NE organization announces new name, provides legal services
OMAHA — What started as a marriage between a pair of like-minded nonprofits in Nebraska two years ago has now reached another level.
The organization, formerly known as the Immigration Legal Center + Refugee Empowerment Center, announced its new name Tuesday.
It will be called the Center for Immigration and Refugee Development (CIRA).
The name symbolizes a commitment to mentoring and promoting newcomers, and the firm is staffed by more than 100 full-time staff, including multiple attorneys. Executive Director Eric Omar emphasized the word “progress.”
“This really applies to everything we do for immigrant/refugee communities – helping them improve their status in the community,” Omar said.
The 2022 merger follows the departure of the refugee center’s executive director and the immigration center’s leadership taking over its management and operations. For more than 25 years, these entities have each helped thousands of immigrants and refugees achieve their goals.
Omar said the idea was to keep the two names as placeholders.
The new CIRA brand will be fully unveiled at the organization’s 10th annual conference on September 29 Food Truck World Tour He said a fundraiser will be held on the Metropolitan Community College campus at 32nd Street and Sorenson Avenue at 3 p.m. The event features vendors and food from around the world.
Proceeds will support the agency’s legal representation, refugee services and social work programs for foreign-born clients. All services are free to customers, the organization said.
CIRA has 10 different offices ranging from Scottsbluff, Nebraska to Council Bluff, Iowa.
Omar said the organization has even hired translators to ensure the CIRA abbreviation is not misused in any language.
“It was important to us to invest time in forming a new name and brand that represented the immigrant and refugee journey while communicating the expertise and compassion of our 100+ team members to ensure they are welcome, settled and And can CIRA Board Chairman Mike McMeekin said.
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