Denver

Asad Bihi Abdi accepts the award on behalf of the Global Refugee Center.
High-resolution image

The Denver Division honors the Global Refugee Center of Greeley, Colorado, for providing support and resources for refugees from war-torn countries.

Since 2008, the Global Refugee Center (GRC) has become a sanctuary and source of support for almost 3,000 refugees from more than 20 countries. These refugees have relocated to northern Colorado to seek new lives following years of strife and suffering in their native countries.

Many of these refugees have come from areas like Somalia, Ethiopia, and Eritrea, and they arrive in Colorado with very little economic support. While many are provided with jobs upon arrival in the United States, very few have the skills to transition to life in their new surroundings. The GRC assists these refugees with trade training, language classes, citizenship classes, and economic support.

The GRC has also supported the efforts of the FBI in educating these new residents about life in the United States and the laws of our country. They have encouraged the refugees to report criminal activity to law enforcement. Many of the refugees are children who had been taught to fear law enforcement. Through the efforts of the GRC, these children can begin to understand that law enforcement in the United States is not something to fear, but a protector in times of trouble.