Seeing the bigger picture in refugee support

My name is Alec Stamm, and I am currently a law student. I have had many internship experiences in the past, but none have connected my understanding of immigration and refugees more than my most recent internship. 

During my previous internship in New York, I had the chance to work directly with immigrant youth, helping them navigate their immigration cases. I was very much on the ground level, conducting interviews, gathering documents, and submitting information to the court. My role was all about immediate, direct support for the young people who needed it most. 

When I began my internship with Refugee Empowerment International (REI), I quickly realized how much happens behind the scenes to make direct support possible. At REI, I worked on fundraising and communications, areas that initially felt removed from the legal work I was used to. But I soon came to see how essential this work really is.  

REI funds refugee-led projects that not only respond to displacement but also work to prevent it from happening in the first place. Programs like the Addiction Prevention Program and the Maternal Health Awareness Project promote independence, expand access to healthcare, and strengthen community resilience. These initiatives help people stay connected to their homes and avoid being uprooted by crisis. What stood out most to me is that these solutions aren’t created for refugees—they’re created by them. That shift helped me realize that fundraising isn’t just about keeping projects afloat; it’s about investing in long-term stability, dignity, and self-determination. 

Both of these experiences have shaped my perspective on refugee and immigrant support, showing me that it’s not just the immediate, direct services that matter, but also the broader systems that enable those services to happen. Understanding the bigger picture has only deepened my commitment to helping displaced people, whether through direct advocacy or by ensuring the financial stability of the organizations that serve them.