UPDATE ON REFUGEE RESETTLEMENT

July 29, 2026

​Following the completion of our current resettlement contract with Church World Service, Global Friends will pause resettlement activities. This means that through September of 2026, we will continue to welcome newcomers. Resettlement has been a great and rewarding challenge for us and has allowed Global Friends to even more deeply understand and assist newcomers. We have been honored to work with Church World Service (CWS) as an affiliate.

This decision was difficult. But it allows us to focus on the mission that we were founded on: fostering New American integration into the Greater Grand Forks community. At our start we were not a resettlement agency but rather an organization that helped newcomers learn English and gain connections to the community. We would hear from refugees that our volunteers were often the first people to talk with them, go and visit, and invite them to community events and their homes. I recall one New American telling me, "I felt like a statue until we had a volunteer." 

We will take time to undertake a strategic planning process so we can evaluate community needs, available support systems, and assess how Global Friends can best continue to advance our mission in an ever-changing environment. And, we hope to be able to resettle refugees again at some point in the future if we are allowed that opportunity.

One of the reasons we are stepping away from resettlement is because of current changes to federal programs and the limited availability of essential benefits for refugees. Refugees are no longer eligible for SNAP (food program) and starting October 1st, thanks to the One Big Beautiful Bill, refugees will no longer be eligible for Medicaid. When refugees lost SNAP, it created major challenges. We encourage refugees to visit food pantries, but they can only provide so much. Our garden this summer is helping some families out, but this is certainly not a long-term solution. 

We will continue our mission with a humanitarian perspective and a drive to make our collective home as welcoming as it can be. We will strive to help New Americans achieve stability and long-term success thanks to grants from the State of North Dakota.  Programs related to health and wellness, youth, and English language learning will continue. Volunteers have always been and will continue to be a big part of our work. We will pair volunteers with youth and/or families and we are planning outreach and advocacy activities.

Stay with us and continue volunteer and support Global Friends!​

KNOW YOUR RIGHTS / CONOZCA SUS DERECHOS

ENGLISH HELP & MENTORING​

MENTORING

Are you looking for a mentor, tutor, or friend for the family? We can help! Fill out our form and we will be in contact with you within the next couple of days.

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ONLINE ENGLISH CLASS

Join us for a weekly online English class for intermediate learners.
​Tuesdays 7:00 p.m.
Online (Zoom)
Contact Global Friends for log-in information:
[email protected]

WHAT WE DO

EDUCATE

New Americans through English and citizenship classes, and the broader community through conversations, presentations, and events.

EMPOWER

New Americans through mentorship, leadership, and community involvement opportunities.

EMBRACE

New Americans by fostering a more welcoming, equitable, and accessible community through outreach and advocacy. Photo by Andrea Bisenius/Busy Bee Photography​.