This week, IRAP launched a nationwide photo awareness campaign dubbed Breathe Free, featuring 14 portraits of IRAP clients who have successfully started safe, new lives in America. IRAP law students participated in Breathe Free all over the country, gathering in 15 cities to mount the large format portraits in public fora. Breathe Free seeks both to empower participating clients and to educate the public with success stories of refugee resettlement in the United States. You can learn more by joining the Facebook event page here, and by searching #BreatheFree on Twitter.
This week, we’re sharing written reflections from the participants each day. Today’s piece comes from Yasir, who IRAP helped come to the United States from Iraq, and who is now a successful entrepreneur in New York City.
Don’t miss the photos below of Yasir’s portrait at Breathe Free launches around the country.
My name is Yasir and I came to New York from Baghdad through the help of IRAP.
Living in New York City has enabled me to pursue my dreams of becoming an entrepreneur. I’ve found a career that I love, helping technology companies innovate and evolve, creating mobile applications, websites and interactive technologies that will – one day – reshape our future and make our world a better place to live in.
Manhattan… the city that never sleeps, has become my home. And it was here, in the United States, that I found liberty, freedom and success in this new country that I now call my own.
A student installs Yasir’s mural in preparation for the Breathe Free launch at the UC Irvine School of Law.
Students from Georgetown Law and GW Law pose with Yasir’s and other portraits in advance of their day of Breathe Free action in DC.
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