Seattle Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs

OIRA is excited to share a new funding opportunity meant to increase pathways for ESOL education!

For immigrants arriving in the United States, learning English is a huge step toward building a new life and contributing to the economic and cultural vitality of our communities. English proficiency brings economic opportunity, social integration, access to essential services, and personal confidence. In addition to learning grammar and vocabulary, English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) education provides a comprehensive support system designed to help English Language Learners (ELL) navigate their new environment and achieve their full potential.

The City of Seattle Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs (OIRA) is seeking proposals to provide English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) classes (Level 1 - Level 3) classes with accompanying digital literacy curriculum to low-income English Language Learners (ELL). Awarded organizations will provide services to low-income adults who live, work, attend school, or own a business in Seattle.

OIRA intends to award a total of $485,000 for 12-month contract periods in this RFP, and the submission deadline is Wednesday, June 24, 2026 at 5:00pm.

Learn more about OIRA’s new funding opportunities and apply at the link in our bio!

The City of Seattle is planning a citywide series of community activations and celebration events leading up to and during the FIFA World Cup 2026, bringing the excitement and spirit of the games to neighborhoods across Seattle and creating free and low-cost opportunities for communities throughout the city to join in the celebration.

As one of 16 host cities across North America, Seattle will welcome visitors from around the world in summer 2026. Multiple City departments are partnering to create inclusive, family-friendly, and community-centered opportunities for residents to celebrate soccer, culture, and civic pride throughout the tournament.

The City’s activation efforts are being led in partnership by Office of Arts & Culture Seattle, Seattle Parks and Recreation, and Seattle Department of Neighborhoods.

Community Events Bring the Spirit of FIFA World Cup 2026 to Neighborhoods Across Seattle - Art Beat Over 80 arts and culture events across the city this summer SEATTLE, WA (May 26, 2026) – The City of Seattle is planning a citywide series of community activations and celebration events leading up to and during the FIFA World Cup 2026, bringing the excitement and spirit of the games to neighborho...

OIRA is excited to announce a new funding opportunity meant to increase pathways for ESOL education!

For immigrants arriving in the United States, learning English is a huge step toward building a new life and contributing to the economic and cultural vitality of our communities. English proficiency brings economic opportunity, social integration, access to essential services, and personal confidence. In addition to learning grammar and vocabulary, English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) education provides a comprehensive support system designed to help English Language Learners (ELL) navigate their new environment and achieve their full potential.

The City of Seattle Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs (OIRA) is seeking proposals to provide English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) classes (Level 1 - Level 3) classes with accompanying digital literacy curriculum to low-income English Language Learners (ELL). Awarded organizations will provide services to low-income adults who live, work, attend school, or own a business in Seattle.

OIRA intends to award a total of $485,000 for 12-month contract periods in this RFP, and the submission deadline is Wednesday, June 24, 2026 at 5:00pm.

Learn more and apply for the ESOL RFP here:

OIRA launches new funding for organizations supporting English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) classes - Welcoming Seattle In 2026, the Seattle City Council adopted a $4 million ongoing addition to the budget of the Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs (OIRA) to strengthen critical services for Seattle’s immigrant and refugee communities. This funding comes in recognition of the recent federal funding loss for ESOL...

The Office of Mayor Katie B. Wilson (MO), the Seattle Police Department (SPD), and the Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs (OIRA) invite you to a virtual community briefing on public safety and the FIFA World Cup with a focus on immigrant communities.

There will be two identical 1.5-hour virtual briefings on Thursday, May 21 at 1PM and Wednesday, May 27 at 6PM.

These briefings will feature speakers from the MO, SPD and OIRA, and will cover:

- SPD’s Role during the tournament, protest protocols, venue, neighborhood and public space security measures
- The Federal role in international sporting events like FIFA World Cup
- What the City can and cannot do on Federal Enforcement
- Language access navigation during the tournament

For the May 21st briefing, please register here: https://forms.office.com/g/qzCbtQBNQN

Our small grants opportunity is open to apply to! OIRA is seeking to enter into one-time contracts with community groups and organizations to provide community aid for basic needs, Know Your Rights (KYR) presentations/community information sessions, family safety planning; offering resources, education, and tools to empower communities in Seattle. Learn more and apply at the the link below, which also features a regularly updated FAQ about the program!

OIRA announces innovative new funding opportunity for small community grants as part of new $4 million investment - Welcoming Seattle You can download an editable version of the RFP application here: You can access the slideshow presentation from the April 14 information sessions here: OIRA is tracking all questions submitted to us about this RFP. This is the current list of questions and answers related to the 2026 Rapid Response...

The City of Seattle Mayor Katie B. Wilson's Office (MO), the Seattle Police Department (SPD), and the Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs (OIRA) invite you to a virtual community briefing on public safety and the FIFA World Cup with a focus on immigrant communities.

There will be two identical 1.5-hour virtual briefings on Thursday, May 21 at1PM and Wednesday, May 27 at 6PM. Please register for one depending on your availability. These briefings will feature speakers from the MO, SPD and OIRA, and will cover:

- SPD’s Role during the tournament, protest protocols, venue, neighborhood and public space security measures

- The Federal role in international sporting events like FIFA World Cup

- What the City can and cannot do on Federal Enforcement

- Language access navigation during the tournament

For the May 21st briefing, please register here: https://forms.office.com/g/qzCbtQBNQN

For the May 27th briefing, please register here: https://forms.office.com/g/iXKg8tCDct

It's the last few days to sign up for our Know Your Rights training for business owners and employers with Seattle Office of Economic Development and Seattle Office of Labor Standards!

The Seattle Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs, Seattle Office of Economic Development and Seattle Office of Labor Standards are hosting a virtual Know Your Rights Training for business owners and employers on Thursday, May 14, 2026, from 1pm to 3pm.

This training is designed to inform business owners and employers about how to ensure compliance with existing immigration regulations and how to protect your workplace. Immigration attorney, Adam Boyd from Gibbs Houston Pauw, will be joining as the main presenter.

An RSVP is required to attend this training. Please register here by May 7th: https://forms.office.com/g/T30a135H4S

Dear community,

The Seattle Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs, Seattle Office of Labor Standards, Seattle Domestic Workers Standards Board, and Seattle Labor Standards Advisory Commission are hosting a virtual Know Your Rights Training for workers on Monday, June 1, 2026, from 6pm to 8pm.

This training is designed to inform workers about how to ensure compliance with existing immigration and labor regulations and how to protect themselves in the workplace. We will have an immigration attorney, Adam Boyd from Gibbs Houston Pauw, as the main presenter while Seattle Office of Labor Standards will present about local labor laws.

A Q&A session will follow the presentation to address any questions or concerns. Please note that the training will be conducted in English but can provide interpretation and translation.

An RSVP is required to attend this training. Please register here by May 25th: https://forms.office.com/g/p32ZchsPie

The Seattle/King County Clinic is in full effect, Director Cuc Vu visited Clinic leadership Julia Colson and Olivia Sarriugarte (and a furry friend!) to witness this amazing communal effort to provide free healthcare in Seattle. The clinic is ongoing from April 23-April 26.

Available services include dental fillings and extractions, eye exams and prescription eyeglasses, primary care, behavioral health, immunizations, diagnostic services such as lab tests, mammograms, ultrasounds, and X-rays, as well as social work, and more.
Individuals who plan to attend the Clinic need to know:

• Patients are treated on a first-come, first-served basis. No advance registration or appointments are available.
• Fisher Pavilion at Seattle Center (200 Thomas Street) serves as the ticket distribution area. Free admission tickets are handed out beginning at 5:30 a.m. each day. Tickets are limited.
• Patients do not need to show documentation of any kind to receive care.
• Patients do not need to be residents of Seattle or King County to receive care.
• All onsite services are provided free of charge.
• Interpretation is available.
• Patients cannot receive both dental and vision care on the same day but may return on another day to get a ticket and pursue additional services.
• For more information, visit seattlecenter.org/patients

Patients come from all walks of life, ranging from families, seniors, and veterans, to immigrants, refugees, LGBTQ+ individuals, and low-income community members. To be as low barrier as possible, services are offered on a first-come first-served basis, and interpreters are available to support culturally responsive care for all patients.