AKRON, OH – July 21, 2026 –
For more than a year and a half, refugee resettlement agencies across the country have faced unprecedented challenges. Changes to federal policy have essentially eliminated refugee arrivals and, with them, the funding that has sustained organizations serving people seeking safety in the United States. As a result, many long-standing resettlement agencies have been forced to close their doors.
At the International Institute of Akron, we made a different choice.
Rather than stepping away from the communities who rely on us, we adapted our work to meet the changing needs of those who came as refugees and other immigrants already calling Akron home. We shifted our services, expanded support for individuals facing new barriers to safety and stability and remained committed to our mission of helping refugees and immigrants achieve empowered lives with dignity, connection, and belonging.
After 18 months of adapting and working tirelessly to keep our doors open, we were informed that our remaining federal funding would be eliminated unless we agreed to participate in resettlement efforts that conflict with our mission and values.
This was not a decision we made lightly.
For more than a century, the International Institute of Akron has earned the trust of our community by standing alongside refugees and immigrants through changing policies, evolving needs, and difficult moments. That trust, and our unwavering commitment to serving vulnerable individuals and families with dignity and compassion, guided our decision. We could not accept funding that required us to turn away from the very communities we exist to serve.
As a result, our organization now faces one of the most significant challenges in our 110-year history.
Today, we are asking our community to stand with us.
If you believe every person deserves the opportunity to build a safe and stable future, we invite you to support the International Institute of Akron. Whether through a financial contribution, hosting a fundraiser, sharing our story, or encouraging others to get involved, your support will help ensure that our doors remain open for the individuals and families who need us most.
Together, we can preserve this vital resource for Akron's refugee and immigrant communities while we work toward a future where humanitarian resettlement is fully restored.
If you’d like to donate, you can do so at www.iiakron.org/take-action.
For those who want to know more or if you’re considering hosting a fundraiser, please contact Kevin Walter at kevin.walter@iiakron.org or Liv Randall at liv.randall@iiakron.org.
Thank you for standing with us during this unprecedented time in our history.