Side by Side Co-Sponsorship Program
New Co-Sponsorship Program Matches Community Groups with Newly Arriving Refugees
Community support has been essential during the Institute’s nearly 50 years of refugee resettlement work. Now, as we continue this vital service to welcome clients fleeing war or persecution, we’re launching a co-sponsorship program offering more direct involvement for community groups.
Groups of five to eight people can now apply to become co-sponsors through our Side by Side initiative. These groups will commit to six months of walking “side by side” with their matched family by welcoming them at the airport, teaching essential skills as they transition to life in America, and providing friendship and encouragement as they work toward becoming self-sufficient. Side by Side co-sponsorship groups will receive training and support from the Institute’s staff members along the way.
This co-sponsorship model combines the Institute’s long-time expertise as a resettlement agency with the warmth of community support that makes Minnesota welcoming. We can’t wait to work with you to support refugees as they restart their lives in safety so they can fully realize their potential.