Welcome to the Switchboard Podcast! Switchboard is a one-stop resource hub for organizations in the United States that provide services to Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR)-eligible newcomers. Switchboard offers a library of learning resources, an online evidence database, on-demand self-paced e-learning courses, regular live learning opportunities, and customized technical assistance.
This episode features a conversation hosted by Milad Mozari, Assistant Professor of Multi-Disciplinary Design at the University of Utah and long-term partner of the International Rescue Committee in Salt Lake City, UT on innovative design for resettlement. He speaks with Shafi Ahmadi and Sahar Rahimi, both former refugees from Afghanistan. Shafi has been in the U.S. for almost three years and is the current Digital Inclusion Specialist at the International Rescue Committee’s Salt Lake City’s Education Program. Sahar is a newly arrived client with Catholic Community Services in Salt Lake City, UT. Both guests provide their personal stories from their own resettlement journeys and reflect on the role and use of technology. In this episode, Shafi and Sahar will discuss the specific technology they accessed and found helpful while traveling and during resettlement. They also discuss how their experiences have shaped digital inclusion services for other new arrivals in Salt Lake City, Utah.
This episode is part of a new series entitled “The Role of Technology in Resettlement” which will include standalone episodes highlighting key topics including digital inclusion, community navigation, and the use of emerging technology in resettlement. All episodes will interview experts to solicit insights and new practices from a variety of industries, backgrounds, and experiences.
