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Welcome to our Monthly Newsletter from PCC4Refugees!

In this issue:

Educate

RPCVs Assist National Sanctuary Community Movement

Inspire

PCC4Refugees’ Role in Turbulent Times: Battle Buddies
PCC4Refugees Volunteer Awarded Purpose Prize by AARP

Mobilize

Avenues of Response to Immigration Policy and Enforcement Actions
Register for our Next Networking Conversations

In each issue, you are also able to register for all upcoming events, view recordings of past events, access “Welcoming Refugees: A Guide to Volunteer Opportunities for the Peace Corps Community,” volunteer with our PCC4Refugees team, donate to support our work, link to our website and follow us on social media. All of this is in the issue below!

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RPCVs Assist National Sanctuary Community Movement

RPCV Larry Brown and Judi Garfinkel attended our October 27, 2025 informal conversation to introduce sanctuary communities. The following day, they held a press conference to introduce the eight sanctuary communities established in New Hampshire. Read this news article published after the event.

Larry and Judi encourage RPCVs and RPCV groups to establish sanctuary communities.

Learn more about Sanctuary Communities and how to establish one

PCC4Refugees’ Role in Turbulent Times: Battle Buddies

Tony Agnello is RPCV Afghanistan and President of Friends of Afghanistan. Earlier this year, he was trained as a “Battle Buddy” through a program established by AfghanEvac and IAVA (Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America).

“If you want to help the immigrant community, AfghanEvac’s Battle Buddies program can provide information regarding how to legally protest ICE’s excesses. While the program was designed for Afghan SIV recipients and applicants, it can serve as a “Best Practice” universal template to peacefully demonstrate, record, and protest against the arbitrary apprehension methods of ICE.”

Read his perspective on what led him to take on that role, learn about the program, and learn how you can get involved.

Click Here to Learn More

PCC4Refugees Volunteer Awarded Purpose Prize by AARP

Over the last few years, RPCV Spence Limbocker has guided our PCC4Refugees leadership team by facilitating our planning retreats. His guidance, observations and perspectives have been invaluable.

It seems we’re not the only ones who have benefitted from his wisdom. AARP recently awarded him their Purpose Prize for 2025. From the AARP website: “The AARP Purpose Prize supports AARP’s mission by honoring extraordinary people age 50 and older who tap into the power of life experience to build a better future for us all.”

Congratulations, Spence!

Read about Spence and the award

Avenues of Response to Immigration Policy and Enforcement Actions

In this issue we focus on 2 avenues of resistance to the Administration’s immigration policy and enforcement actions.

Advocate against the Presidential Determination on Refugee Admissions
Resist Expansion of ICE Enforcement Raids

Click Here to Learn More

Register for our Next Networking Conversation

PCC4Refugees Conversation Series continues, with our schedule set for the upcoming months. Register to join us in sharing resources and information in an informal online setting. No agenda. No recording. But great networking!

December 16, 2025
January 7, 2026 – we will be joined by members of New Beginnings for Refugee Families to share their experiences supporting a family who arrived under the Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) program
February 3, 2026
March 4, 2026

All conversations begin at 8 pm Eastern and will be open for one hour.

Our mission

The mission of Peace Corps Community for Refugees (PCC4Refugees) is to inspire and mobilize the Peace Corps community to help those seeking refuge in our country and to advocate and educate on their behalf.

Archived Webinar Recordings

Welcoming Refugees – An introduction to our newly-launched guide and Switchboard, a one-stop online resource hub (recorded Sept. 26, 2024)

Career Pathways in the Refugee Resettlement Sector, co-hosted with RPCVnexus (recorded Oct. 21, 2024)

Advocacy Forum to Review Refugee-related Legislation (recorded Nov. 18, 2024)

RPCV/RPCV Group Showcase (recorded Dec. 11, 2024)

Know Your Rights (recorded Jan. 28, 2025)

Advocating at the State and Local Levels (recorded Feb. 12, 2025)

Serving the Educational Needs of New Immigrant Families (recorded Mar 4, 2025)

Federal Advocacy on Behalf of Refugees, Asylees, and Other Immigrants (recorded April 8, 2025)

(Note: the content of each webinar is as of the dates noted. Some content may now be outdated.)

Webinar Recordings

Updated! Welcoming Refugees: A Guide to Volunteer Opportunities for the Peace Corps Community

This Guide, developed by the PCC4Refugees team, is to inspire more RPCVs and others to use their unique cross-cultural and language skills to welcome refugees and help them resettle in the United States. The guide provides information on a wide range of welcoming services that individuals and groups of RPCVs can provide for refugees in their communities and along the border.

Read the guide

Register for Upcoming Conversations

Note that we will add further details on individual sessions as we get closer to their dates. Details subject to change. All conversations are from 8:00 pm – 9:00 pm (note the new time!) in the Eastern U.S. time zone.

PCC4Refugees Needs You!

Volunteer Opportunities with Peace Corps Community for Refugees

Join our Advocacy, Communication, Partnership, and Membership teams! We need writers, editors, graphic designers, reporters, advocates, recruiters, speakers, organizers, relationship builders, and innovators. All around, pinch hitters are welcome too!

Please email info@PCC4Refugees.org to express interest.

Support PCC4Refugees!

PCC4Refugees is run entirely by volunteers, but our website and crucial database are not free. Help us best share key information with you and facilitate networking with your financial contribution.

Donate

Please visit these pages of our website for regularly updated resources and opportunities: