While national headlines focus on shifting borders and low refugee admission rates, the work of Every Campus a Refuge (ECAR) has moved from the political stage to the local classroom. 

On the edge of Guilford’s campus at the New Garden Friends Meeting, ECAR—in partnership with the New Arrivals Institute—hosts daily tutoring sessions for local refugee students, where they receive homework help, English-language support and a chance to build friendships. The program was founded in Sept. 2025 by ECAR program coordinator Rhiannon Kelly to continue ECAR’s work, despite the slowdown in new refugee arrivals under the second Trump administration. 

Since its launch in September, the tutoring program has undergone many changes, although its core mission of being an educational outlet remains the same. 

“It has evolved in beautiful ways,” Kelly said. “We have seen great improvements in the students and their English language learning, and their ability to navigate through their classes and homework.”

In addition to these improvements, ECAR has also worked to build meaningful relationships between students, volunteers and families. This has been achieved largely through monthly gatherings hosted at The Avenue apartment complex, where most of the students reside, that introduce volunteers to students beyond those they work with daily and connect parents with the tutors. 

“Parents of the kids who come are so appreciative that this opportunity exists because we’re able to provide something for the kids their parents aren’t always able to,” said Rhiannon. “It has been wonderful to see the community that’s been created.” 

To further strengthen these community bonds, ECAR recently hosted a spring break camp, with over 20 registered students. Activities include a theater program hosted by the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, outdoor soccer games with the Guilford College soccer team, and a tour of the Underground Railroad Trail in the Guilford Woods with Friends Center director Max Carter. 

Both Kelly and long-time volunteer Sarah Wright agreed that the week’s activities were very well received. 

“[The] students really liked the spring break camp, and especially the theater event and the soccer team’s visit,” said Wright. “It was nice to see students get to work with other volunteers, since the same students and volunteers tend to migrate towards each other in tutoring.” 

ECAR’s tutoring program has undoubtedly been successful in “meeting the moment” for students in the community—a mission the broader organization continues to champion in its 20-plus chapters across the country. 

Despite most resettlement agencies losing funding due to shifts in federal immigration policies, many ECAR chapters have assembled volunteers to provide transportation, cultural orientation classes to assist with finding jobs, and housing services to refugee families in need. 

These efforts have also been taking place at Guilford’s chapter, which recently partnered with the local resettlement agency Church World Service to house a new family on campus who has struggled with housing security since immigrating to the United States. 

This work exemplifies ECAR’s larger means of operating, which Kelly says comes from a foundation of hope. 

“We are hopeful that things will change politically for the better,” Kelly said. “But I have adopted the motto that welcome is a practice, not a policy, and we at ECAR can continue to practice the work of welcome through our initiatives on campus, through after-school tutoring and just in the community in general.” 

The organization plans to simply keep moving forward despite these setbacks, continuing to “meet the moment” however it may look. 

However, stronger volunteer efforts are needed for the program’s continued success. 

“As our volunteer base grew over the year, so did the effectiveness of our tutoring,” said Wright. “More volunteers are always needed to keep up with the demands of our students.” 

Guilford students can help ECAR “meet the moment” by volunteering right in their own backyard. Student volunteers are welcome to the tutoring sessions. They take place Monday through Thursday, 2:30-4:30 p.m., at New Garden Friends Meeting.

For more information about volunteering or ECAR’s work, students can contact Kelly at [email protected] or visit the ECAR website.