IRIS 25TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION
WEDNESDAY APRIL 9, 2008
5:30 PM New Haven Lawn Club
Keynote speaker: Dean Koh of Yale Law School

Call (203) 562-2095 or email info@irisct.org for more information.
Learn more about this event! >

View photos from the event >

IRIS Offers Hopeful Immigrants a Second Start

The New Haven Register story
by Abbe Smith

Mohamed Ali Ahmed was in hiding when his home in Somalia was attacked by rebels loyal to warlords in Mogadishu. His father and twin brother were brutally murdered in the attack. His wife’s mother was slain. A week later, the rebels came back looking for Ahmed, but instead shot his first-born son to death. The killings were revenge for Ahmed’s vocal support of democracy, peace and human rights in his own country. "We will never go back," Ahmed says now, sitting recently in his living room in New Haven with his wife, Saadio Hassan.

Read the complete new haven register article >

Special:

Executive Director Chris George talks about refugee resettlement in CT with Lucy Nalpathanchil on WNPR Radio's Where We Live

Each year, millions of men, women and children are forced to flee their homeland to escape war, famine, persecution or torture for their beliefs. Some of these refugees find their new home in Connecticut.
Hear the story at radio station WNPR >

Run for Refugees 5K Run & Walk a Great Success!

Thanks to all the runners, walkers and sponsors who helped with this fun-filled event and raised funds and awareness for the thousands of refugees that have settled in Connecticut.

Learn More about Run for Refugees >
See the Race Results! >
Read the New Haven Independent Article >

Volunteers Needed

Make a difference with refugees and immigrant families!

Learn More >

 What's News?

Iraqi Refugees Reach City — the New Haven Independent story by Allan Appel

IRIS sponsored its third annual Thanksgiving-time feast with the help of generous volunteers like CT folk singer Bonnie Lee Panda who donated her time and music to the refugee event.
read Online story >  |  Visit Bonnie lee panda website >

NPR's Melinda Tuhus reports on the work of IRIS
Hear the story at radio station WSHU >

An IRIS Blossoms — the New Haven Independent feature
read Online story >

IRIS's Special Screening of "God Grew Tired of Us" Helps Celebrate World Refugee Day

On Tuesday, June 19, IRIS — Integrated Refugee & Immigrant Services, presented a special screening of the film “God Grew Tired of Us,” a documentary about three Sudanese “Lost Boys” who spent ten years wandering Sub-Saharan Africa before making their way to the United States. 

The screening was preceded by a wine and cheese reception and followed by a discussion with several former “Lost Boys” who resettled in the New Haven area.  The event, held in Henry R. Luce Hall at Yale University’s MacMillan Center, was a resounding success. 

Over 200 people attended the screening, including New Haven Mayor John DeStefano. In light of his outstanding support of refugee and immigrant services in the New Haven area, Mayor DeStefano was presented with an award on behalf of IRIS by Executive Director Chris George (pictured above.)

View Photo Gallery of Event >
Photos courtesy of Jennifer Sheridan.

Directed by Christopher Quinn, “God Grew Tired of Us” won both the Grand Jury Prize and the Audience Award at the 2006 Sundance Film Festival.

For further information, visit the site: www.godgrewtiredofus.com

IRIS in the Media!

An IRIS Blossoms

New Haven Independent

Read More >