DALLAS-Project:Start, a refugee resource center supported by Texas Baptists, works to connect refugees in Dallas with the resources they need to find stability. Currently, thousands of refugees live within just a three-mile stretch of the North Dallas neighborhood called Vickery Meadow where over 30 different languages are spoken.
With the decrease in a number of refugees arriving to the United States, Project:Start Refugee Resource Center has a unique opportunity to minister to refugees that have already been in the country for a few years. This new endeavor is called “Refugee Life Upgrade.”
Refugee Life Upgrade is a series of workshops and seminars which will address the vast needs and challenges refugees are facing. Beginning in April, workshops led by industry professionals will educate refugees about the next steps in their lives and careers.
“The Refugee Life Upgrade workshops represent an exciting demonstration of the power of collaboration within the Church,” said Catrina Dawson, special projects consultant for Unite Greater Dallas. “Many of the local churches involved have been faithfully serving the refugee community in Dallas for years. With the decrease in resettlement, they have recognized the need to help refugees and immigrants to build their best life in our community and are committed to providing the tools to help them do so.”
Refugee Life Upgrade will take place at the Gaston Christian Center in Dallas on April 7, April 28, May 26 and June 30. All workshops will be from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and will include a free lunch.
Topics include insurance, banking and credit scores, getting a job and buying a house and will be presented by some Dallas’ best presenters and businesspeople of those respective industries.
“Just because someone has been in the United States for a few years does not mean they have all their issues resolved or questions answered,” said Leonid Regheta, director of Project:Start. “On the contrary, families need more advice now more than ever about how to build and upgrade their lives in this new country.”
He continued, "Ever since we started our work, refugees have been coming to Project: Start asking about how to improve their lives in the United States. We are hoping to reach hundreds of families through Refugee Life Upgrade series of workshops to help them do just that: improve and upgrade their lives in Texas."
For more information, contact Leonid Regheta, director of Project:Start, at (817)773-1097 or Catrina Dawson, special projects consultant for Unite Greater Dallas, at (561)252-1654.
Texas Baptists is a movement of God’s people to share Christ and show love by strengthening churches and ministers, engaging culture and connecting the nations to Jesus.
The ministry of the convention is made possible by giving through the Texas Baptists Cooperative Program, Mary Hill Davis Offering® for Texas Missions, Texas Baptists Worldwide and Texas Baptist Missions Foundation. Thank you for your faithful and generous support.
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