The Refugee Center

The Refugee Center was founded in 1980 by Vietnamese refugees to provide commonly needed services to other newly arrived refugees, and to help them acclimatize to American culture. In its 40 years of service to our community, The Refugee Center has expanded its scope to assist all immigrants, political asylees, and refugees, regardless of country of origin.

The Refugee Center exists to provide services essential to refugee and immigrant resettlement in East Central Illinois, and to aid in the exchange and preservation of their respective cultures.

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As an organization, we believe in the inherent worth of all human beings, regardless of nationality, ethnicity, religion, race, sex or gender, sexual orientation, or cultural heritage. We similarly believe that it is possible and desirable for all human beings to live peacefully together, and to work to create a more loving and compassionate world in which everyone's basic human needs and rights can be secured.

We open the door to new community members, help them get settled in Central Illinois, and encourage our community to understand and embrace its new members.