The Tahirih Justice Center has served over 34,000 immigrant survivors fleeing gender-based violence since 1997. Across our five locations, our dedicated staff members provide holistic trauma-informed services to immigrant survivors and their families through legal representation and social services, policy advocacy, and community outreach and training. Tahirih staff exhibit a high level of cultural humility, speak multiple languages, and, above all, are committed to creating a world without violence.
Meet our Communications Coordinator/Writer, Meredith Kiryakov.
“I like to think of my job as part-interpreter and part-storyteller. I try to translate the complex legal and policy work Tahirih does into language that non-attorneys (like me!) will understand and amplify the stories and lived experiences of the immigrant survivors we serve in a way that centers their dignity and inspires change.”
Please tell us a little bit about yourself and what made you want to work at Tahirih?
I was born and raised in the Washington, DC area. I’ve always been interested in policy and human rights, and I studied international development in grad school. For me, Tahirih’s mission is a natural extension of my passion for international human rights work. Immigrant women, girls, and all survivors of gender-based violence have the right to live in safety and with dignity and to seek safety in the United States when they experience persecution in their home countries.
What do you do at Tahirih?
I’m the Communications Coordinator/Writer, which means I have the pleasure of working with many different teams and staff members at Tahirih to create different content sharing about their work. I like to think of my job as part-interpreter and part-storyteller. I try to translate the complex legal and policy work Tahirih does into language that non-attorneys (like me!) will understand and amplify the stories and lived experiences of the immigrant survivors we serve in a way that centers their dignity and inspires change.
What about your work at Tahirih do you find most inspiring?
I am always inspired by the incredible colleagues I work with at Tahirih. Everyone I’ve worked with here is so knowledgeable and dedicated to doing the best possible work to serve our clients and change the narrative around immigrants to center their humanity.
What about your work at Tahirih do you find most challenging?
Our work can be very complicated and difficult to understand for people who aren’t steeped in immigration law and policy and gender-based violence work. Communicating about our work in a way that conveys what’s really happening and what’s important for everyone to understand is both challenging and what keeps my work interesting!
How do you see Tahirih making a difference?
At the individual level, I see how Tahirih’s support enables our clients and their families to access new opportunities, justice, and safety. For a client who’s been waiting years in a backlog, accessing a work permit can be transformative. And the work of our Forced Marriage Initiative has made an incredible difference, changing the law in twelve states to end child marriage in the U.S.
What is the most important lesson you’ve learned during your time in this role at Tahirih?
That’s a tough question, I’ve learned so many things during my time at Tahirih. One lesson I’ve really valued at Tahirih is how to be survivor-centered in all our communications and language. As a writer, I really appreciate how thoughtful Tahirih is about how we describe and share stories about our clients and all immigrant survivors. It’s an ongoing learning process.
Outside of work, what is your favorite thing to spend your time on?
I’m a mom of three amazing little girls so I love spending time with my kids, baking treats, and reading.
