Rachel Doft

IRIS is a nonprofit agency that strives to help refugees and other displaced people establish new lives, regain hope and contribute to the vitality of Connecticut’s communities. IRIS and our community co-sponsors address the critical needs of refugees. Approximately 800 refugees arrive in Connecticut annually, and IRIS expects to welcome 420 of them in 2016. Refugees come from a wide range of war-torn countries, including Sudan, The Democratic Republic of the Congo, Afghanistan, Iraq, and Syria. For refugees in the New Haven area, IRIS is a primary resource as they begin to rebuild their lives after years of persecution and displacement. We help refugees on the road to self-sufficiency by providing lifesaving support during their transition to the United States. Services include daily English lessons, childcare, school registration, a food bank, access to health care provided by our partner Yale New Haven Hospital, employment assistance, legal aid and wellness programs. Welcoming persecuted people from other countries is an ancient and universal custom. In the United States, it is our most noble tradition. Our 38 employees work tirelessly to improve the transition of refugees and incorporate them into our community. We operate out of New Haven, Connecticut.