Our Founding Story & History
Jamie co-founded InReach (fka AsylumConnect) during his senior year at the University of Pennsylvania. At Penn, a classmate shared his personal experience struggling to find safe resources during the U.S. asylum process despite access to technology. As a trans man who grew up in a conservative environment, the feeling of not being able to live authentically and lacking easily accessible information on how to find affirming support deeply resonated with Jamie. So, during their senior year, the two friends co-founded AsylumConnect, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization started as the world’s first technology platform for LGBTQ+ asylum seekers, to fill the critical resource information gap facing the diverse LGBTQ+ community. The organization is founded on the belief that every LGBTQ+ person deserves the safety and freedom to live authentically.
In May 2022, AsylumConnect officially became InReach. Since launching its app in 2016, the organization has seen the platform be used by a wide variety of LGBTQ+ people, in addition to those seeking asylum. The organization rebranded to InReach to better communicate and reflect the value of its free technology to a diverse LGBTQ+ user base.
Today, InReach has verified services for LGBTQ+ asylum seekers, refugees and other immigrants, LGBTQ+ BIPOC communities, the transgender and gender nonconforming (TGNC) community, LGBTQ+ youth and their caregivers, and more LGBTQ+ communities.
SAFE HELP IS ALWAYS
InReach.
InReach is the world’s first tech platform matching LGBTQ+ people facing persecution or discrimination with safe, verified resources.
“As someone who has had the privilege of hearing numerous success stories over the years and who used the free InReach App to locate trusted trans affirming legal, medical, and mental health services during my own transition, I have such high hopes for this organization’s future.”
