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Refugee Resettlement Community Dialogue Event
Saturday, Sept 16, 11 AM -2 PM
Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago
1100 E 55th St, Chicago, IL
After surviving unimaginable trauma and navigating significant hurdles just to get to America, refugees face the daunting task of starting over in a new country with few resources and often little education or familiarity with the language or culture. Transitioning to life in the US means intensive ESL classes, rounds of doctor visits, school enrollments for children, and quickly finding a job to support themselves and their families.
Coming to America: The Refugee Experience, the first installment of a three-part series sponsored by theHyde Park Refugee Project, will explore the challenges faced by refugees, especially those from Muslim-majority countries, in building new lives amid tightening restrictions and divided support from US citizens. The program will include apanel discussion withleaders of organizationsdedicated to helping refugees transition to life in the US, lunch, and short talks by legal and policy experts and activists.
AGENDA
Opening remarks (11:00 AM)
Dorothy PytelandPenny Visser, PhD
Co-directors Hyde Park Refugee Project
Panel discussion followed by audience Q&A (11:05 AM - Noon)
Ashley Cureton Turner (Moderator)
PhD Candidate & Lecturer,School of Social Service Administration, The University of Chicago
PANELISTS
Blair Brettschneider
Executive Director and Founder, GirlForward
Suzanne Akhras Sahloul
Founder and President, Syrian Community Network
Laura Youngberg
Executive Director, Iraqi Mutual Aid Society
Lunch (Noon - 1:00 PM)
Short talks followed by audience Q&A (1:00 - 2:00 PM)
SPEAKERS
Sioban Albion, JD
Clinical Instructor and Director, Asylum & Immigration Law Clinic, DePaul University College of Law
Topic: Justice and the Global Refugee Crisis
Ashley Marine, MSW-LSW
Director of Girl Engagement, GirlForward
Topic: The Resettlement Process
Celina Villanueva
New Americans Democracy Project/Youth Engagement Manager, Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights
Topic: Advocacy & Activism
This program is free and open to the public. It is made possible by the generous support of theMission EndowmentFund at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church.Those interested, however, are welcome to make a donation to the Hyde Park Refugee Project by clickinghere.