Refugee Development Center

Mission: To cultivate a welcoming, thriving community that collaborates with refugees and newcomers through education, engagement, and support.

The Refugee Development Center is a vital 501(c)(3) organization that was created in 2002 to provide a unique, unduplicated service in the mid-Michigan area. As a small grassroots organization, we have grown to be the “go-to” agency for working with refugees in the region. By providing formal and informal learning opportunities, the center aims to be an open and inclusive place for refugees to learn and locate the resources they need to flourish as residents and citizens.

The Refugee Development Center (RDC) provides programming and services to support the education, engagement and support for refugee children, teens, and adults arriving in Mid-Michigan yearly. More than 15,000 refugees have participated in RDC programs since the organization begin in 2002.

Some of the services the RDC provides include:

• English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) classes
• After school tutoring programs
• Youth group activities including summer camp and soccer programs
• School orientations for new arrival families
• Parent workshops and other adult education opportunities