Our Story
The Acculturation for Justice Access and Peace Outreach (AJAPO) is an organization which had its beginning in 2001 as a welcoming place for newly arriving refugees from Sudan, many of whom were men who had been separated from their families at a young age. St. Benedict the Moor Catholic Parish formed a coalition with other Catholic parishes in the South Hills and community leaders to help these men adjust to life in the United States to support their health, education, social integration, employment and more.
As the number of new arrivals grew, there was a clear need for staff that could be dedicated full-time to the growing and unique needs of the African and Afro-Caribbean refugees and immigrants.
As of 2006, AJAPO is a 501(c)3 non-profit and official refugee resettlement agency that helps men, women and children from all over the world establish themselves in Pittsburgh. Our mission is to provide a continuum of care that empowers refugees and immigrants to become self-sufficient and better integrated into our communities.