St. John’s Norwood has long been a place of welcome. This month, we spoke with the Rev. Anne Derse to reflect on the partnership with LSSNCA in the work of welcome, a partnership she says is ‘one of the most rewarding ministries of her life’.
This year, LSSNCA’s foster care team hosted the second annual Harmony Heights Retreat, a gathering focused on “Building Healthy Relationships” for foster youth and parents.
In this week's State of Welcome, read about the latest U.S. immigration policy changes, including a major Supreme Court ruling expanding ICE powers, new USCIS enforcement roles, TPS expirations, and legal developments affecting unaccompanied children. Learn how you can help.
A federal court halts the unlawful deportation of Guatemalan children. Learn about due process violations, child protections, and how you can help.
August is Make-a-Will Month, a time to reflect on the future—both for your loved ones and the causes that matter most to you.
This weekly blog provides updates on immigration policy changes, legal rulings, and how to help our neighbors.
When the Taliban banned education for girls and women in 2021, Fershta lost the future she had spent years building.
Four years ago, the seizure of Kabul changed everything. For Afghan allies like Hajimurat, who had worked shoulder to shoulder with the U.S. missions, it marked not just the collapse of a government but the unraveling of safety, stability, and any sense of a future.
This weekly blog provides updates on immigration policy changes, legal rulings, and how to help our neighbors.
This weekly blog provides updates on immigration policy changes, legal rulings, and how to help our neighbors.
LSSNCA is proud to announce the launch of LSSNCA Social Enterprise Services-- a new strategic initiative designed to broaden our impact and create sustainable revenue streams that support our core mission.
This weekly blog provides updates on immigration policy changes, legal rulings, and how to help our neighbors.
This weekly blog provides updates on immigration policy changes, legal rulings, and how to help our neighbors.
This year, Lutheran Social Services of the National Capital Area (LSSNCA) celebrated World Refugee Day— annually honored on June 20—through storytelling, centering the voices and experiences of community members who have lived through displacement and resettlement. We hosted two panels in partnership with St. John’s Norwood Episcopal Church in Maryland and the McLean Islamic Center in Virginia.
This weekly blog provides updates on immigration policy changes, legal rulings, and how to help our neighbors.
This weekly blog provides updates on immigration policy changes, legal rulings, and how to help our neighbors.
Weekly updates on the national state of play on policies, litigation, and programs that welcome refugees, their impact on the community LSSNCA serves, and ways for you to engage to ensure we continue to be a nation that welcomes people seeking safety.
Weekly updates on the national state of play on policies, litigation, and programs that welcome refugees, their impact on the community LSSNCA serves, and ways for you to engage to ensure we continue to be a nation that welcomes people seeking safety.
Weekly updates on the national state of play on policies, litigation, and programs that welcome refugees, their impact on the community LSSNCA serves, and ways for you to engage to ensure we continue to be a nation that welcomes people seeking safety.
In 2021, thousands rushed to flee Taliban rule and LSSNCA became the largest resettlement agency on the East Coast. We welcomed more than 6,500 Afghan allies and families to the D.C. metro area, providing the tools and support needed to begin life again.
Among them was Peghla, an Afghan woman whose life had already spanned decades of war, displacement, and perseverance. As an electrical engineer by training, she had been forced to flee her country, return, then flee again. She knew both the weight of fear and the strength it takes to rebuild a life from scratch.
Weekly updates on the national state of play on policies, litigation, and programs that welcome refugees, their impact on the community LSSNCA serves, and ways for you to engage to ensure we continue to be a nation that welcomes people seeking safety.
Weekly updates on the national state of play on policies, litigation, and programs that welcome refugees, their impact on the community LSSNCA serves, and ways for you to engage to ensure we continue to be a nation that welcomes people seeking safety.
Weekly updates on the national state of play on policies, litigation, and programs that welcome refugees, their impact on the community LSSNCA serves, and ways for you to engage to ensure we continue to be a nation that welcomes people seeking safety.
Weekly updates on the national state of play on policies, litigation, and programs that welcome refugees, its impact on the community LSSNCA serves, and ways for you to engage to ensure we continue to be a nation that welcomes people seeking safety.
Weekly updates on the national state of play on policies, litigation, and programs that welcome refugees, its impact on the community LSSNCA serves, and ways for you to engage to ensure we continue to be a nation that welcomes people seeking safety.
Weekly updates on the national state of play on policies, litigation, and programs that welcome refugees, its impact on the community LSSNCA serves, and ways for you to engage to ensure we continue to be a nation that welcomes people seeking safety.
Weekly updates on the national state of play on policies, litigation, and programs that welcome refugees, its impact on the community LSSNCA serves, and ways for you to engage to ensure we continue to be a nation that welcomes people seeking safety.
Weekly updates on the national state of play on policies, litigation, and programs that welcome refugees, its impact on the community LSSNCA serves, and ways for you to engage to ensure we continue to be a nation that welcomes people seeking safety.
Weekly updates on the national state of play on policies, litigation, and programs that welcome refugees, its impact on the community LSSNCA serves, and ways for you to engage to ensure we continue to be a nation that welcomes people seeking safety.
Weekly updates on the national state of play on policies, litigation, and programs that welcome refugees, its impact on the community LSSNCA serves, and ways for you to engage to ensure we continue to be a nation that welcomes people seeking safety.
On International Women’s Day, we celebrate women in our communities and around the world. In this spirit, we celebrate the Afghan women of LSSNCA’s TEA Club. These women, forcibly displaced and resettled in our region, are working toward rebuilding their lives.
Weekly updates on the national state of play on policies, litigation, and programs that welcome refugees, its impact on the community LSSNCA serves, and ways for you to engage to ensure we continue to be a nation that welcomes people seeking safety.
Weekly updates on the national state of play on policies, litigation, and programs that welcome refugees, its impact on the community LSSNCA serves, and ways for you to engage to ensure we continue to be a nation that welcomes people seeking safety.
Lord, a firefighter and longtime LSSNCA volunteer, faced resettlement struggles firsthand when he arrived with his family at age 14. Today, he channels his experience into helping newly arrived families through LSSNCA’s Resource Center, ensuring others do not have to face the same obstacles alone. We hope you enjoy his story.
As LSSNCA celebrates the second anniversary of its Resource Center, we honor the volunteers who helped us bring our vision to life and who continue to make it a place of welcome and support. Read Beth Hickey's story.
This month's blog highlights Bill Penoyar, a dedicated volunteer with Lutheran Social Services of the National Capital Area (LSSNCA), who helps program participants secure jobs in the United States. His story demonstrates how friendships and practical support can change lives and foster thriving communities.
This giving season, we’re highlighting volunteers like Rafael, whose commitment transforms lives and communities. We invite you to join LSSNCA in creating opportunities for forcibly displaced persons. Whether through volunteering, donating, or spreading awareness, help us ensure ongoing support and services for new neighbors.
The 2024 election outcome could shape the future of U.S. policies on refugee resettlement, asylum protections, and pathways to permanent residency for Afghan allies. Regardless of what happens, Lutheran Social Services of the National Capital Area (LSSNCA) is committed to helping those seeking safety and a fresh start. Stories like Hamed’s, Patricia’s and Rahat’s show the urgency of our mission and the importance of your support during this crucial time.
Brittany Livingston, LSSNCA’s director, foster care services D.C. shares her journey and insights into working with unaccompanied refugee children, highlighting the impact of our work - work you recently supported through our 50 for 50 campaign where we raised nearly $40,000, including a matching grant from our board of directors.
This September, we’re marking a significant milestone for Lutheran Social Services of the National Capital Area (LSSNCA) as we celebrate 50 years of providing care for unaccompanied refugee minors (URM). This month, we’re sharing the story of Susan, a dedicated foster parent in Maryland. We talked with her about what inspired her to become a foster parent and how the experience has been so far.
Marjila graduated in journalism and communication from the University of Kabul. She worked as a journalist and served as a project manager for an NGO in Kabul while also establishing her own nonprofit focused on helping homeless children. On August 15, 2021, she woke up thinking she would head to the permit office to pick up the permit for her NGO and start operations. But the situation changed drastically when she learned that the Taliban had taken control of Kabul.
On June 29, 2024, Ukrainian families, brought together by language, faith, and culture, gathered to connect and share experiences in Colombia, Maryland. This special occasion, organized by Lutheran Social Services of the National Capital Area’s (LSSNCA) Ukrainian Supplemental Assistance Program (USAP) and the Ukrainian Refugee Student Program (URSP), coincided with Ukrainian Constitution Day, a momentous […]
Abdul’s life began in a vibrant yet troubled Afghanistan. Born and raised amidst cultural richness and persistent conflict, his childhood was a blend of joyous family moments and the sobering realities of war. “It was a mix of happy times with family and the serious realities of conflict,” he recalls. “Despite the challenges, my family […]
COO Dr. Mamadou Sy has served at Lutheran Social Services of the National Capital Area (LSSNCA) for 20 years. He shares his reflection with us.
As I pause to reflect on two decades with LSSNCA, and at some point, at the helm of its refugee program (children and adults), I’m filled with a profound sense of gratitude, humility, and awe. The journey has been marked by challenges, heartbreaks, triumphs, and joys, but above all, it has been defined by the resilience and courage of the human spirit.
Allison and Mandy are just two examples of the incredible foster mothers who provide a safe haven for URM youth. Their stories remind us that motherhood comes in many forms, and that love, and compassion is enough to create a family.
As Mental Health Month unfolds, it serves as a poignant reminder of the profound mental health toll endured by individuals seeking asylum. At Lutheran Social Services of the National Capital Area (LSSNCA), we witness firsthand the resilience and courage of program participants as they navigate the challenges of building a new life in the United States. Through our CARE (Counseling, Access, Referrals, and Education) for Newcomers program, we are committed to providing essential mental health services to support asylum-seekers and others seeking humanitarian protection in the United States.
Volunteers of Lutheran Social Services of the National Capital Area (LSSNCA) have played a pivotal role in addressing the needs of program participants with dedication and humility. This month's blog is a heartfelt tribute to the incredible volunteers who embody the essence of service and solidarity, elevating LSSNCA's mission with unwavering passion and dedication.
As the sun dipped below the horizon, a group of determined Ukrainian women gathered in the Frederick office for a late-night Cultural Orientation session. It was a special occasion, on the eve of International Women’s Day, and despite the challenges of traffic delaying the start until 6 p.m., the atmosphere was charged with excitement and […]
For Social Work Month, we had the privilege of speaking with several dedicated LSSNCA social workers who work with Unaccompanied Refugee Minors (URM) foster care program in our Children, Youth, and Family Services (CYF) department. We also took a moment to sit down with our CEO, Kristyn Peck, a social worker, to learn how this experience continues to impact her everyday work.
