Our Team

Kari Anderson Miller founded International Neighbors in 2015 with a mission to make Charlottesville a more welcoming place for refugee and SIV families. Drawing on more than 20 years of experience in local schools and her time serving with the Peace Corps in Thailand, Kari created a nonprofit rooted in radical neighborliness, one that celebrates diversity, fosters deep family-to-family connections, and transforms lives in small and large ways. Now celebrating ten years, International Neighbors is passionate about being the bridge between newcomers, community partners, and Charlottesvillians who want to make a meaningful difference.

Led by visionary CEO and Founder, supported by a small but mighty staff of five, and fueled by a vibrant group of volunteers and community partners, International Neighbors works toward the flourishing of all newcomers in Charlottesville.

A core element of our organization is the Great Neighbor Guide program, an initiative that matches one American family with one refugee or SIV family in a mutually beneficial relationship that lasts a minimum of six months. Our vision is that this offering of support and friendship between families changes the experience of social isolation and discrimination many refugees and SIVs face. Instead, we envision a one-to-one kinship that contributes to mutual flourishing, and improves our collective community.

International Neighbors believes that everyone can thrive if provided with the proper resources. We strive to foster integration, peace, respect, and love for all cultures and beliefs among the residents of our community.

We believe that ALL LIVES are valuable!

Specifically, we believe these values are important to our community:

International Neighbors values patience even when there are new and unfamiliar systems and processes to navigate and especially considering our newcomers' language and cultural barriers.

International Neighbors values proactivity even when things do not seem urgent and especially when deadlines are a factor.

International Neighbors values friendships even when people do not have a shared language and especially when they have a shared community.

International Neighbors values cross-cultural sensitivity even when we disagree and especially when we don't understand.

International Neighbors values equity even when some neighbors require varied levels of support and especially when other systems and society do not.

IN values mutuality even when people may have different backgrounds and especially when their experiences can enrich one another's lives.

International Neighbors values collaboration even when we could accomplish the task independently and especially when we gain new insights or possibilities through working together with others.

International Neighbors values advocacy even when explaining an issue takes extra work and especially when it affects the lives of our refugee neighbors.

International Neighbors values newcomer independence even when their resources are limited and especially when their independence offers more freedom of choice.

International Neighbors values autonomy even when we think we might have a better solution and especially when our newcomers have been connected and resourced.