The Refugee Development Center was started in 2002 by Christ Lutheran Church, in an effort to help provide the educational and social support refugees need to become self sufficient.
Since then, the Refugee Development Center has grown from a handful of volunteers to approximately 350 annually. Our ESL courses alone will offer 200-225 seats this year, thus placing us as one of the largest ESL providers in the city. Over 200 students are currently enrolled in our youth programs, and our driving simulator is the only one of its kind readily available to newcomers in the mid-Michigan area.
By providing formal and informal learning opportunities, the center aims to be an open and inclusive place for refugees to learn and locate the resources they need to flourish as residents and citizens.
Currently, some of the services the RDC provides include:
- English as a Second Language (ESL) classes
- After-school tutoring
- Youth group activities promoting literacy, leadership, and learning
- A state-of-the art driving simulator
- Computer lab with high-speed internet
- Life skills training
- Assistance and crisis-intervention on a drop-in basis
- More than 350 annual volunteers trained to tutor, mentor and connect with refugees
- Staff prepared to help the larger Lansing community understand refugee issues
