Episode 73: Run for Refugees
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For the past 13 years, Chris George has been the Executive Director of IRIS, Integrated Refugee & Immigrant Services, Connecticut's largest refugee resettlement agency. Based in New Haven but working with community groups all over the state, IRIS has welcomed more than 1,000 refugees to Connecticut over the past three years. Chris has spent most of his professional life living in, or working on, the Middle East. He spent a total of 12 years in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Chris was Executive Director of Human Rights Watch – Middle East for two years. He worked nine years with Save the Children (mostly in the Middle East) and three years with American Friends Service Committee. Chris began his international career in 1977 as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Muscat, Oman.
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To read a full transcript of this episode, click here.
The Run for Refugees -- a 5k family friendly race on Super Bowl Sunday, Feb 2, 2020 -- is the sole fundraiser for IRIS -- Integrated Refugee & Immigrant Services, Connecticut's largest, statewide refugee resettlement agency. Over the past 12 years, the Run for Refugees has grown to draw over 3,000 participants with an additional 1,500+ spectators, making it the largest event supporting refugees on the East Coast with close to 5,000 total in attendance. This event has also become a popular annual celebration, including an international cuisine post-race party and attracting elite runners, families, elected officials, refugees and immigrants, all to honor America's most noble tradition -- welcoming persecuted people from around the world.
Chris tells the story of how IRIS came to be founded through the Episcopal Church in Connecticut and the Episcopal Migration Ministry as the Interfaith Refugee Ministry. Chris joined IRIS in 2005 after working in the Middle East for years. IRIS works with the state department to help settle refugee families — find and furnish apartments, assist with jobs and schooling, find English language classes, etc.
Since 1982, IRIS has welcomed over 6,000 refugees. In addition to the staff at IRIS, communities (usually faith communities) have helped to resettle families in these communities. Working together to set the family up in a home and invest in the wellbeing of the family and their relationship with the community.
Chris shares that helping to resettle refugees and others in need is a deeply human experience, and because of that, it is a deeply spiritual thing.
The United States use to resettle 85,000 refugees a year and has dropped since to around 18,000. Connecticut use to welcome over 1,000 a year, and now is down to just around 300 a year. Since the number is down, Chris shares that the programs offered to those refugees who are here increases. Also, IRIS has also begun to work with asylum seekers as well as refugees.
Alli shifts the conversation to talk about the Run for Refugees race that happens every year on Super Bowl Sunday. 14 years ago, Chris thought of the idea to start this race in New Haven, as he is a runner. The first year IRIS had 300 participants, last year there were over 3,000. In addition to runners, there are walker, spectators, and marchers.
Chris tells the story of how IRIS came to be founded through the Episcopal Church in Connecticut and the Episcopal Migration Ministry as the Interfaith Refugee Ministry. Chris joined IRIS in 2005 after working in the Middle East for years. IRIS works with the state department to help settle refugee families — find and furnish apartments, assist with jobs and schooling, find English language classes, etc.
Since 1982, IRIS has welcomed over 6,000 refugees. In addition to the staff at IRIS, communities (usually faith communities) have helped to resettle families in these communities. Working together to set the family up in a home and invest in the wellbeing of the family and their relationship with the community.
Chris shares that helping to resettle refugees and others in need is a deeply human experience, and because of that, it is a deeply spiritual thing.
The United States use to resettle 85,000 refugees a year and has dropped since to around 18,000. Connecticut use to welcome over 1,000 a year, and now is down to just around 300 a year. Since the number is down, Chris shares that the programs offered to those refugees who are here increases. Also, IRIS has also begun to work with asylum seekers as well as refugees.
Alli shifts the conversation to talk about the Run for Refugees race that happens every year on Super Bowl Sunday. 14 years ago, Chris thought of the idea to start this race in New Haven, as he is a runner. The first year IRIS had 300 participants, last year there were over 3,000. In addition to runners, there are walker, spectators, and marchers.
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The run brings in sponsors that are large organizations and companies to local New Haven shops. The Episcopal Church in Connecticut has been a sponsor of the race for the past several years. The post-race party includes a variety of cuisine and music.
Chris ends by sharing some of his hopes for IRIS and refugee resettlement programs throughout the country. To learn more about IRIS visit https://www.irisct.org You can register for the run at https://runsignup.com/Race/CT/NewHaven/IRISRunforRefugees. Be sure to let us know if you will be running and keep and eye out for Alli on the course! |
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In Christ and Coffee,
Alli & Jasree
In Christ and Coffee,
Alli & Jasree