Student Led Group Supported Jacksonville Refugees
Austin Koziarski helped coordinate a network of volunteers to provide educational and material aid for local refugee families.
Updated on Sept. 29, 2026 in Civic Engagement
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As of August 2026, student leader Austin Koziarski served as co-president of JaxTHRIVE, a Jacksonville-based organization supporting refugee families. The group manages a network of over 200 student volunteers from 18 local high schools.
Why it matters
By organizing high school students to provide consistent tutoring and essential supplies, the group addresses the integration needs of newly settled refugee families. These efforts aim to bridge resource gaps through structured educational and community programming.
The organization manages 200 volunteers across 18 high schools and conducts Super Saturday tutoring sessions twice each month. The program also facilitates collection drives for school supplies and holiday baskets.
The players
Austin Koziarski
He is a student leader who served as the co-president of the volunteer organization JaxTHRIVE.
JaxTHRIVE
This is a Jacksonville-based volunteer group that supports the needs of local refugee families through education and donations.
VyStar Credit Union
It is a Florida-based financial institution that partnered with the organization to host a financial literacy event.
The details
Co-president Austin Koziarski modernized the organization by rebuilding the website and streamlining the volunteer training process. Beyond tutoring, the group partnered with VyStar Credit Union to host a financial literacy Reality Fair for participants.
Timeline
August 2026: Austin Koziarski served as co-president of the organization.
Political Context
Critics of private-led resettlement support often argue that such reliance on volunteerism can mask gaps in state-funded integration services. Some policymakers maintain that federal agencies should provide comprehensive support rather than delegating responsibilities to local non-profit initiatives.
Residents can get involved in the organization by volunteering through their local high school or donating supplies to support refugee families. These programs provide direct assistance to the community while offering students practical experience in nonprofit management.
The takeaway
Empowering youth to lead community service initiatives can significantly increase the capacity of local social safety nets. Students seeking to make a difference should look for opportunities to modernize operational systems within established charitable organizations.
Further reading
Learn more about local grassroots efforts at Civic Engagement.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Times of India.
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