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Community Programs

California

From the Gold Rush era to the present day, the Golden State has reaffirmed its commitment to compassion and inclusivity as a leader in welcoming forcibly displaced persons to the United States. The state's diverse population has often embraced refugees, offering cultural exchange opportunities and fostering an environment of acceptance and understanding. The Community Programs team in California is actively engaged with local nonprofit organizations, serving in the community, and developing opportunities for collecting and sharing refugee stories.

Demographics
ARRIVALS

FY 2016-2020 data source: Refugee Processing Center: Arrivals and Admissions. Figures exclude Special Immigrant Visas (SIV) from Afghanistan and Iraq.

FY 2021 data: 986 Refugee, 1,654 SIV. Figures do not include 2021 Afghan Humanitarian Parolee arrivals.

FY 2022 data: Figure excludes Afghans relocated after 2021 evacuation and Ukrainians who arrived under Humanitarian Parole after 2022 invasion.

TOP COUNTRIES OF ORIGIN

FY 2022 data source: Refugee Processing Center: Admissions and Arrivals

TOP NEWCOMER LANGUAGES
  • Persian
  • Arabic
  • Kurdish
  • Ukrainian
  • French

FY 2022 data source: Languages based on the official and/or most common language of arrivals’ country of origin.

Story Gallery
Explore the stories of the people who call California home.
Share Your Story
IMG 1728
Amy Underwood  ·  United States
Their Family Became Ours
Rawah
Rawah  ·  Iraq
Here I Can Make My Own Future
Blog Posts
Learn more about our work and our team.
Cato Graph 1
 The Real Cost of Immigration July 1, 2026
Story Shield Workshop Edited
 Preparedness Before Crisis June 25, 2026
A Broken Promise Refugees in America
 A Broken Promise: Refugees in America March 31, 2026
More blog posts
Events
Join us at an upcoming local or virtual event.

We're building our calendar of upcoming events. Check back soon or subscribe to our email list for updates.

Partners
Volunteer alongside our team with these local organizations.
Leadership
Get to know our California leadership team.
Rawah Al Atemsh
Rawah Al Atemsh
Community Programs Coordinator, Southern California
IMG 2553 David Carroll
David Carroll
Community Liaison
IMG 2556 1 Jean Carroll
Jean Carroll
Community Liaison
Contact Us
Reach out to our local team with any questions. We love to connect with people interested in welcoming newcomers to our community.
What would you do if you had to leave everything behind?

By the end of 2025, more than 117.8 million people worldwide had been forcibly displaced by war, persecution, or human rights abuses — and 45 million of them are children.

They arrive in refugee camps and countries seeking safety and carrying little: legal papers, if they're lucky. A backpack. A child's hand in theirs.

What they carry that we can't see is heavier: fractured families, homes they'll never return to, professions they loved, friends and relatives they may never see again.

In a climate where immigrant stories are often ignored or twisted, we believe stories are a form of justice. When someone shares what they survived, they reclaim their voice. When we amplify it through film, photography, and advocacy, the world listens. Hearts soften. Policy begins to shift.

Because when a lawmaker sees a person instead of a statistic, and a neighbor understands instead of fears, rebuilding becomes possible.

Your support helps us share these stories where they matter most.

— Kristen Smith Dayley, Executive Director, Their Story is Our Story

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