In Southwest Las Vegas just a few streets away from Allegiant Stadium, there is a beacon of hope and light called the African Community Center. The center is part of the Ethiopian Community Development Council (ECDC) and stands as a testament to the power of compassion and community in aiding refugees in their journey to rebuild their lives in the United States.
The African Community Center opened its doors in Las Vegas in 2003 as a branch office of the Arlington, Virginia based ECDC. The center plays a pivotal role in resettling refugees in the Las Vegas valley. Partnering closely with the U.S. State Department through the ECDC, the center facilitates the resettlement process for individuals and families fleeing persecution and seeking refuge in the United States. The State Department’s U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USARP) operates under the construct of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). Refugees are individuals who are recognized under international law, particularly the 1951 Refugee Convention, as someone who has been forced to flee their home country and seek safety in another country to escape conflict, violence, or persecution. This fear of persecution could be for reasons of race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or membership in a particular social group. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) estimates there are 36.4 million refugees worldwide. Refugee resettlement services through the U.S. State Department are available for those that cannot safely return to their home country, are unable to remain in the country where they currently reside and are in need of the protection provided by resettlement in the United States.
Each year the President of the United States signs a Presidential Determination on Refugee Admissions. This decree sets a ceiling for the maximum number of refugees that can be admitted to the United States each year. This year that number is 125,000. As a branch office of the ECDC, the African Community Center is one of three non-profit organizations in Nevada that is responsible for resettling Nevada’s refugee allocations. The Las Vegas African Community Center has the capacity to assist approximately 400 refugees per year. Through the State Department’s Reception and Placement Program, the African Community Center receives funding for initial resettlement services. These funds support rent, food, clothing, and furnishings. The African Community Center team greets the refugee family upon arrival at the airport and the support services begin.
Beyond resettlement, the center is also committed to fostering a sense of belonging and empowerment among refugees. Through various programs and initiatives, they offer language classes, job training, and cultural integration workshops, empowering refugees to become self-sufficient and actively contribute to the Las Vegas community.
As a result of their tireless efforts, the African Community Center has become a lifeline for refugees in Las Vegas, offering them not just refugee services through the ECDC and the State Department, but also a foundation from which to rebuild their lives in America here in Las Vegas. You can learn more about the ECDC and the Las Vegas African Community Center through their websites at the following links – https://www.ecdcus.org and https://acc-lv.org.
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