Georgia Asylum & Immigration Network (GAIN)

A primary focus of expansion for GAIN has been to enhance our case management services to better support the communities we serve, adopting a more holistic approach that complements our legal services. With the recent addition of Sally Sanko as Director of Client Care and the expansion of her team—Case Managers, Mariana Cruz and Chris Bunting—we are thrilled to announce the launch of our comprehensive case management program, effective August 1. Under Sally’s leadership, we can help clients beyond the complexities of the immigration system and open up a path to self-sufficiency, broadening the continuity of care for immigrant survivors as they establish their new lives here in Georgia. Learn more about GAIN’s Client Care Team and the trauma-informed principles guiding this work on our website: https://bit.ly/3WV40pg #GAIN #ClientCare #Expansion #AtlantaNonprofit #LegalServices #CaseManagement

GAIN is deeply grateful to the Georgia Bar Foundation for their continued grant support of our Asylum program during this critical time. This latest funding will enable us to launch our mandamus project, ensuring accountability and resolution for our clients who often wait years, sometimes decades, to learn if they will receive safe and secure immigration status. Thank you, Georgia Bar Foundation for helping GAIN to make a lasting impact! #MakingaDifference #BeingtheChange #GeorgiaBar #GAIN #LegalServices #AtlantaNonprofit #accesstojustice #socialimpact

We are excited to share our 2023 Impact Report with you—hot off the press! Read it today at https://lnkd.in/eaXACt7u Last year was amazing for GAIN—serving clients from over 68 countries, hosting 9 legal clinics, and participating in 60 trainings, workshops, and outreach events. Our successes are truly impressive. We represented clients in 26 immigration interviews and court hearings, filed 179 applications for employment authorization, and maintained a 94% approval rating for decisions in 2023. We also helped reunify 13 families who were stuck in legal limbo for years and secured asylum status for 48 people. These victories are monumental for both GAIN and our clients! None of this would be possible without your support—whether through volunteering, donations, or simply believing in the importance of our work. Together, we’re building a stronger, healthier, and more compassionate community. Thank you for trusting us to make a difference. #ImpactReport #2023Impact #AnnualReport #GAIN #LegalServices #AtlantaNonprofit

We’re excited to share some great news from GAIN! Our very own Executive Director, Alpa Amin was recently appointed as a new member of the American Bar Association’s Commission on Domestic & Sexual Violence. The Commission’s mission is to increase access to justice for victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking by mobilizing the legal profession. Congratulations, Alpa! We’re excited to see you bring your knowledge, experience, and expertise to this role. Thank you for always representing GAIN so well! #AccesstoJustice #DomesticViolenceAwareness #Leadership

Earlier this year, GAIN became a part of an asylum support group organized by the Atlanta Mayor’s Office of International and Immigrant Affairs, and we were fortunate to have been introduced to over one hundred Senegalese nationals who came to Georgia seeking refuge from targeted political and gender-based persecution. In response, GAIN hosted two legal orientation workshops for Senegalese nationals, taking time to speak with members of this group and tailoring our presentations to address their most pressing concerns. Through a collaboration with the Senegalese Community for Aid and Self-Development (SENCAD) and the Georgia Human Rights Clinic (GHRC) at Rollins School of Public Health at Emory University, newly arrived asylum-seekers left our workshops equipped with knowledge about their legal cases, information on adjusting to life in the United States, and appointments for critical medical care. We are grateful to work with SENCAD to help Senegalese asylum-seekers with legal support and share lessons and best practices across both organizations! Learn more about this partnership on our website: https://bit.ly/3yzCww0

Georgia Asylum & Immigration Network (GAIN) is pleased to announce the appointment of four new members to our Board of Directors: Logan Kirkes, Associate, Jones Day Eduardo Martinez Jr., Associate General Counsel, UPS Nikita T., Director SCM Supplier Management and Strategic Services, Southern Company Michael Turton, Partner, Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton LLP These distinguished leaders from the legal and corporate sectors bring decades of experience and a strong commitment to our board. We look forward to benefiting from their guidance and support as we continue to advance our mission and growth. Please join us in welcoming Logan, Eduardo, Nikita, and Michael to the GAIN Board of Directors and learn more about them on our website: https://bit.ly/3M1Uevg

“‘Seeking asylum is not a lifestyle choice. It is an act of desperation,’ writes Dr. Simon Adams, Center for Victims of Torture president and CEO, in the StarTribune,” shared GAIN’s Director of Legal Services, Adriana Heffley. “He comments on the experiences of asylum seekers coming to the border, noting, ‘The situation at the southern border is a humanitarian catastrophe. Fixing it will require a total overhaul of an immigration and asylum system that all sides of U.S. politics recognize is hopelessly outdated, underfunded and unfit for use.’ “It was a pleasure meeting Dr. Adams at the Center for Victim's of Torture's recent event, ‘The Colors of Courage: Celebrating Survivors’ Resilience and Creativity.’ I urge everyone to read this op-ed and consider his words and those of the people that organizations like CVT and GAIN serve.” Read the full piece from Dr. Adams at: https://bit.ly/3VTM38Q

We are thrilled to welcome our new Director of Development, Yovonda Malbrough, to our growing team. Vonda brings more than two decades of leadership and development experience across nonprofit, municipality, civic, and higher education sectors. Her appointments at the City of Atlanta, Emory University, North Fulton Community Charities, and the Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta showcase her exceptional abilities and our confidence in her to lead and exceed our development goals and to fulfill our mission. As Director of Development, Vonda will oversee grant solicitation and management, including major gifts, donor relations, and special projects. Her broad base of nonprofit administrative experience includes long-range strategic planning, giving and fund development, grant administration, and stewardship. She also has a background in directing large-scale projects on time and on budget. Known by her colleagues and network as a gentle but highly effective leader, she has a talent for connecting individuals, offering diverse perspectives, and guiding teams towards a unified mission. Please join us in welcoming Vonda to the GAIN family! via Our Fundraising Search #GAIN #DirectorofDevelopment #AtlantaNonprofit

Today is World Day Against Trafficking in Persons. Human trafficking is an issue across the globe, including in the state of Georgia. Immigrant communities are often vulnerable to traffickers, who use force, fraud, or coercion to control their victims for the purpose of engaging in labor or commercial sex acts against their will. Through our Victims of Violence program, GAIN serves immigrant survivors of human trafficking year-round. We support our clients every step of the way—through the provision of free legal services and trauma-informed case management—across their journeys to rebuild their lives. #EndTrafficking #WorldDayAgainstHumanTrafficking #WorldDayAgainstTraffickingPersons #July30

Uplifting this important work from our partner, Dr. Amy Zeidan of Emory University and the Georgia Human Rights Clinic, as our team discusses the state of the current service landscape for ICE detainees in Georgia. Dr. Zeidan and colleagues recently published: “A call for increased transparency and accountability of health care outcomes in US Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention centers.” From the summary: “Concerns over health care in US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facilities have grown over the past decade, including reports of medical mismanagement, inadequate mental health care, and inappropriate use of solitary confinement. Despite being a federally funded agency, reporting and accountability of health outcomes in ICE facilities is limited. This manuscript outlines current standards for health in ICE detention, how compliance is evaluated, why this process fails, and how current processes can be improved to achieve transparency and accountability.” Read this article at: https://bit.ly/3LGCfKR