USCRI is excited to welcome Felicity Rodriguez as our new Youth Empowerment Case Aide in Vermont. “I primarily with the Ready4Life Program here at USCRI Vermont. Although this is my focus, I also help around the USCRI office when needed, which has given me the opportunity to learn more about different programs, the day-to-day duties […]
Category: USCRI Vermont
Staff Profile: Gracia L. Koyahango
USCRI is excited to welcome Gracia L. Koyahango as our new Case Aide for USCRI Vermont! “My main role as Case Aide is to help new arrivals in Vermont adapt to their new communities. I really enjoy this job. Working with USCRI Vermont is a wish come true! I appreciate and enjoy the chance to […]
Staff Profile: Viktoriia Lutsenko
USCRI is excited to welcome Viktoriia Lutsenko as our new USCRI Vermont’s newest Job Developer and Case Manager “I work with our growing number of Ukrainian clients, helping them during their transition to a new life here in Vermont. USCRI Vermont is a very unique place. Our office in Colchester is a melting pot of different […]
Staff Profile: Dennis Kaduru
USCRI is excited to welcome Dennis Kaduru as our new Youth Case Manager at USCRI Vermont’s Pathways to Higher Education for Youth program. “My role involves guiding and mentoring our clients as they navigate their path toward higher education and career exploration. Even though I am new to this position, I have already found the […]
Testimony to The Vermont State House Committee on Commerce and Economic Development
On Wednesday, January 25, 2023, USCRI Vermont Field Office Director Amila Merdzanovic and Afghan Resettlement Case Manager Sayed Khalilullah Anwari provided testimony to members of the Vermont State House Committee on Commerce and Economic Development on the status and trends of refugee resettlement in Vermont as well as specific challenges and a few notable successes […]
Staff Profile: Julianne DeGuardi
USCRI is excited to welcome Julianne DeGuardi as our new READY4Lify Program Coordinator at USCRI Vermont. “My favorite part of the job so far has been working directly with and learning from clients, as well as collaborating with and learning from all of the staff members at USCRI. As I continue implementing the READY4Life program, […]
Staff Profile: Ali Mahdi
USCRI is excited to introduce Ali Mahdi, who has been a Case Aide at USCRI Vermont since February 2022. “I provide help wherever the office needs me, including working events, client transportation, and most importantly helping with client meetings. Every day at USCRI Vermont is an exciting new challenge and I do my best to […]
USCRI Vermont Resettlement Story: Ode Mbilizi
Hello, my name is Ode Mbilizi and in June 2022 I fulfilled my dream of becoming a U.S. citizen! In 2015, my wife Tawusi Turinabitu, our 7 children, and I came to Vermont from the Democratic Republic of Congo. Before arriving in the U.S., I was a refugee in one of the Congolese refugee camps […]
Meet USCRI Vermont’s new Coordinator of Interpretation and Translation Services Sonali Samarasinghe
USCRI Vermont would like to welcome Sonali Samarasinghe as our new Coordinator of Interpretation and Translation Services. Sonali is an award-winning journalist, human rights activist, lawyer, and former diplomat. A native of Sri Lanka, Sonali practiced law there for many years and worked as a journalist focusing on human rights, including government corruption and women’s […]
Welcome to USCRI Vermont
Hello, my name is Casey Reese. I am excited to join the USCRI Vermont team as the new Employment Counselor / Job Developer. Originally from Massachusetts, I attended Salem State University where I received my undergraduate degree in Psychology and minor in Social Work. Following graduation, I spent time working in the field of Applied […]


















































