Delegate Biar Atem (NV) participated in the annual Business Leader and Principal for a Day event. The event included shadowing with a principal and allowed participants to have instant dialogue with other community leaders and the principal about the successes and challenges we face in public education.
Delegate Dauda Sesay (LA) helped to organize a protest at the Louisiana State University on the anniversary of the travel ban. Protesters sought to raise awareness for the those hurt by the ban, as well as remind everyone that the ban is still in existence.
Delegate George Tarr (NY) and mentor Renee Silverman did a Q&A at PS. 171 and Info Tech High School in Long Island City. George also led a screening of the film “Refugee Kids: One Small School Takes on the World.”
At the end of February, Delegate Clara Hart addressed a Naturalization ceremony in Sioux Falls, as she has done for many years. The new citizens represented 20 countries of origin.
Delegate Basma Alawee(FL), a member of the Youth and Education Caucus, organized a variety of opportunities for her students to learn about the experience of being a refugee, including supporting students to stage a play, Crossing the Border, that explored issues of diversity, culture, respect for peoples, courage, and compassion.
Delegate Puspa Luitel (VT) was elected to serve as At-Large Director of the Vermont Law School Alumni Association for a 3-year term.
Dauda Sesay, Louisiana Delegate, holds the Louisiana Refugee Advisory Council (RAC) quarterly meeting.
Refugee Congress South Dakota Delegate, Clara Hart, announces her run for City Council. Read more here.
Utah delegate Fatima Dirie, was featured in the Salt Lake Tribune for her work on Welcoming Week for refugees in Salt Lake City. Read more here.
Nevada Delegate Biar Atem penned a powerful op-ed for The Hill, on the need for more support to South Sudan. Read more here.
Colorado Delegate Shambel Zeru was featured on CBSlocal news for his recent graduation from high school. Read more about his story here.
Wyoming delegate Bertine Bahige was featured on Wyoming Public Media recently and told his story from refugee to former refugee. Listen here.
Patricia Nyhan writes, “Looking for a way to engage in refugee support, despite pullback on immigration? Try reaching out to members of a Congress you may not have heard of yet – the Refugee Congress.” Read more here.
The American Red Cross held its annual Everyday Hero Awards ceremony honoring local heroes for their service to the community. The Venetian and The Palazzo’s Biar Atem was honored with the award for Community Impact through his efforts with The South Sudan Center of America, which he founded as a resource for South Sudanese people in Nevada. Read more about […]
Heroes of the 500: Biar Atem | Fortune Magazine War in the South Sudan severed an entire generation of Lost Boys from their birthplace and their families. Biar Atem is one of them. From age 7 to 21 he lived in refugee camps in Ethiopia and Kenya. Source: fortune.com/heroes-of-the-fortune-500/2014/biar-atem-44/