Refugees Experiencing Abundant Life in Flourishing Communities
Relationship. We believe that none can attain an abundant, thriving life alone. To effectively accomplish our mission, we strive to relate well not only to those we serve, but also those with whom we serve. We partner with churches, donors, funders, volunteers, businesses, development organizations, and fellow community members to leverage our relationships in impacting the lives of refugees.
Empowerment. Working with the vulnerable carries the risk of creating dependency. FOR prioritizes initiatives which offer a path to greater self-sufficiency. We create opportunities for accountable, supportive and effective decision-making. We provide environments where people are free to contribute not only to their own well-being, but also to the well-being of their families, neighbors and communities.
Stewardship. FOR believes that maximum influence and benefit for refugees towards its mission are the products of excellence in programs, continual improvement by staff and partners, and delivery of unparalleled value in the way we manage all of our resources. Good Stewardship of resources is a distinct hallmark of all FOR’s programs.
How we developed our mission/vision/values:
Special thanks to John Purcell of Transform http://www.transform-coach.com for coaching our organization towards clarity of mission and effectiveness. You can seek John’s expertise for your company, organization, or ministry by contacting him at (678) 910-2705 or john@transform-coach.com.
Every year, thousands of refugees are formally welcomed to the United States, carrying dreams of a better life and the desire to escape political, religious and ethnic persecution, or the violence of war within their home country. In the early 1990′s, refugees began to be resettled in the community of Clarkston, GA, a small town located near metro Atlanta. During this time, the population of Clarkston grew 34% as refugee families from over 150 different ethnic groups found a supportive urban environment for development and growth. Since this process began, some 60,000 refugees have begun their journeys as New Americans in this area. With so many ethnic groups represented within and around the city, Clarkston has been called “the most diverse square mile in America” by the New York Times Magazine.
As the refugee population in Clarkston grew, the need for specialized human support service organizations became apparent. Friends of Refugees (FOR) was founded in 1995 for this purpose by Pat Maddox, a resident of Clarkston, full-time volunteer and current active Board advisor. Pat grew up in Clarkston when many of the streets were still dirt and when the pharmacy and grocery store were owned by family friends. She left Clarkston to attend nursing school in Florida, where she later married.
In December of 1995, Pat relocated back to Clarkston. One morning while attending church, Pat came upon a notice in a newsletter asking for volunteers to help meet the needs of a couple of newly arrived refugee families. Pat’s connection with these families made a lasting impression on her heart that led her into the world of refugees and has helped drive the work of FOR. Pat’s visionary answer to God’s call on her life paved the way to what FOR would become.
In 2005, Friends of Refugees became an official non-profit organization whose mission is “to empower refugees through opportunities that provide for their well-being, education and employment.” Our ten programs help New Americans seize opportunities while bringing them into relationships that will help them flourish.
In 2015, Friends of Refugees’ volunteers gave more than 40,000 hours to serve over 4,000 individuals across 7 program areas. These programs facilitated hundreds of job placements, served over 150 kids in our summer camp and after-school programs, taught hundreds of moms and kids English together, welcomed dozens of babies born to healthy moms in our labor doula program, filled over 90 family kitchen tables with fresh produce from their plots in our community gardens, created thousands of handcrafted items in the Refugee Sewing Society, and helped launch 16 new businesses through the StartME business accelerator.