Contributed photo
IRIS Executive Director Maggie Mitchell Salem.
As IRIS’ executive director since January, and a new “Nutmegger” too, I’m deeply grateful for — and in awe of — the unflagging dedication of the staff to our clients, my predecessor Chris George’s transformational leadership, and New Haven’s commitment to sanctuary for refugees and immigrants.
The individuals whom I am proud to call my colleagues are champions of those they serve; many have experienced forced displacement themselves. The compassion of this team is truly boundless. I am humbled by their dedication every day.
Like many organizations, whether businesses or nonprofits, conflict in the Middle East has impacted us. The human toll and trauma and loss of innocent lives in the war between Israel and Hamas has engendered empathy and deep distress. We have struggled to recognize the pain many feel without compounding it.
The IRIS Board and I have disappointed some staff by not taking a public position on the conflict or advocating for a ceasefire. I recognize that even some community members may believe that IRIS should focus on addressing the root causes of forced migration including conflict, climate change, and social injustice.
That’s why I feel it is important to share with you the IRIS mission and what it means.
Much has changed in the 40 years since IRIS opened its doors and welcomed hundreds of Vietnamese and Cambodian refugees in the 1980s. The scale of global forced displacement has increased dramatically. Today 1 in 25 people around the world require humanitarian assistance. This year we are helping thousands of Afghans, Ukrainians, Haitians, Sudanese, and Syrians. Our mission remains the same: all are welcome regardless of immigration status, origin, or identity.
We welcome and assist refugee families who have fled persecution or war, and have been invited by the federal government to resettle in the U.S.
We also work with all other immigrant families who are already in Connecticut, such as asylum seekers, asylees, and any other immigrants seeking stability for their family.
We assist Americans across the country who are forming sponsor groups to welcome newcomers.
We honor the humanity of each person we serve and of one another.
We recognize that our diversity as a nation, as a community, and as a team is truly our strength.
We will focus our advocacy on the issues that are most central to our clients’ ability to not just barely survive but to actually thrive in the U.S.
We will raise our voice to ensure that all peoples are welcomed in the U.S. We will oppose, as we have in the past, bans or restrictions on any group — including Palestinians.
There is, however, a very clear and present danger for IRIS and all resettlement agencies: The politicization of immigration and proliferation of mis- and disinformation.
The people we serve are deeply fearful and some have been verbally or physically attacked. The divisive rhetoric fuels distrust within underserved communities which further disempowers them. In Washington, DC the impact is clear: Congressional appropriations are decreasing significantly for the programs our clients rely on.
That means the public-private partnership that defines the federal funding that we receive is increasingly dependent on the “private”, volunteers and donors. It also means that we, like many other resettlement agencies across the country, have had to make some very difficult decisions that are regarding our programs and our staffing in the last seven months; we had layoffs earlier this year and, as we continue to plan for IRIS’ long term future, there may be more.
Yet IRIS continues to provide legal, health, and educational services that our clients need and that are only possible because of community support.
I am very optimistic – and with good reason. When our friends across the state saw the Syrian refugee crisis unfolding, they asked IRIS how they could host a family. Today, over 50 sponsorship groups exist in Connecticut. That outpouring of compassion helped inspire Welcome Corps, a new national resettlement program.
We’re grateful to Governor Lamont and many Connecticut legislators for the state grants that have helped those we serve. Our Congressional delegation has always had our back – and here I have to give a special shout-out to Rep. Rosa DeLauro. Like us, they all know that immigration benefits local communities and our nation.
Our mission means doing all we can, as we always have, to help newcomers. That is a daunting endeavor and one we pursue with new resolve each and every day, from our interns and staff to our leadership team, volunteers and donors.
This is IRIS.