What exactly is a refugee? What kinds of screening processes do refugees undergo before entering the United States? What barriers do they typically face and what kinds of services are available to help them integrate into our community? Join host Ashley Caveda for Part 1 of our special two-part series on Immigration and Refugees. She discusses common questions and misconceptions regarding refugees with Director of Outreach & Immigration Services at Exodus Refugee Megan Hochbein and Immigrant Justice Program Staff Attorney Rachel VanTyle.

March was an extremely busy for the Clinic! We were blessed with the chance to compete in Brackets For Good again, and because of our amazing supporters, we were able to raise nearly $20,000 in just two weeks for free legal services for our low-income neighbors! Additionally, we learned more about the importance of donations and how the Clinic seeks and utilizes these very necessary funds.

What is Justice? Who has access to it? What are the community-wide financial and emotional repercussions when Justice is not served? Join host Ashley Caveda as she discusses these questions, the Clinic's most memorable clients, and more with current Executive Director Chris Purnell and founder and former Executive Director Abby Kuzma.

Isaac and Ashley get pumped up for #BFG16 by shooting some Justice Hoops! For Round 1, we're matched up against Fight For Life Foundation. This round ends at 8PM on Friday, March 4th. Please help us advance to Round 2 by donating now: https://indianapolis.bfg.org/matches/615 For all the latest tourney updates, follow us on Instagram and Twitter @NCLegalClinic

Rachel VanTyle, the lead staff attorney for RAD, adds that mass volunteer events like this are important for the community and for efficiency’s sake. She says, “What it would take me 4 months to do, we can do in 8 hours with this many volunteers.” Such days also give the Clinic the opportunity to provide services for which we might lack funding. Rachel explains that each application, if completed by a paid attorney, would cost roughly $500 per client. Therefore, by relying on volunteers to help so many people at once, the Clinic is able to provide more than $25,000 worth of services that might otherwise be impossible.

Our organizing theme for JFA 2015 was Renewal. At the event, Executive Director Chris Purnell talked about where we're headed as an organization and why renewed passion and purpose for Christ and for our clients is so important. He then told the story of a couple he was able to assist early in his career at the Clinic. After he helped the couple, the wife mentioned it was her birthday and began crying. When Chris asked her why she was crying, the woman responded, "This is the best gift I've ever received." Chris then asked attendees to prayerfully consider a donation to the Clinic, reminding them that this donation might be the best gift someone else has ever received.