Community Refugee and Immigration Services (CRIS)

Community Refugee and Immigration Services (CRIS) Helping refugees & immigrants reach safety & stability, sustain self-sufficiency, and more

It was a packed house here at the CRIS office last Friday for our latest in-office concert. Special thanks to the talent...
05/27/2026

It was a packed house here at the CRIS office last Friday for our latest in-office concert. Special thanks to the talented student-musicians from World Language Middle School for sharing their music with some of our program participants.

05/26/2026

So what does a World Refugee Day Block Party look like? International food, music, dancing, hands-on activities for the whole family, and more! Join us at the CRIS Office (4645 Executive Drive) on Saturday, June 20th, between 11 AM and 2 PM and experience it all.

We also have two fun, completely optional activities this year! You can bring an old, light-colored t-shirt to use at our new t-shirt making station, or bring a pantry item from our online list to enter a raffle. Neither is required to attend, but both are a great way to jump into the fun. We looking forward to seeing you there!

You never know where our Older Refugee Program participants are headed for their next adventure--most recently, it was a...
05/20/2026

You never know where our Older Refugee Program participants are headed for their next adventure--most recently, it was a trip to Franklin Park Conservatory to enjoy their Blooms and Butterflies exhibit!

05/15/2026

At our most recent event at Mozart’s Cafe, we invited those in attendance to complete a few sentences, sharing their thoughts on immigrants and on welcoming our neighbors.

“In my community, immigrants…”

“I support immigrants because…”

“This community is welcoming because…”

Their responses are a reminder of the warmth and welcome that exist here in Central Ohio.

How would you finish one of these? We’d love to hear yours!

In 2021, the U.S. Army transitioned its 2000-established base in Qatar named Camp As Sayliyah (CAS) to process tens of t...
05/07/2026

In 2021, the U.S. Army transitioned its 2000-established base in Qatar named Camp As Sayliyah (CAS) to process tens of thousands of Afghan allies evacuated during the fall of Kabul. Since the U.S. refugee resettlement program was essentially shut down last year, more than 1,100 of our Afghan allies already vetted and approved for resettlement–including 400 children and 150 family members of active-duty U.S. service members–have been stranded at CAS.

Now, the U.S. administration is reportedly considering relocating them to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, a country facing ongoing armed conflict and humanitarian crisis.

These are individuals and families who supported U.S. missions, trusted promises made to them, and completed every step asked of them.

CRIS has joined more than 90 organizations and 900+ individuals in signing a public open letter opposing this proposed transfer and urging the U.S. government to follow through on its commitments to Afghan allies.

We are asking our community to help this message travel — to elected officials, to the press, and to people outside our usual networks. You can read the open letter here: https://afghanevac.org/cas-open-letter

“Art is healing. Art is inclusion. Art is a way to be heard or a way to escape or a way to grow.” These are the words of...
05/06/2026

“Art is healing. Art is inclusion. Art is a way to be heard or a way to escape or a way to grow.”
These are the words of Jeremy Hollon, CRIS’ Community Connectors (youth mentorship) Program Director. Jeremy is also an artist—“mostly abstract painting,” he explains—so when the principal of a local school asked a few years ago if he’d be willing to create a mural, saying “yes” felt natural.

He invited local artists to teach him, his staff, and students the logistics of mural creation. From there, he and his team began writing and receiving small grants to continue the work, and requests from schools kept coming. Since then, Jeremy, his staff, volunteers and students have completed nearly 40 murals.

In some schools, a mural is that community’s introduction to Community Connectors—a pathway for students to get connected to mentorship. These murals also serve as a way for the building's walls to reflect the culture, diversity, and brightness of the student population. Most importantly, Jeremy notes, it is “an opportunity for our students to amplify their voice in their school or community spaces.”

That’s why it’s especially meaningful that Jeremy, his team, and their students were recently recognized with a national mural award for one of their projects completed at a local elementary school last year—an honor given to just four organizations across the country. Jeremy shares of receiving this recognition, “Having our work respected this much means the world and validates that art is a vital support for youth and community.”

Join us in congratulating Jeremy, his team, and the incredible students who bring these murals to life.

Sometimes, welcome looks like a friendly weekly chat.A year ago, Kelly McNicholas was connected with a family resettled ...
05/04/2026

Sometimes, welcome looks like a friendly weekly chat.

A year ago, Kelly McNicholas was connected with a family resettled by CRIS from Afghanistan. She began making weekly visits to their home to teach them English. What started as slow, sometimes difficult conversations has grown into something much more natural.

“When I first started volunteering, it was pretty surface level and really laborious to have a conversation in English, and now it’s like we can just fully have a conversation, and I almost forget sometimes that they’re not exactly fluent in English,” Kelly said. “So, it’s just fun, honestly… They’re just really cool people.”

Over time, Kelly has been able to see her impact firsthand—not just in language skills, but in confidence and connection. And she’s quick to point out that the learning goes both ways.

Before volunteering, Kelly hadn’t fully realized how little support many newcomers receive from the government after arriving in the United States. That gap is where CRIS steps in—something Kelly says makes volunteering feel all the more important.

“I think that it’s a really good reason to volunteer for an organization like this, because you make an immediate and super evident impact on your neighbors,” Kelly said.

Sometimes, welcome looks like helping someone learn a new language.

And sometimes, it looks like simply building a friendship.

Today is the day! See you between 10 AM and 3 PM at the fourth annual Cultural and Artisans’ Fair at St. Mark’s Episcopa...
05/02/2026

Today is the day! See you between 10 AM and 3 PM at the fourth annual Cultural and Artisans’ Fair at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church (2151 Dorset Road, Upper Arlington).

Eritrean coffee ceremonies are traditionally a way of welcoming and gathering. If you’ve never experienced one (or even ...
04/30/2026

Eritrean coffee ceremonies are traditionally a way of welcoming and gathering. If you’ve never experienced one (or even if you have!)—be sure to stop by Saba’s booth at the third annual Culture and Artisan Fair this Saturday, May 2nd.

In addition to a myriad of beautiful handmade goods at the fair, there will be plenty of food and beverages: baked goods made by talented bakers from Uganda and Bangladesh, Eritrean cuisine and coffee, as well as Mexican and Nigerian food trucks.

Bring your appetite to St. Mark’s Episcopal Church (2151 Dorset Road, Upper Arlington) between 10 AM and 3 PM...see you there!

Address

4645 Executive Drive
Columbus, OH
43220

Opening Hours

Monday 8:30am - 4:30pm
Tuesday 8:30am - 4:30pm
Wednesday 8:30am - 4:30pm
Thursday 8:30am - 4:30pm
Friday 8:30am - 4:30pm

Telephone

+16142355747

Website

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