Center for Immigrant & Refugee Advancement

At CIRA, we believe that all individuals, regardless of background, deserve access to the resources and opportunities needed to thrive in their new communities.

Today, more than 145,000 immigrants and refugees call Nebraska home. They play a vital role in strengthening our schools, economy, and communities, making up 9% of our state’s labor force and 8% of total earnings. At CIRA, we’re committed to ensuring that our newest neighbors are not just welcomed but supported with dignity and care as they rebuild their lives in Nebraska.

Someone to open the door …

“I came to the U.S. in 2009 after years in a refugee camp in Thailand. I know what it’s like to start over, to learn a new language and a new culture, to find work while trying to make a strange place feel like home. Today, I help other families doing the same thing.

Every day, I see how strong and determined refugees are. One family from Venezuela – a husband, wife, and their teenage daughter – arrived last year. The father was 64, and I worried if he’d find work. But he and his wife took the first jobs they could, saved up, and bought a car within three months. Then they found better jobs, and now they’re buying a second car.

Refugees come to rebuild their lives. They come to work hard, to create a better life for their children. Just like every other American. They just need someone to open the door.”  - Mayme Myint CIRA Case Manager

For this year’s Give Big Lexington, your support can create a stronger, more welcoming community for everyone who calls Nebraska home.

Learn more at ciraconnect.org