Pittsburgh: The City Afghan Evacuees Are Now Calling Home
In the year following the fall of Kabul to the Taliban, Pittsburgh has welcomed more than 700 Afghan evacuees. The non-profit Jewish Family and Community Services has helped many of them get settled in their new homes, but they’re still facing issues within the U.S. immigration system. City Cast’s Morgan Moody speaks with Ivonne Smith-Tapia, the Director of Refugee and Immigrant Services at JFCS, and Zubair Babakarkhail, an Afghan journalist and interpreter, about where things stand one year out from the evacuation.
Zubair wrote about his new life in Pittsburgh for Postindustrial. You can learn more about JFSC’s work, and how to support Afghan evacuees here.
- NOW HIRING: If you’re looking for a full-time, temporary audio job, then we’ve got the project for you. Apply to work with the City Cast team here: https://citycast.fm/audio-producer-city-cast-pittsburgh-temporary/
- VOTE FOR US: City Cast Pittsburgh is among the finalists for City Paper’s annual “Best of Pittsburgh” contest. Scroll down to Best Podcast and smash that vote button here: https://bit.ly/voteforCCP
Our newsletter is fresh daily at 6 a.m. Sign up here. We’re also on Twitter @citycastpgh & Instagram @CityCastPgh!
Subscribe To Our Newsletter

Stay connected to City Cast Pittsburgh and get ready to join the local conversation.
Latest Episodes
Sara Innamorato on Paid Leave, Term Limits, and a Fancy New Hotel
Allegheny County could become the first in the U.S. to require 18 weeks of paid parental leave for all employees. County Executive Sara I...

What's On Your Primary Ballot?
It's primary election day! Local voters are being asked to weigh in on one ballot measure: If Pittsburgh loses its print newspapers, shou...

Pittsburgh's Dangerous Drop in Vaccination Rates
Measles is on the rise across the U.S., and experts say outbreaks aren't hypothetical anymore. At least 40,000 PA students are missing re...

'Your City Could Be Better': Do DC’s Hated Traffic Cameras Really Make the City Safer? — Presented By City Cast Pittsburgh
Would Pittsburgh be safer if there were more automated traffic cameras? In 2025, Washington, DC, brought in nearly $270 million from more...

Tattoo Regulations, Steelers in Paris & Debating the Essence of Sheetz
Allegheny County Council is taking steps to oust Pat Catena as the group's president, after his campaign sent out a mailer claiming his o...

Can Pittsburgh Fix Its Budget Problems?
City Controller Rachael Heisler has been sounding the alarm on Pittsburgh's budget for actual years, and her latest report shows the city...

Mid-Century Sleepover, Tiki Cruise & More Pittsburgh Milestone Birthday Ideas
Got a big birthday coming up? Sure, you could make a fancy dinner reservation, but there are so many more exciting ways to celebrate. The...

What To Eat (and Avoid) at PNC Park
Let's be honest, the Pirates aren't always the main draw at PNC Park. Many of us go for the views, the pierogi race, and inventive ballpa...

7 Ideas To Make Voting Better in PA
Our primary election is just around the corner on May 19, so it feels like a good time to take stock of how well our voting process actua...

'Your City Could Be Better': Philly's Bold Nightlife Experiment — Presented By City Cast Pittsburgh
Pittsburghers, would your city be better if the bars stayed open later? This summer, Philadelphia is anticipating a record-breaking numbe...


