estimated that approximately 1 in every 113 people on earth are directly affected. We hope to see the United States dramatically increase the number of refugees that resettlement agencies are able to bring to the country, and that they are given the tools to succeed in their new communities. Those who are already in our community also continue to need welcome and support.
The path to self-sufficiency is filled with unexpected challenges as our newest neighbors learn their way around. Licensed resettlement organizations, such as Jewish Family Services and Samaritas, work hard to reach this goal, but it helps to have friends in the community to support this transition and keep checking in. That’s why WRW is here.