Annual Report

MAY 2022—MAY 2023 ANNUAL REPORT

WITH

Yep, this year’s Annual Report has a four-letter preposition for a title. With is our favorite preposition, not just because it is used to indicate associations, togetherness, and connections between things and people.

Here at Refuge, we do the work of welcome with our refugee employees and trainees, not for them. Every accomplishment listed below is a triumph of with… not for. Our hope is that when you give, volunteer, hire us to cater your event, or drink your tea or coffee with us, you’ll feel the power of with!

2022

WE CONTINUE TO CREATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR BARISTA AND LEADERSHIP TRAINING.
we trained
13 people from 7 countries
We held
Four quarterly coffee summits

WHERE WE DID TEAM BUILDING EXERCISES, HEARD FROM EXPERTS ABOUT HOSPITALITY AS A LIFE SKILL, DID TRAINING IN CUPPING, BARISTA SKILLS, AND MAKING SEASONAL DRINKS.

We celebrated
new "dream " jobs
(WOO HOO, KALEB!)
& PASSING THE REAL ESTATE EXAM
(YAY, DANAIT!)
Our trainees enjoyed some fun field trips this year!
You opened our newsletters over
150,000 times.
You liked and commented on our social media
23,000 times.
and viewed our reels
75,500 times.
WE’RE TELLING THE WORLD A MORE BEAUTIFUL REFUGEE STORY

We enjoyed visits from our Clarkston Mayor and Dekalb County Commissioner (often!), Senator Jon Ossoff, Representative Hank Johnson, Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens, and United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken… and lots of other VIPs like you!

WE CATERED 200 EVENTS THIS YEAR! INCLUDING…
UNIVERSITIES | HOSPITALS | SCHOOLS | DELTA WORLD HEADQUARTERS CHICK FIL A CORPORATE OFFICE | FILM AND TV SETS

We partnered with the Woodruff Arts Center and Teresa Abboud for two murals that represent welcome and the beauty of unity.

The murals were visited by
100s OF ART PATRONS
and mural enthusiasts. We were featured in Cherry Bomb Magazine with
a digital following of 200k+
“IN CLARKSTON, WE HAVE CREATED A
COMFORTABLE PLACE FOR IMMIGRANTS
WHERE PEOPLE UNDERSTAND YOUR BACKGROUND.”
FREY TEKLU

Refuge Clarkston Manager
and former trainee

“I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO MEET PEOPLE FROM SO MANY WALKS OF LIFE,
I’VE SEEN HOW DIVERSE AMERICA IS,
AND I’VE LEARNED HOW TO INTEGRATE INTO SOCIETY HERE.”
LEON SHOMBANA

Customer Experience Coordinator and former trainee

“I ENJOY MEETING NEW PEOPLE,
EXPERIENCING NEW THINGS,
AND LEARNING ENGLISH.”
ahmad

Barista Trainee

WE WORKED HARD TO MAKE OUR WORLD A MORE WELCOMING SPACE
BY SERVING APPROXIMATELY
150,000 CUPS OF COFFEE OR TEA
BETWEEN MAY 2022-MAY 2023. THAT’S OVER ONE MILLION SINCE WE STARTED!
by hosting
15+ EVENTS, ENGAGING 260+ VOLUNTEERS, AND 9000+ ATTENDEES
highlights:

WE HOSTED

regions bank

FOR A DAY OF SERVICE TO BEAUTIFY OUR CLARKSTON SHOP AND PREPARE IT FOR THE HOLIDAY MARKET.

WE HOSTED

world Refugee day

AND SERVED AT THE NEW AMERICAN CELEBRATION AT THE CAPITOL WITH

OUR PARTNERS AT CRSA.

WE HOSTED

SPRING AND HOLIDAY MARKETS

AND MANY POP-UPS WHERE WE HIGHLIGHTED

150+ LOCAL AND REFUGEE VENDORS.

WE HOSTED A

COMMUNITY IFTAR

NOT LONG AFTER THE EARTHQUAKES IN TURKEY AND SYRIA. WE GRIEVED, GAVE, AND CELEBRATED TOGETHER.

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