We stand with Idahoans in calling out the dehumanizing statements of a former Boise police captain. Community members and leaders, elected officials, police officers, and many others have come together to show this is unacceptable.

Our office has worked closely with Boise PD for many years, specifically through trainings and the refugee liaison officer role, to build relationships and deepen understanding. These efforts are making an important difference, and the connections are growing across local law enforcement departments.
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Idahoans for decades have come together to make sure new neighbors in the refugee resettlement program have a place to belong and feel safe again. And that’s what we continue to build upon as a community.

We work closely with the refugee liaison officer at the Boise Police Department and welcome any feedback and concerns. Please reach us at iorinfo@idahorefugees.org.

Please join us in welcoming Beth Norton to our team! Beth started today in the role of Events & Partnerships Coordinator, where she will lead events including the Idaho Conference on Refugees and World Refugee Day (Boise) and will be a connector with our community partners.

Beth is a well-known local comedian and storyteller whose projects include Idaho's Best Comedian Competition and Story Story Night's Late Night season.

She has a master's in Public Administration from Boise State University, served two terms as a staff member in the Idaho Legislature, and was an Idaho Voices for Children board member for three years, working toward improvements to the foster care system.

Welcome, Beth, we are fortunate to have you on the team!

The Operations Coordinator will ensure that our work at the Idaho Office for Refugees reaches its fullest potential, both within our office and in the communities we serve. You will help us streamline our operations, set and track goals, create a bigger picture view of activities, and improve the efficiency of how we do things.

Your organization, precision, and attention to detail will enable us to have a greater statewide impact, a focus on outcomes, and stronger connection with our grantees and partners as we carry on the legacy of refugee resettlement in Idaho.
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• Full-time position with benefits
• Based in Boise
• Salary Range: $45,077 to $49,275 annually
• Hybrid work schedule

We're excited to introduce you to Whitney Alsallum, our new Donor & Volunteer Relations Coordinator. Whitney will be your go-to for questions on how to get involved and come alongside our work!

Whitney has been involved in the nonprofit space for over a decade, focusing on community engagement. She has a passion for refugee resettlement and encouraging inclusivity in and around Boise, her hometown.

She graduated from Boise State University with a bachelor's in communication and a minor in Arabic. Creating friendships with people from other cultures brings her joy, and she has been involved with Glocal, International Student programs, and local tutoring services to build those connections. Her last project was expanding a program called Serve the City, which managed relationships with nonprofits and connected people for a day of volunteering around the city every month.

Outside of work, Whitney enjoys spending time with her husband and their two sons, ages 6 and 1, and practicing Arabic.

Welcome, Whitney! Reach her at walsallum@idahorefugees.org.

Check out our latest newsletter here! In it, you'll find:

• How to attend our Community Coordination Meeting on Aug. 16 in Boise.
• Volunteer opportunities & a job opening.
• Refugee Speakers Bureau is participating in StoryCorps recordings this month.
• Global Gardens CSA - late summer sign-ups now open!
• August marks the one-year anniversary of the evacuation of more than 80,000 Afghan refugees to the U.S. 
• August 24 is Ukrainian Independence Day. 
• Welcoming Week is in September.
• Idaho refugee arrival updates.
• Welcome new IOR team members, and welcome back to Director Tara Wolfson from her monthlong trip to East Africa.
• Language Corner: How to greet new neighbors in Dari.
• Staff Picks: What we're listening to, watching and reading.

Global Gardens, our Boise-based program for farmers, is grateful to announce that Spirit Airlines has generously donated $20,000 toward our efforts!

The airlines presented the check to our team on Friday, Aug. 5, during a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the airline's first flight from Boise. 

Funny story - we almost missed this amazing opportunity.

​"I have a confession to make," said Rabiou Manzo, Global Gardens program manager (first picture above). "With all the spam calls we receive these days, when I first picked up Lanie’s call from Spirit Airlines, I thought for a minute that I had picked a spam call. I almost said, 'Thank you, but I’m busy right now.' I’m so grateful that I didn’t!"

This donation creates a win-win by helping farmers take their careers to the next level while giving the local community more access to fresh produce.

For almost 20 years Global Gardens has provided training and resources to refugee and immigrant farmers, allowing them to continue farming as they rebuild their lives here in the U.S. Several of our farmers grow ethnic produce from their home countries that otherwise wouldn’t be accessible to local buyers.

We currently have six farm sites and 16 farmers in the Global Gardens program. Land is generously leased at no charge by the City of Boise,  Five Mile Church of the Nazarene, Blue Cross of Idaho, Healthwise, the Idaho Department of Correction, and a private Boise resident.

"It’s exciting to see Spirit Airlines come alongside our mission to build healthier communities and bring more opportunities to the farmers who grow our food locally," Rabiou said.

We're not the only ones benefitting. The Spirit Charitable Foundation has committed to give $1 million in 2022 toward helping children and their family members, service members, and the environment, according to Simple Flying. We're grateful to be among the recipients.
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It's not too late to join the Global Garden's CSA program. Members of the CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) receive weekly produce from a Global Gardens farmer. It's the largest CSA program in the Treasure Valley!

​Visit globalgardensboise.org before Aug. 21 coming days to sign up for the final six weeks of the growing season.