Strengthening Refugee Integration through Community Resource Mapping

Switchboard is pleased to announce an upcoming webinar, back by popular demand, open to all refugee service providers, whether working at state agencies, resettlement agencies or affiliates, or other organizations. Please circulate this announcement widely among your colleagues!

Across the U.S., many refugee service providers and community organizations are working hard to connect newcomers with essential services. However, these efforts often take place without a clear understanding of what resources are available, where the service gaps exist, or how to create more coordinated support systems. This lack of visibility can result in duplicated efforts, missed opportunities, and uneven access to critical services.

This webinar will introduce community resource mapping as an effective tool to address these challenges. Whether you’re part of a small grassroots group or a large resettlement agency, resource mapping can help you understand your local landscape, identify strengths and gaps, and foster collaboration across sectors to improve service delivery.

Through a step-by-step walkthrough of the mapping process—including setting objectives, engaging partners, gathering data, analyzing findings, and sharing results—you’ll gain practical strategies you can apply to your own community. We’ll explore how mapping can reveal underused resources, strengthen referral networks, and support long-term integration for refugees and other newcomers. This session also includes real-world examples, tips for engaging partners, and a live Q&A to put insights into practice.

This webinar is designed for refugee service providers—including staff at resettlement agencies, state offices, and community-based organizations—who want to better identify and connect local resources to support newcomers. It is also recommended for community leaders, coalition members, or anyone interested in building stronger networks of services through collaborative resource mapping.

No prior experience with community resource mapping is required. However, participants may benefit from reviewing Switchboard’s Introduction to Community Resource Mapping tool prior to attending.

After participating in this 60-minute session, you will be able to:

• Define community resource mapping and its purpose and identify real-world examples relevant to newcomer support
• Explain four core ways community resource mapping supports newcomer integration, strengthens partnerships, and enhances access to services
• Apply key tools and methods to effectively implement the six stages of community resource mapping

WEBINAR FACILITATOR

Parker Newburn, MBA, MJA, Program Officer, Switchboard Community Support Line

Parker has built his career at the intersection of refugee resettlement and community-driven support, helping build local capacity to welcome and assist forcibly displaced people throughout the nation. He currently serves as Program Officer for the Switchboard Community Support Line, leading a national team that provides technical assistance to community groups and service providers supporting ORR-eligible newcomers. Parker has helped launch and grow innovative initiatives at organizations like Integrated Refugee and Immigrant Services (IRIS) and Home for Refugees USA, equipping communities with the tools and partnerships needed to lead local resettlement efforts. He holds a Master’s in Justice & Advocacy from Fuller Seminary and an MBA from Northwest University.