Together we are Helping Refugees and Georgia Thrive.
We are proud to celebrate our tenth anniversary; a decade marked by courage, resilience and resourcefulness. We have experienced a global pandemic, been on the front lines to resettle evacuees fleeing violence and persecution in Afghanistan, Ukraine and other parts of the world, and seen drastic shifts in public policy that have created ebbs and flows in the numbers of refugees we have welcomed to Georgia. Through it all, we have remained steadfast in our mission of Helping Refugee and Georgia Thrive.
A
LETTER
FROM
Paedia Mixon Chief Executive Officer
Dear Friends,
I am honored to commemorate New American Pathways’ tenth anniversary with you. As I reflect on this milestone, I want to recognize and thank so many in our community who have emboldened, empowered and encouraged us. Together we have built a strong and growing organization that delivers our mission of Helping Refugees and Georgia Thrive.
From our beginnings, the refugees and immigrants we serve have been the driving force that molded this mission and vision. Through years of helping new arrivals build their lives in Georgia, two organizations, Refugee Resettlement and Immigration Services of Atlanta (RRISA) and Refugee Family Services (RFS) were inspired to come together as New American Pathways.
Today, New AP is not just an organization for refugees, but an organization of refugees, with most of our staff and volunteers
coming from the communities we serve. The courage, resilience, and resourcefulness of refugees rebuilding their lives in a new country serve as an example to New AP and has propelled us to continue our work through a global pandemic, changing political realities, and global crises like the fall of Kabul and the war in Ukraine. We have more than doubled the number of people we serve — over 10,000 annually — and have proven that we can adapt quickly to support the changing needs of the community.
Our accomplishments and steady growth are fueled by an experienced team of over 100 full-time staff — who collectively speak over 25 languages — 15 AmeriCorps members, and hundreds of dedicated volunteers and community partners. Most importantly, it is the incredible resolve of the refugees and immigrants we work with every day who motivate, inspire and encourage us. It cannot be overstated: community and collaboration are at the heart of our success.
We are proud to celebrate ten years thriving together.
Sincerely,
New American Pathways is not only an organization for refugees, we are an organization of refugees.
Our History
2014
Refugee Resettlement and Immigration Services (RRISA) and Refugee Family Service (RFS) announced their merger at the Taste of the World event in 2013. The organization’s new name and logo were selected through staff voting and market research.
2015
Early New American Pathways programs focused on immigration and welcoming services, English language support, building self-sufficiency, and after-school academic enrichment, serving 600 new arrivals and 2,500 refugees already residing in metro Atlanta.
2017
New American Pathways officially began operations on October 1, 2014.
The Pathway Model and dashboard for tracking services was launched, with programming strategically envisioned to create a continuum of services from arrival through citizenship.
2016
New AP continued to see a rise in refugee admissions concurrent with the delivery of new programs and services. We introduced the Forward adult education program which offered vocational counseling and financial literacy support as well as our Voter and Civic Engagement initiative, inspired by the Refugees Organizing in Action program originally pioneered by RFS.
With significant shifts in immigration policy and drastic cuts to the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program, New AP had to pivot quickly. We navigated the impact of the Muslim travel ban and other restrictive executive orders, threatening the survival of many resettlement agencies. However, our ability to adapt allowed us to protect the core of our resettlement expertise and dedicate our efforts to meeting the needs of refugees and immigrants already here.
2018
We launched the Women’s Economic Empowerment initiative — a rethinking of our Young Women’s Leadership program — to improve refugee women’s access to education, training, financial literacy, credit and employment options.
2019
New AP spearheaded the establishment of the Welcome Co-op, a collaborative effort of metro-Atlanta’s four refugee resettlement agencies to access affordable housing, collect furnishings and household goods, and manage housing logistics for newly arriving refugees.
2020
Covid-19 and policies born from the pandemic caused the lowest arrival numbers since the inception of the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program. Nationally, less than 10,000 refugees were granted entry into the U.S. with New AP welcoming less than 100 new arrivals.
Our offices shut down due to Covid-19, but we quickly transitioned to remote services. We distributed technology, masks, and other essentials to clients while continuing education and youth programming remotely.
2021
With the collapse of the Afghan government in August, the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and the rebuilding of the U.S. Refugee Resettlement program, New AP saw a massive surge in arrivals and the addition of new staff along with the rebuilding of our organizational infrastructure.
Continuing to focus on service and civic engagement, New AP launched its Civic Pathways leadership development program equipping and empowering foreign-born community members with the tools and education to be leaders in the public and private sector.
2022
Changes in federal policy enabled thousands of displaced people to be admitted to Georgia as humanitarian parolees. In response to this, alongside the increased rate of new arrivals, New AP introduced initiatives to advance self-sufficiency and economic mobility such as the Savings Match program along with expanded workforce development and adult education offerings.
2023
New AP began serving Haitians, Cubans and other populations from Central and South America. We consolidated our program structure under five unified departments: Welcoming Services, Health & Wellbeing, Economic Inclusion and Workforce Development, Support for Children, Parents and Schools, and A.L.I.V.E. — Advocacy, Leadership, Immigration, Voter Engagement.
2024
With a more diverse pool of individuals with protected status being integrated into our communities, New AP provided welcoming services to over 1,500 new arrivals and served another 10,000 plus refugees and immigrants currently residing in communities across metro Atlanta.
Resilience
The ability and the strength to adapt to adversity, to endure, or withstand adversity
RESILIENCE
John Peter Nindi
From Democratic Republic of Congo to Clarkston to Stanford
John Peter Nindi was born in the eastern region of the Democratic Republic of Congo. In 2014, when John Peter was nine years old, his family relocated to a refugee camp in Uganda. There, John Peter began school and started learning English, recognizing the importance of education. His time in the camp played a key role in shaping his character, fostering the resilience that would guide him throughout his life.
John Peter and his family arrived in the United States in 2018. They were welcomed by New American Pathways. They received support getting a home, safety-net benefits, job placement and assistance enrolling the children in school. John Peter entered middle school and enrolled in the Bright Futures After-School program. He found he needed the most support with cultural and social adjustment, which he received from the program teachers and volunteers.
With the stability his family gained through supportive welcoming services, John Peter was able to focus on his education and enroll in a high school program that aligned students’ interests
with corporate work opportunities. The program allowed him to work at various companies such as Fitzco and Delta. By his senior year, John Peter had landed a prestigious software engineering internship at Microsoft, one of the world’s leading technology companies.
In May 2024, John Peter graduated from high school. This September, he began pursuing a Computer Science degree at Stanford University on a full-ride scholarship. His journey reflects how John Peter met the real challenges in his life with the determination that turns hardship into success. His resilience and desire to invest in his education has given him opportunities to excel.
PROGRAMS RECEIVED BY
JOHN PETER AND HIS FAMILY: Resettlement and Resource Navigation
Education Support Services
Bright Futures After-School Program
Resourcefulness
Taking on or meeting challenges and the unexpected creatively
RESOURCEFULNESS
UNIFI
Employer Engagement that Advances Careers Forward
Unifi Aviation and New American Pathways have joined forces to create a partnership aimed at advancing career opportunities for refugees. Unifi Aviation, the largest ground handling and aviation services provider in North America, currently employs around 500 refugees and has committed to hiring an additional 500 over the next three years. This initiative is part of Unifi’s broader mission to promote diversity and inclusion within the workplace while offering meaningful employment to individuals from refugee backgrounds.
New American Pathways will play a pivotal role in supporting Unifi’s efforts by collaborating on the development of specialized on-the-job training programs and providing essential resources tailored to the needs of refugees. One of the major challenges refugees face is overcoming language barriers, which can significantly hinder their ability to secure stable employment. This is especially true for working adults who may struggle to find time for traditional English classes.
To address this, the program will allow employees to attend job-specific language classes during their work hours, providing a unique opportunity for them to improve their English skills while still maintaining their jobs. This approach not only helps employees better understand their roles but also paves the way for their long-term career development and financial independence.
The curriculum designed for this partnership goes beyond basic language instruction. It is crafted to help refugees familiarize themselves with the norms and expectations of the U.S. workplace, including learning how to self-advocate and fully comprehend the benefits available to them.
New American Pathways is working closely with Unifi to develop lesson plans that cover company policies, procedures, and job-specific terminology, ensuring that both employers and employees benefit from these training sessions. The goal is to build a workforce that is more skilled, empowered, and confident, while also addressing the needs of Unifi as an employer seeking to enhance productivity and retain talent. This collaboration marks a significant step forward in integrating refugees into the U.S. labor market and supporting their journey toward self-sufficiency.
The strength and resolve to persevere or to push forward
COURAGE
Nimota Salami
A
Flourishing Business Owner
from Niger
Nimota Salami, originally from Nigeria, sought out New American Pathways after discovering our programs online. Settling in the mid-west, she was in immediate danger, facing unsafe living conditions, and urgently needed a program that could provide her with help and stability. After reaching out, she connected with a case manager who assured her that if she could make it to Georgia, New AP would assist her in finding a safe place to stay. Her case manager stayed on the phone with her for the entire drive to Georgia until she arrived at New AP’s offices.
Upon her arrival, the staff immediately stepped in to connect her with essential resources, ensuring that she could secure stable housing. They also provided legal assistance, empowering her with the tools needed to build a safer future for herself.
Nimota not only found safety but also reignited a strong determination that fueled her entrepreneurial spirit and passion for cooking traditional Nigerian dishes. With guidance and support from our Forward vocational counseling program, Nimota took a bold step and launched her own bottled sauce company, Royal Nigerian Foods, which quickly grew into a successful catering business. This venture became more than just a way to make a living — it was a means for her to celebrate her heritage and share her culture with her new community.
In 2022, Nimota took another step on her pathway to success by enrolling in New AP’s Women’s Economic Empowerment program. There, she learned vital skills in financial literacy and business marketing
while gaining access to a supportive network of professionals and fellow entrepreneurs. As her business continued to thrive, she hosted cooking demonstrations at the Atlanta Botanical Gardens and catered various events, further expanding her clientele. Her efforts have paid off as she recently secured major contracts with Civic Pathways and Emory University.
But Nimota’s journey is just beginning. Her dream is to open a food truck, which will allow her to bring her beloved Nigerian cuisine to an even wider audience across metro Atlanta. With a network of support built through the connections she’s made since arriving in Georgia, Nimota has continued to build on each of her successes with a passion for learning and growing. Through hardship, she transformed challenges into opportunity, which has changed her life forever. Her story is one of courage and the power of community, as she continues to inspire others to pursue their dreams.
SERVICES: Family Empowerment
Forward Adult Education
Women’s Economic Empowerment
Family Violence Prevention
FROM TRUSTED PARTNER TO THOUGHT LEADER
Since our inception, our purpose was clear: to provide a comprehensive continuum of services that ensures newly arriving refugees in Georgia become self-sufficient and achieve lasting success. The Pathway Model emerged as the guide to help refugees envision progress as attainable, walking them through key milestones. From arrival at Hartsfield-Jackson Airport to the path towards U.S. citizenship, a new American’s pathway became the cornerstone of the work we do and marked a turning point in how we envision the refugee journey. Our innovative, client-centered approach has allowed us to meet the distinct needs of a diverse and vulnerable population at every step, from ensuring immediate safety to empowering civic engagement.
1. Safety and Stability
Secure safe housing
Have basic needs
Access healthcare
Orient to community
Learn English
Enroll children in school
2. SelfSufficiency
Have a household budget
Start job
Pay own bills
Navigate the community
Parents involved in school
Children adjusting
Apply for green card
Volunteer
4. Service
Be a leader in the community
Participate in civic life Vote
3. Success
Enroll in training or college
Become a citizen
Reunite with family
Grow in a career
Children excel in school
SERVICE AREAS
Welcoming Services
Housing, basic needs, cultural orientation, and benefits enrollment to newly arrived refugees and immigrants.
We provide MARTA Orientation to all clients. From learning bus routes to using train kiosks, helping new Americans navigate their new city is essential to fostering independence and confidence when traveling for work, school or to our office.
Economic Inclusion and Workforce Development
English language support and financial literacy training, job readiness and placement, career advancement, women’s economic empowerment, and asset-based savings match.
We help our clients overcome language barriers in the workplace. Through our partnership with Unifi Aviation and other metro-Atlanta companies, refugees receive tailored career training with a focus on English language learning, helping them succeed in their new jobs.
Health and Well-Being
Connection to community resources, healthcare navigation, education, family violence prevention, and health and social adjustment case management.
We provide culturally and linguistically appropriate resources for the people we serve. Our team participates in outreach events and offers health screenings to ensure accessible care for all.
Support for Children, Parents and Schools
Early childhood home visiting, afterschool, summer, parent liaison services, and offering crisis intervention and holistic strengthening tools to refugees through Parents as Teachers.
Fatima and her son, Asser, welcomed us into their home during a visit with their PAT educator, where they enjoyed learning through play.
Our summer camp offers kids a fun-filled season of crafts, sports, field trips, and pool time. This year, they even enjoyed weekly Karate classes!
During the summer, PAT hosts group connections at places like Milam Park, where families learn about water safety.
The Vote and voter registration initiatives, and leadership development.
Our programs and services offer a continuum of support from arrival through citizenship. Citizenship is the final milestone for many of our clients. We are proud to have witnessed numerous citizenship ceremonies over the past ten years.
Voting is a vital part of active community membership. Over the past ten years, New AP has registered more than 37,000 people to vote, providing registration year-round, regardless of election cycles!
THE PATH AHEAD
We will stay focused on remaining robust, adaptable and effective in meeting the needs of a diverse, vulnerable and expanding population. We will step up efforts that help new Americans establish stability, find meaningful work, and play an active role in their new surroundings.
Recognizing the changing resettlement landscape, we remain committed to serving families holistically, fostering inclusivity, extending support to a larger and more diverse population being welcomed into our communities, and ensuring that services are easily accessible to all.
Looking ahead, we will continue to serve our clients walking along the pathway and thriving together. with the same courage, resourcefulness and resilience they show us every day,
