Our annual RAIVS event provides robust resources to inform, encourage, and build the capacity of leaders and volunteers across multiple faith communities, civic organizations, and volunteer groups who work with refugees and immigrants in the greater Richmond area.

 
 

2025 | 7th Annual Refugee and Immigrant Volunteers Summit (RAIVS 2025), held on February 21-22, brought together 195 policymakers, service providers, and grassroots volunteers at a time of instability in the immigration landscape. The summit featured breakout learning sessions on Friday and a high-profile keynote on Saturday, including a networking breakfast and a presentation by Lucas Guttentag, a leading immigration law and policy expert. His keynote was followed by a panel discussion with local experts in various aspects of immigration. Breakout session topics included trauma-informed care, immigration landscape analysis and advocacy, employment pathways for newcomers, the role of AI in language access, and lesson planning for English teachers working with newcomers. Professor Guttentag’s keynote focused on the historical context of current immigration policy changes and how community members can continue the work of welcoming immigrants and refugees. His words left the audience both informed and motivated to make a difference.

We are grateful to our partners— Asian American Society of Central Virginia (AASOCV),Capaz-IT, Commonwealth Catholic Charities (CCC), Freedom Ukranian Community, Ghanaian Association of Richmond Metropolis, International Ministry of Ashland, International Rescue Committee (IRC), and Sacred Heart Center, —for their support in planning, promoting, and executing this impactful event.

We are also very grateful to our sponsors for making this event possible:

  • Community sponsors- Dominion Energy, the University of Richmond School of Professional & Continuing Studies, and Tingen Law

  • Silver Sponsor- Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of Virginia

  • Platinum Sponsor- Super Radiator Coils

2024 | We are proud of the ways this annual event continues to gather volunteers and community partners across the region! RAIVS 2024 began with a breakfast hosted by Richmond’s First Baptist Church, followed by a keynote session on Language Access led by Dr. Indira Sultanic. Over 113 volunteers participated in expert-led sessions focused on resourcing newcomers and ourselves to support goals and well-being. The Community Sponsorship Hub also introduced the newest model of private sponsorship. The list of collaborators expanded to include the Afghan Association of Central Virginia, Ashland Christian Church, First Baptist Church of Ashland, International Ministry of Ashland, International Rescue Committee (IRC), Ukrainian Community of Virginia, and the U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants (USCRI).

 
 

2023 | RAIVS 2023 began with a volunteer networking breakfast sponsored by the City of Richmond Office of Immigrant and Refugee Engagement (OIRE), followed with a keynote address by ReEstablish Richmond founder, Patrick Braford. Joined by 102 volunteers, virtual learning sessions addressed the current needs of volunteers working with newcomers across the region. Collaborators for this year’s summit included the Afghan Association of Central Virginia, African Community Network, International Rescue Committee (IRC), and the U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants (USCRI).

 
 

2022 | In the wake of the evacuation of Afghanistan and the influx of Afghan newcomers to our area, more community volunteers were involved — and eager for practical support — in the work of welcome. We again collaborated with the IRC and Sacred Heart Center for RAIVS 2022, providing 18 virtual learning sessions as well as several in-person networking opportunities for 170 volunteers across the greater Richmond area and beyond.

 
 

2021 | Just like everything else during pandemic life, RAIVS 2021 went virtual. Together with the IRC and Sacred Heart Center, we gathered volunteers across Richmond and beyond on a virtual platform to explore the current state of immigration and to learn how we can all support newcomers more effectively. Senator Ghazala Hashmi introduced us to the new Office of New Americans, and Ahmed Badr and Brice Nordquist shared information about the Narratio Fellowship. Breakout sessions included topics like Trauma Informed Care; Teaching ELL Virtually; Bias and White Saviorism; and Supporting Latinx Families During the Pandemic.

 
 

2020 | In February we partnered with the IRC and the Sacred Heart Center for our second RAIVS event. Participants learned what the resettlement process looks like before someone arrives in the U.S. and what kind of support is needed once they arrive here. Breakout sessions included Trauma-Informed Care; Using Empathy in English Language Learning; Tips and Tricks for Preparing Newcomers for Citizenship; Cultural Awareness, Boundaries, and Values; Navigating Social Services, Public Schools, and the Tax System; and a round table discussion centering the voices of resettled refugee and immigrant leaders.

 
 

2018 | In the months following the 2016 presidential election, scores of local residents were activated by the anti-immigrant policies of the new administration. As they searched for practical ways to extend welcome and support to newcomers, ReEstablish Richmond wasn’t the only organization with an influx of new volunteers. In October and November of 2018, we collaborated with local resettlement agencies (the International Rescue Committee, Church World Service, and Commonwealth Catholic Charities) to provide two days of robust volunteer training workshops with sessions focused on the Richmond Refugee Landscape, Immigration Statuses, Cultural Awareness, Anti-Bias, Tips for Teaching English, and more.