New refugee director coming to Jewish Family and Community Services
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One of the organizations that helps Pittsburgh’s refugee populations will have a new director in August.
Jewish Family and Community Services announced Thursday that Ivonne Smith-Tapia will become the new director of refugee and immigrant services. Leslie Aizenman, the longtime director, will step down at the end of July, having served at JFCS for nearly two decades.
Smith-Tapia came to Pittsburgh in 2013. She has worked with the World Affairs Council of Pittsburgh and the University of Pittsburgh on programs that address issues facing refugees and immigrants.
Smith-Tapia leads the All for All Coalition, a network that helps refugees and immigrants in the region, and is a board member of the Casa San Jose, which supports the region’s Latino population.
She earned a master’s in social work from Pitt, in addition to a master’s in cultural anthropology from University of the Andes in Colombia.
“Ivonne possesses the qualifications and expertise to grow the services we offer to make a lasting impact on our area,” said Jordan Golin, the president and CEO of JFCS.
Aizenman worked to secure a better future for refugees and immigrants in the region, Golin said, and Smith-Tapia will continue that work.
“I’m honored to join an organization that recognizes the value of welcoming and supporting refugees and immigrants to rebuild their lives and thrive,” Smith-Tapia said. “I’m excited to lead a phenomenal team and hope to continue providing quality services, elevate the voices of refugees in our region, and expand collaborations.”
JFCS traces its roots to the 1843 founding of Hebrew Benevolent Society, the first Jewish charitable organization in Pittsburgh, and offers a range of social services to the Jewish community and beyond. Its resettlement work took hold in the 1970s to serve Jewish refugees from the Soviet Union.
The transition at JFCS comes in advance of World Refugee Day, celebrated June 18.
JFCS is among several organizations that help the county’s refugee population, which was more than 3,000 as of 2013, the latest year figures were available.
Last week, Pittsburgh officials hosted a training for landlords through the city’s Welcoming Pittsburgh program to learn about how they can assist refugee resettlement agencies in the city.
During the Three Rivers Arts Festival next week, the city’s international community will also be celebrated during a World Square event held at Downtown’s Market Square.