Joint Development Associates (JDA) is a Grand Junction-based non-profit focused on humanitarian and community development outreach in Central Asia. Since 2001 JDA has employed Afghans in various provinces in Afghanistan. But after the coalition forces left Afghanistan in August 2021 and the Taliban returned to power, these people went into hiding as their lives were in grave danger. JDA successfully evacuated 568 individuals (former staff members and their families) in October 2021, with the intention of resettling at least seven of these families in the Grand Valley and additional ones residing in the Denver area. After two years, our goal is for each family to be independent and reach social and economic stability.

When Christ teaches us to love our “neighbors,” it sometimes involves crossing over racial, religious, ethnic and political differences. We have a unique opportunity to do just that by welcoming one of the Afghan refugee families brought to the Grand Valley through the efforts of Joint Development Associates International - a local nonprofit that worked in Afghanistan for years.