NASH Refugee Resettlement Initiative and Libraries Without Borders US Announce Partnership to Support Refugees and Forcibly Displaced Persons

Washington, D.C. – The National Association of Higher Education Systems’ (NASH) Refugee Resettlement Initiative (RRI) and Libraries Without Borders (LWB) US today announced a new partnership to reinforce the national role of higher education systems and libraries as community centers for supporting refugees and forcibly displaced persons.

This partnership connects public libraries nationwide with NASH’s public higher education systems, which provide scholarships, sponsorship, workforce development, continuing education, temporary housing, and other essential resources to refugees and displaced newcomers. Together, NASH RRI and LWB US aim to elevate public higher education systems and libraries as key partners in refugee resettlement. Both are vital for the orientation and integration of refugees into broader communities, and by working in tandem, they can foster stronger, more inclusive cities and communities across the nation.

“It is well acknowledged that public libraries are important touch points in cities and communities for newly arrived immigrants and refugees; they offer a wide and increasing array of services that can help speed up their economic and social integration,” stated Dr. Colleen Thouez, Founder and Director of the NASH RRI. “At the NASH RRI, we support higher education systems to build welcoming campuses for these same populations; this support takes the form of workforce development, continuing education, scholarships, sponsorship, temporary housing, and more.  By joining forces with Libraries without Borders US, we seek to partner in key locations in order to deliver on our respective missions and provide welcoming support to an even greater number of newly arrived refugees and forcibly displaced individuals.”

NASH RRI and LWB US will work together to raise awareness of language education, job training, and cultural enrichment services for refugees by utilizing libraries as recruitment spaces for NASH RRI initiatives. This partnership will also create opportunities to engage local communities in a national movement, encouraging them to welcome refugees and displaced populations.

“We are thrilled to partner with the NASH RRI in order to leverage the unique role of libraries and higher education systems in providing newcomers with the tools and support they need to thrive,” shared Nina Safane, Executive Director of Libraries Without Borders US. “Through collaboration, we can expand access to critical resources and build bridges across communities nationwide.”

The NASH RRI looks forward to collaborating with LWB US on:

• Creating Welcoming Ecosystems: Engaging community members and training library staff through the NASH RRI Champions Network and the ‘Every Campus a Refuge’ (ECAR) program, equipping institutions to support refugees and understand the resettlement process.
• Collaborative Efforts and Funding: Leveraging networks to host workshops, share best practices, and co-fund initiatives through pooled philanthropic support from NASH RRI and LWB US.
• Libraries as Integration Hubs: Advocating for the use of libraries as essential resources for refugee integration, encouraging higher education systems and state actors to tap into their potential.

By combining their strengths, NASH RRI and LWB US are poised to transform how public libraries and higher education systems support refugees, setting a new standard for community integration. Together, they aim to build a robust framework that not only meets the immediate needs of refugees but also fosters long-term success and community belonging.

About Libraries Without Borders US

Libraries Without Borders US (LWB US) expands access to essential information, educational opportunities, and critical resources to build stronger, more inclusive communities. We partner with public libraries and community organizations to develop and strengthen outreach in order to create sustainable access for underserved communities and families. LWB US is the American branch of the international nonprofit Bibliothèques Sans Frontières (BSF). 

About the NASH Refugee Resettlement Initiative

The NASH RRI supports refugee and forcibly displaced students, scholars, and families who have recently arrived in the United States. It leverages the scope and scale of NASH member systems helping to build a national movement to expand the number of welcoming campuses across America. This is done by mobilizing and supporting higher education systems, their institutions, and individual champions using a state-by-state approach. The RRI regularly convenes institutions, systems, and state actors, working with volunteers and staff who may not otherwise have considered themselves as partners in the welcome and resettlement landscape. To learn more, visit https://nash.edu/refugee-resettlement-initiative/. 

About the National Association of Higher Education Systems

Founded in 1979, the National Association of Higher Education Systems (NASH) works to advance the role of multi-campus systems and the concept of systemness to create a more vibrant and sustainable higher education sector. NASH systems are comprised of more than 700 campuses and serve more than 7.5 million students in nearly every state in the United States. To learn more about NASH and its national transformation agenda, the Power of Systems, visit www.nash.edu.