Stand with ICS to Support Refugee Families and Transform Lives
Over 100,000 refugees were resettled in the U.S. this past year—the highest number in 30 years—a significant turnaround from the historic low of 11,400 just three years earlier. Clarkston, Georgia, home to many of our ICS families, remains one of the nation’s top resettlement hubs. These families arrived with hope and courage, seeking stability and opportunity—but their journey doesn’t end at resettlement. It’s just beginning.
At the International Community School, we are honored to walk alongside these families, offering not only an excellent education but also vital support and a welcoming community. Our school is a sanctuary where children flourish, families feel valued and connected, and lives are changed for generations.
More than 100,000 refugees were resettled in the U.S. in 2024, and we’re honored to see the diversity of our student body at ICS reflect this shift.
Thanks to your generosity, our Beloved ICS Community is thriving! This year, we provided hundreds of hours of translation for our ESOL families, offered safe transportation on our new fleet of buses, and built a new playground—all while delivering a rigorous and holistic academic environment for refugees, immigrants, and local children.
Building on our 20-year history ICS is now Charting New Territory. This new chapter includes researching to expand our reach through horizontal or vertical growth and creating space for even more families. With our current campus bursting at the seams, we know that growth requires bold action.
As part of our strategic plan, ICS is preparing to acquire or build a new homesite in the heart of Clarkston, ensuring we can continue to meet the needs of our Beloved Community and transform even more lives. But it doesn’t stop there! We are also planning to expand the scope of our impact in the following ways:
- International Early Learning Cooperative: We will expand early learning opportunities for children cradle – pre-k, along with engagement opportunities for parents through an on-site, cooperative early learning center run by parents.
- Institute for Community Learning: We will create a hub where parents, professionals, and people far and wide can learn best practices from our community and transformational journey.
- International Community Collective: We will create an on-site center for wraparound services for children and families.
>> Read More about the Transformational Journey Ahead
However, with the election now decided, we face the possibility of significant reductions in refugee resettlement or an end to the program altogether. This shift could directly impact our ability to welcome and support new families. In the past, drastic cuts to resettlement programs forced many organizations to close their doors, leaving countless families without essential resources.
Help us and our partners stay committed to stand with and support refugees this #GivingTuesday
At ICS, alongside our incredible partners—Friends of Refugees, New American Pathways, Amani Women’s Center, Refugee Women’s Network, and the Center for Victims of Torture—we are steadfast in our commitment to ensuring families have the support they need.
This Giving Tuesday will you stand with us and support refugee families? Your gift ensures that ICS remains a place of refuge, learning, and transformation for generations to come.
Plus every dollar you give TODAY will be matched, up to $15,000. That means your generosity goes twice as far in helping ICS continue to grow and welcome new students.
If you’re able, we invite you to also give generously to our partners in this transformational work, as we collaborate to bring hope, build opportunity, and strengthen our community in Clarkston and beyond. Please use the links above to donate.
Thank you for being part of this Transformational Journey!
Fran Carroll, ICS Executive Director, brings to ICS over 15 years of leadership and management experience in the for-profit and non-profit arena. For the last 2 years, Fran has served as the Executive Director at ICS. In her spare time, when not spending time with her family, you can find Fran involved in the entrepreneurship arena in the Metro Atlanta area. She graduated from the Start:ME Southside Cohort in 2018 through Emory’s Goizuetta Business School. In 2020 she was listed as one of 11 parents who are making a difference, and in 2023 she participated in Leadership DeKalb’s cohort.