Welcome.US
| Formation | September 2021 |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | US |
CEO | Nazanin Ash |
Co-chairs | John Bridgeland and Cecilia Muñoz |
| Website | welcome |
Welcome.US is a nonprofit organization that coordinates the support of Afghan refugees in the United States.[1][2][3]
The organization was formed in 2021 as the U.S. evacuated 100,000 refugees from Afghanistan following the transfer of power to the Taliban.
The organization coordinates government, private sector and non-government organizations providing financial, material and advisory support to Afghan refugees.
The organization is led by Nazanin Ash and supervised by a board of directors that is supported by three former U.S. presidents and three former U.S. first ladies.
Formation and leadership
Welcome.US launched in September 2021,[4] led by CEO Nazanin Ash.
The board of directors is co-chaired by John Bridgeland and Cecilia Muñoz[5] with support from Laura Bush, George W. Bush, Hillary Clinton, Bill Clinton, Michelle Obama, Barack Obama, Khaled Hosseini, and Stanley McCrystal.[6][7]
Background
By 22 December 2021, over 70,000 of the 100,000 Afghans evacuated by the United States government had arrived in the U.S.[8] and temporarily housed at eight U.S. military bases. As of that same date, just over 40,000 had already left the military bases and moved into housing in various communities.[8]
Activities
Welcome.US coordinates refugee support efforts between all levels of the U.S. government, not for profit organizations, and private sector organizations.[5][8] The government financial support includes $2,275 per person for rent, food, and clothing, plus a food stipend from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) (formerly known as food stamps) and rent relief.[8] Non-financial support includes help finding housing, learning how to navigate public transit systems, enrolling children in school, completing immigration paperwork, legal support, and access to mental health services.[8]
Government support is supplemented by companies, including Starbucks, CVS Pharmacy, Microsoft, Airbnb and Serta Simmons Bedding, which have donated tea, diapers, and mattresses as well as financial support, temporary housing and job opportunities.[1][6][9][10] Welcome.US uses Needslist software to connect the refugees to these services through resettlement agencies, support groups and corporations.[1]
Welcome.US also provides emergency funding to nonprofit organizations and runs media campaigns to encourage American citizens to support refugees.[5]
In October 2021, Welcome.US collaborated with Miles4Migrants to fund 40,000 flights for Afghan refugees.[11][12][13] As of October 2021, 3,200 of the flights have been used so far.[14]
See also
References
- ^ a b c Donati, Jessica (December 17, 2021). "Starbucks, Airbnb Help to Resettle Afghan Evacuees Off U.S. Military Bases". Wall Street Journal. ISSN 0099-9660. Archived from the original on December 17, 2021. Retrieved December 17, 2021.
- ^ Markell, Jack; Ash, Nazanin (December 17, 2021). "6 Ways to Welcome Our Afghan Allies". Mirage News. Archived from the original on March 13, 2023. Retrieved December 18, 2021.
- ^ Knutson, Jacob (September 16, 2021). "State Department partners with aid group welcoming Afghan refugees to U.S." Axios. Archived from the original on December 23, 2021. Retrieved December 23, 2021.
- ^ Morin, Rebecca. "Obamas, Bushes, Clintons help launch organization to assist Afghan refugees". USA TODAY. Archived from the original on March 13, 2023. Retrieved December 20, 2021.
- ^ a b c Cai, Sophia (September 14, 2021). "Starbucks, Microsoft, Walmart back U.S. Afghan relief effort". The Seattle Times. Archived from the original on December 23, 2021. Retrieved December 23, 2021.
- ^ a b "Bush, Clinton, Obama back support for refugees from Afghanistan". www.aljazeera.com. Archived from the original on December 20, 2021. Retrieved December 20, 2021.
- ^ "US ex-presidents Bush, Clinton, Obama band together to aid Afghan refugees". CNA. Archived from the original on December 20, 2021. Retrieved December 20, 2021.
- ^ a b c d e "Nazanin Ash on Afghan Refugee Resettlement Efforts in U.S. | C-SPAN.org". www.c-span.org. Archived from the original on January 19, 2022. Retrieved January 19, 2022.
- ^ Rosenberg, Mica; Heavey, Susan (September 14, 2021). "U.S. Ex-presidents Bush, Clinton, Obama band together to aid Afghan refugees". Reuters. Archived from the original on December 21, 2021. Retrieved December 21, 2021.
- ^ Evers-Hillstrom, Karl (September 15, 2021). "Business coalition aims to provide jobs to Afghan refugees". TheHill. Archived from the original on December 23, 2021. Retrieved December 23, 2021.
- ^ "Donated frequent-flyer miles providing flights for Afghan refugees in the U.S." CBC. Associated Press. October 26, 2021. Archived from the original on December 23, 2021. Retrieved December 23, 2021.
- ^ Alvarez, Priscilla (October 26, 2021). "Major US airlines, travel industry leaders donate more than 20,000 flights for Afghan evacuees". CNN. Archived from the original on December 23, 2021. Retrieved December 23, 2021.
- ^ Brest, Mike (October 28, 2021). "Hundreds of thousands donated frequent flyer miles help move Afghan refugees". news.yahoo.com. Archived from the original on December 23, 2021. Retrieved December 23, 2021.
- ^ "People are donating frequent-flyer miles to provide flights for Afghan refugees". New York Post. Associated Press. October 27, 2021. Archived from the original on December 23, 2021. Retrieved December 23, 2021.