About the Collective

Our Story

• History

  • Started in 2021, amid COVID-19 as way to connect with each other, and in light of negative narratives about refugees as a way to promote narrative shift, education, empathy and understanding

  • Why stories?

  • Partnership between RC, Lab, WAAA, WeaveTales, USA for UNHCR, RCUSA

• What it is now

  • Today, the Collective includes 57 members across 25 states, representing xx countries.

  • We invest in our members’ leadership development and professional communication skills, providing a platform to share stories, perspectives, and experiences in ways that inform the public debate, challenge ideas around what it means to be a refugee, advocate for positive change, and ultimately build community in the United States.

  • Our partners support opportunities for members to engage in events, workshops, media interviews, campaigns, and more. Collective partners also help coordinate monthly training sessions for members that are informed by member needs and interests, and are designed to both sharpen existing storytelling skills and introduce new techniques and mediums for communicating. Examples of trainings include workshops on how to overcome public speaking anxiety, how to engage with the media, and more. 

  • Collective members have taken advantage of the various opportunities for public speaking and communications growth.

    • Links:

    • What it means to welcome

    • Women of Refuge podcast