When Ekhlas Ahmed was growing up in Darfur, Sudan, it wasn’t a violent, war-torn country or the site of a horrific genocide. For Ahmed, at least, it was a happy home. She spent most of her time with her parents and her three brothers or in school. Read more about Ekhlas here: http://www.glamour.com/story/world-refugee-day-ekhlas-ahmed-telling-her-story
Honorary Texas delegates Hadidja and Jean-Claude participated in a first of its kind Refugee Advocacy Day at the Texas state capitol. The day included visits with legislators. See this related article for more information: http://www.twcnews.com/tx/austin/news/2017/05/11/first-ever-refugee-advocacy-day-calls-on-legislators-for-compassion-.html
Wilmot Collins, delegate from Montana, shared his refugee experience at TEDxHelena. His story is unique but echoes the resilience and strength of all refugees.
Nevada delegate, Biar Atem conducted an interview with local television program, Hello Mayor!, which was completing a story on the work of Catholic Charities providing much-needed resources and aid to newly-integrating refugees. In this interview Biar shares his story of growing up one of the “Lost Boys” of Sudan and his process of transition into life in the US. See […]
As part of the World Refugee Day celebrations, the Refugee Congress LGBTQI Caucus hosted a forum in the Russell Senate Building. Joined by other members of the refugee community as well as representatives from International Rescue Committee, International Refugee Assistance Project, the Office of Refugee Resettlement, UNHCR and the State Department, this event provided the space for the LGBTQI and […]
Delegate Som Nath Subedi helped organized a ceremony on February 2nd that brought refugee leaders from diverse communities, including a Syrian family, to the State Capitol to honor Governor Kate Brown and their state legislative assembly delegates for Oregon’s compassionate embrace of refugee families and communities. Refugees representing Oregon’s 50 years of kindness shared their stories from home, refugee camps […]
June 20th was both the 222nd General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church and World Refugee Day, where at a joint presentation our Delegate Som Nath Subedi got an opportunity to humanize politicized discussions of the US Resettlement Program. He shared parts of his trials as a refugee making his way to the US from Bhutan, and then the paradoxes of […]
Arriving on the heels of his discussion with the Governor Tom Wolf of PA who came out in support of refugee resettlement, Joseph, upon invitation from the Philadelphia Mayor’s Commission on Immigrant and Refugees, participated in the annual Refugee Day Festivity in PA. In an event of over 300 people, Joseph printed and distributed flyers to over 100 participants. Joseph […]
Although Pride-attendees have been critiqued in recent years for coopting the LGBTQI space for “partying,” delegate Ali Bushara has reclaimed its original, grassroots history. In both the DC Black and Capital Prides, Ali worked to bring awareness in both the LGBTQI and ally community in DC about the issues facing the international LGBTQI community based on refugees’ and asylum-seekers’ experiences […]
Delegates Lourena Gboeah from Delaware Tika Archarya from New Hampshire attended a dinner with Congressional Representatives hosted in Washington D.C. Lourena also shared an article written by Governor Jack Markell of Delaware. Find it here: Why my state won’t turn refugees away
Delegate Basma Alawee was featured in a local newspaper story in response to campaign rhetoric against Muslim immigrants. Frank Denton: The other side of the refugee issue Basma also organized a holiday party and New Year’s celebration for refugee students at a Jacksonville high school. Basma used this as an opportunity to talk to the students about the issues they […]
Fidel Nshombo told the story of his journey to becoming a resettled refugee in the U.S. to the Elite Daily, an online news platform targeted to millenials. You can read the November 26th, 2015 article here: Here’s How Easy It Is For A Refugee To Get Into America Fidel also spoke at a rally in Boise. See attached photo and […]
To celebrate International Migration Day on December 18th, Delegate Martin Nydayisenga organized a trip for 11 refugee leaders from Albuquerque to the State Capital, Santa Fe. Refugee leaders met with representatives from the Mayor of Albuquerque’s Office, ORR State Coordinator, and Governor Susana Martinez’ office. Participant included representatives of New Mexico refugee communities from Iraq, Syria, Democratic Republic of Congo […]
Zeljka shared the story of how she became a refugee, fleeing the war in Bosnia and landing in Iowa, with the Des Moines City View. You can read the article here: Choices Zeljka also went to Washington, D.C., to collect an award from President Obama. She was honored as a White House Champion of Change for World Refugees. She also […]
Delegate Norah Bagirinka spoke at the annual Columbus YWCA Woman to Woman Conference in October 2015. She spoke about challenges facing refugee and immigrant women in Ohio and her role as a Refugee Congress Delegate.