Dear Friends,
It has been nearly five years since I stepped into the role of Executive Director at Friends of Refugees. And in those five years, I have seen and experienced many incredible moments. And so it is with a mixture of emotions that I share I will be stepping out of this role to make room for new leadership to guide Friends of Refugees into its next season.
This decision was made after a long season of prayer and careful reflection and comes with both sadness and deep peace. Change is hard, but I believe deep in my bones that it is time. I’m grateful for our Board of Directors, who have been wonderful in walking alongside me as we have planned and prepared to care for the organization in this next season.
A few highlights from the past five years that I’m particularly proud of–
- Financials: Since 2021, the organization has grown its non-capital revenue by 76%–all through the generosity of private funders, faith communities, and individual donors!
- Quality & depth of services: With these resources, we have intentionally strengthened the quality of our programming and launched two new pilots to address needs in especially vulnerable groups in the refugee community (Peace Project and Parwana). We also relaunched our year-round Refugee Youth program which had been severely diminished during COVID.
- Investing in staff: Friends has always wanted the New American community to flourish. When I came in 2021, I quickly realized that we needed to extend that same care and concern to our staff, so that they could flourish as well (of whom more than 50% are New Americans). With that in mind, every year we have invested in our staff in tangible ways: added robust health benefits, increased staff wages (several times!), provided professional development, implemented a sabbatical policy for long-time employees, and built a vibrant, connected culture that makes Friends a great place to work.
- Being a calm oasis in a sea of change: Most importantly, during the last five years through COVID disruptions and shifting federal refugee and immigration policies, our staff, volunteers, and donors have remained faithful in supporting and extending the hand of friendship to thousands of New Americans making a new home in Atlanta.
In short—what a full five years it has been!
As a person of faith, I often reflect on all that God has done through Friends of Refugees to make it Atlanta’s love letter of welcome to the refugee community. I am filled with gratitude for the people and the strong foundation that this organization is built on.
I leave knowing that Friends of Refugees is in a stronger place than when I began and is led by talented and committed staff and board, which gives me great confidence in the future. And a huge shout-out of thanks to all of you: the village of supporters and partners who cheer us on, work hard, and give generously to make this work possible!
I very much hope you will continue to walk closely with Friends in the future, just as you have faithfully done in the past. Our work is more important than ever, as we see a surge in demand for our services 1-3 years after refugees arrive in America. This means we are just now experiencing increasing demand for our services from the refugees who came under the last administration. And with the entire refugee and immigrant sector under stress due to recent federal funding cuts, your support is needed now more than ever. So keep giving and keep supporting because we need you!
In closing . . . thank you.
It has been one of the greatest privileges of my life to serve in this role. I am deeply grateful to God for giving me the opportunity to learn from New American families and to work with such dedicated staff, volunteers, board, and partners in a mission that matters so much.
While I will no longer be leading the organization, I will always be cheering it on as one of its biggest champions!
With a full heart,
Kendra Jeffreys
A word from Daniel Allman, Chairman of the Board of Friends of Refugees
On behalf of the Board of Directors, I want to express our deep gratitude to Kendra for her faithful and thoughtful leadership over these past five years.
Kendra has led Friends of Refugees with courage, steadiness, and care through both growth and challenge. We are thankful for the many ways she has built a culture and team that has greatly strengthened the organization and, ultimately, empowers the New American community.
The board has a thoughtful transition process under way to select the next leader, and we move forward with full confidence in the mission, the staff, and the future of Friends of Refugees. We celebrate Kendra’s service and for the strong foundation that will support the organization in the days ahead.
Daniel Allman
Answers to questions you may have . . .
Who will be the next ED?
As mentioned above, the board has been engaged in a thoughtful planning process and are working with an outside firm to assist with Kendra’s transition. More about the next leader will be shared in May, so stay tuned for more details!
Are any other leaders leaving?
No! Our leadership team (Yuni, Rusty, Marissa, Virginia, Megan, Muzhda, Lauren, Emily, and Mark) all remain and are focused on the work ahead.
Where is Kendra going next?
In part because of family needs, especially as her parents enter a season requiring greater care, Kendra is not looking to lead another organization. She is grateful to have found a role with a local company in a different sector that fits her gifts and interests well. She looks forward to sharing more about that new role in the months ahead, via her LinkedIn.
Is the organization in crisis?
No. While the external environment for refugees is challenging all over America, Friends is in a stronger place than ever before with our infrastructure, programming, and staff.
Is my support still needed?
Yes! As always, our organization is 100% privately funded. We rely on individuals and organizations to contribute to make our programming possible. And with the current surge in demand for our services, your support–of any amount– is needed now more than ever.
When will this change take place?
Kendra’s last full day in the office will be April 10th and, after that, she’ll take some well-deserved time off before returning for a celebration with the staff and board in early May.
I want to connect with Kendra directly–how do I do that?
If you want to connect with Kendra directly, email her at kendra@friendsofrefugees.com by April 10th. After April 10th, you can connect with Kendra via LinkedIn. If you have questions for other senior leadership or the board, please send an email directly to Executive Assistant, Stacy Elder at stacy@friendsofrefugees.com.