Special welcome to all of those who attended our session and/or stopped by our table at Peace Corps Connect. We hope you felt educated about the current challenges facing refugees here in the U.S., inspired by the examples provided, and thus will mobilize to help out.
We have an ongoing need for volunteers, especially in advocacy, communications and data and website management. Please contact us at info@pcc4refugees.org if you can help.
In this issue:
Educate
- Almost American Documentary – update
Inspire
- PCC4Refugees at Peace Corps Connect & New Resource Document
- Welcoming Week is One Month Away
Mobilize
- Register for our Next Networking Conversations – Advocacy Focus on August 25
- Freedom to Welcome Campaign
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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Almost American Documentary – update!
In just four months, the film traveled from its premiere to a screening inside the U.S. Capitol. They’ve also reached the audiences at the heart of this story. TheDream.US hosted a private virtual screening in July.
How you can help: the production team is seeking introductions to potential screening hosts — schools, universities, advocacy organizations, and congressional offices or perhaps your RPCV group — as well as support to scale their education and policy screening tracks. If you have ideas or connections, they’d love to hear from you.
We invite you to bring the film with a follow-up discussion to your community.
- Documentary Trailer
- Promotional postcard PDF
- Project website
- Request a screening of Almost American
- Make a donation to support this film and type “Almost American” in the Notes Box.
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PCC4Refugees at Peace Corps Connect
and New Resource Document
Thank you to those who connected with us in person at Peace Corps Connect!
Our session, Welcoming Immigrants, educated participants on specific challenges newcomers and other immigrants will face in the ensuing months and drew replicable lessons from examples of how RPCVs have leveraged their networks to advocate on behalf of immigrants, defend their civil liberties and provide direct supports to immigrant families. We shared the following at the session:
- Presentation slides
- Next Steps for Taking Action to guide you in figuring out where you can start
- Resources for Taking Action on Immigration-related Issues
We encourage you to do something, no matter how small, then share your story with us!
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Welcoming Week is One Month Away
From Welcoming America:
Welcoming Week is an annual campaign that celebrates the work in communities to become welcoming places for all, including immigrants. Launched in 2012 by Welcoming America and its members, Welcoming Week provides individuals and organizations the opportunity to showcase their values through events and initiatives that foster connections and collaboration between immigrants and non-immigrants, as well as belonging for all.
Visit their website to view or add your event, access the toolkit and get swag. The 2026 Welcoming Week is from September 10-19.
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Register for our Next Networking Conversations
PCC4Refugees Conversation Series continues. Register to join us in sharing resources and information in an informal online setting. No formal agenda. No recording. But great networking!
- Tuesday, August 25 – Advocating for Immigrants and Refugees
- Wednesday, September 16 – topic TBD
All conversations begin at 8 pm Eastern and will be open for one hour. Stay tuned for fall dates and conversation topics.
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Freedom to Welcome Campaign
Shared with us from the Refugee Advocacy Lab:
Don’t forget to join our grassroots phonebanking sessions for the #FreedomToWelcome campaign!
In these sessions, we will:
- Share an overview of the #FreedomToWelcome campaign, a bipartisan sign-on letter from state and local elected leaders nationwide telling the federal government that our communities not only want the #FreedomToWelcome refugees, but are stronger because of it.
- Give you all the tools and training you need to feel comfortable making your voice heard on behalf of refugees who should be in your community. We’ll train you on how to phonebank, tell you what to expect, and provide you with tools to make calling easy! We’ll also be on hand to answer questions and guide you.
- Spend time together as a community while we make calls. In times like these, sometimes the most healing thing to do is come together as a community to take action. Experience solidarity, community, and support as we all make our voices heard.
Don’t just take it from our team — take it from me personally: The first time I called my city, county, and state officials, I was intimidated. I thought I might say something wrong, and as a young person, I hate picking up the phone. But with training, scripts, and support, I felt more comfortable and empowered. I realized that local leaders want to hear from constituents! Even more, they don’t expect you to speak perfectly or know everything. In fact it can be even more impactful when you’re unpolished – you’ll sound human! I think everyone should try calling their elected officials at least once, and local and state level leaders like these are some of the most approachable individuals to start with.
Sign up today at the links below. We’d love to see you at as many of the sessions as you’re able to join! Reach out to amaclennan@refu
- Friday, August 21,12:00 – 1:00PM ET / 9:00 – 10:00AM PT (Register here!)
- Thursday, August 27, 3:00 – 4:00PM ET / 12:00 – 1:00PM PT (Register here!)
P.S. Want to get involved but unable to make any of these times? Email amaclennan@refu
With gratitude,
Anna and the Freedom to Welcome Team
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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.
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Archived Webinar Recordings
Federal Advocacy on Behalf of Refugees, Asylees, and Other Immigrants (recorded April 8, 2025)
Serving the Educational Needs of New Immigrant Families (recorded Mar 4, 2025)
Advocating at the State and Local Levels (recorded Feb. 12, 2025)
Know Your Rights (recorded Jan. 28, 2025)
RPCV/RPCV Group Showcase (recorded Dec. 11, 2024)
Advocacy Forum to Review Refugee-related Legislation (recorded Nov. 18, 2024)
Career Pathways in the Refugee Resettlement Sector, co-hosted with RPCVnexus (recorded Oct. 21, 2024)
Welcoming Refugees – An introduction to our newly-launched guide and Switchboard, a one-stop online resource hub (recorded Sept. 26, 2024)
(Note: the content of each webinar is as of the dates noted. Some content may now be outdated.)
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Support PCC4Refugees!
PCC4Refugees is run entirely by volunteers, but maintaining our website and crucial database are not free. Help us best share key information with you and facilitate networking with your financial contribution.
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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.
Please visit these pages of our website for regularly updated resources and opportunities: