Love in Action: Episcopal Churches Welcome Refugees

THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH

LOVE IN ACTIONEpiscopal Churches Welcome Refugees

An Educational Webinar Offering from Episcopal Migration Ministries March

8, 2017

Introductions

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• Technical issues? Use questions pane to contact Claudia Carrete or email questions to Kendall Martin, kmartin@episcopalchurch.org

• Webinar will be available on-demand: www.vimeo.com/EMMRefugees• Live tweeting via @EMMRefugees, @TheEPPN

• #StandToSupportRefugees #LoveInAction• You are muted• Use question function to submit questions; introduce yourself. • Submit questions throughout webinar; we will answer at the end. • Post-webinar follow-up.

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• Framing the Conversation• Panelists

• West Virginia Interfaith Refugee Ministry, Diocese of West Virginia• Refugee Community Center, Allentown, Diocese of Bethlehem• Northern Virginia Friends of Refugees, Diocese of Virginia

• Dialogue: Q&A • Follow-Up• Stand to Support Refugees Campaign• Resources from Today’s Presentation• Virtual Round Table – limited seats!

• Contact Information

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Prerequisite for today’s webinar:

The Episcopal Church Welcomes RefugeesFebruary 1, 2017

www.vimeo.com/emmrefugees

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On Monday, March 3, President Trump rescinded his January 27 executive order on refugees and replaced it with a new one. The executive order, among other things, institutes the following: 

• Implements, at a minimum a 90-day ban of people from Syria, Iran, Somalia, Sudan, Libya, and Yemen with some exceptions such as green card holders from those countries or dual nationals

• Implements, at a minimum a 120-day suspension of the entire refugee resettlement program

• Decreases arrivals of refugees to the U.S. in fiscal year 2017 from an expected 110,000 to 50,000

• Directs a new role for states and localities regarding placement and resettlement of refugees

• Mandates a review and additional security vetting procedures for refugees, immigrants, nonimmigrants

Maintaining our national security and welcoming those fleeing persecution are not mutually exclusive.

advocacy.episcopalchurch.org

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WVIRM is an interfaith organization of community members

WVIRM’s mission is striving to improve the lives of refugees

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WVIRM: Who are we?

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Our Beginnings • Many of us first met

during an EMM Webinar we watched at St. John’s Episcopal Church in October 2015.

• Here we are meeting with elected officials at St. John’s in December 2015

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EMM’s Newest Resettlement Partner: The US State Department has approved an EMM partnership with WV Episcopal Diocese, with advisory and volunteer help from WVIRM, to resettle approx. 100 refugees per year (about 30 families) in Charleston, WV starting in 2017.

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Our Community Action & Fundraising

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Our Community & Political Education/Activism Efforts

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What does the future hold for WVIRM?

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A Love That GrowsIn the NeighborhoodRefugee Community CenterEpiscopal Church of the MediatorAllentown, PA • Diocese of Bethlehem

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Northern Virginia (NoVa) Friends of Refugees

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Who is St. George’s / NoVa Friends of Refugees?

What have we accomplished and what are our plans ahead?

What were our lessons learned?

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Who is St. George’s Episcopal Church?• Based in Arlington, VA with over

100 years of history

• Mid-size church with 525 members and 200+ regular worshippers

• Highly-educated congregation consists of mid-career to senior professionals with ties to the federal government

• Mostly middle-age to retirees but seeing a growing 20s and 30s group

We are a church of intellectual and busy people!

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The Genesis of NoVa Friends of Refugees• Saw a need to respond and counter the

hateful rhetoric during Presidential campaign

• Hosted a 3-part refugee educational forum to inform the community about the issue and how to get involved

• Attended by ~170 ppl from the Greater DC region

• Interfaith gathering of Christians, Muslims, and Jews

• Model replicated by at least one church• 2 local newspapers coverage (Sun Gazette

and Falls Church News Press)

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Who is St. George’s Episcopal Church/ NoVa Friends of Refugees?

What have we accomplished and our plans ahead?

What were lessons learned?

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NoVa Friends of Refugees Today

Vision: To make every refugee feel welcome and every resident a welcoming friend to them

Key Info:• Has 280 members (and growing!) from across the US and UK• A robust network of faith communities (23), gov’t agencies (9), NGOs (22), local

businesses (7), and refugee leaders and individuals• Share advocacy info, news on refugees, organize events, and connect members with

engagement, volunteer and opportunities to interact with refugees

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Advocacy

Community EventsLife Skills Program

Our Plans for 2017• 2x4 Fight for Refugee

Advocacy Challenge• Call representative four

times in 2 months• Adopted by EMM to push

out to all• Raise Your Voice! Advocacy

Workshop & Refugee Volunteer Fair (3/18) in Arlington VA!

• Visit representatives TBD• ESL and/or Employment programs• Support NGOs to

enhance existing life skills programs

• Identify/create opportunities for members to get involved (e.g., mock interviews, sponsor employment program participants)

• World Culture/Food Festival• Around Crop Walk

(Oct) to amplify issue

• Showcase talents of refugees and provide interaction opportunities

• Engage media and raise awareness

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Who is St. George’s Episcopal Church/ NoVa Friends of Refugees?

What have we accomplished and what are our plans ahead?

What were our lessons learned?

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Insights and Lessons Learned Successful refugee integration depends on a

welcoming community A welcoming community = good soil: We chose to fertilize and

work on the soil Our belief is that attitude of a community can be changed

through advocacy, awareness building and engagement

Advocacy: Staying quiet and focus on helping the refugees is no longer an option; We must be vocal with elected officials!

Sustainable program needs to be balanced and a good fit for the community

Type of engagement (e.g., help that fit the gifts of your congregation/ community)

Length of engagement (e.g., have something for those with lots of time and those with limited time)

Partner with others & share: to scale is to partner with others and the broader faith community; willing to share what we’ve learned and accomplished

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How Churches Can Get StartedPartner with Us to Start a Movement! Partner to organize & build a welcoming community

Email Wendy Chan (wendy.chan.wg08@Wharton.upenn.edu)

Do It Yourself! Educate the congregation & feature refugee speakers

Film: Salam Neighbor Invite experts and refugee speakers Start a book club: A Hope More Powerful Than the Sea – Melissa Fleming & others

Contact refugee-focused organizations for sponsorship & volunteering opportunities 9 Resettlement agencies (CWS, ECDC, USCCB/Catholic Charities, EMM/Episcopal Church,

IRC, LIRS/Lutherans, USCRI, World Relief, HIAS) Other refugees/ immigrant-focused organizations, e.g., No One Left Behind – SIV, Upwardly

Global – skilled refugee employment, Just Neighbors – legal services Fundraising for refugees

Global – UNHCR, MSF, SOS Children’s Village, Save the Children, CWS, IRC US resettlement agencies/local organizations (see above)

Join NoVa Friends of Refugees!Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/novafriendsofrefugees/

Google Group: email Wendy Chan (wendy.chan.wg08@Wharton.upenn.edu)

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Conclusion

"The world is moved along, not only by the mighty shoves of its heroes, but also by the aggregate of tiny pushes of each honest worker."

- Helen Keller

Post your questions in the chat box

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Support the work of Episcopal Migration Ministries

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Bit.ly/EMMDonation | www.episcopalmigrationministries.org

Join the Episcopal Public Policy Network

advocacy.episcopalchurch.org

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Virtual Round TablesOnly 10 seats available per “table”

All times Eastern

• West Virginia Interfaith Refugee Ministry: Wednesday, March 15, 6-7pm

• Northern Virginia Friends of Refugees: Thursday, March 16, 6-7pm

• Refugee Community Center, Allentown: Thursday, March 23, 2-3pm

Sign-ups will be in your follow-up emailIf you are not able to get a seat at a table, but would like to listen to the recording of a conversation,

please email Allison – aduvall@episcopalchurch.org to request the recording.

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Future “Love in Action” Offerings

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We’d love to hear your Love in Action story.

Share it with us at bit.ly/YourWelcomeStory.

Claudia CarreteProgram Specialist – Family Reunification

Episcopal Migration Ministriesccarrete@episcopalchuch.org

Allison DuvallManager for Church Relations & Engagement

Episcopal Migration Ministriesaduvall@episcopalchurch.org

Kendall MartinManager for CommunicationsEpiscopal Migration Ministrieskmartin@episcopalchurch.org

Lacy BroemelRefugee & Immigration Policy Analyst

Episcopal Church Office of Government Relationslbroemel@episcopalchurch.org

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E p i s c o p a l C h u rc h e s We l c o m e R e f u g e e s

Episcopal Migration Ministries episcopalmigrationministries.org

Facebook: www.facebook.com/EMMRefugeesTwitter: @EMMRefugees

Video: www.vimeo.com/EMMRefugees

Episcopal Public Policy Network advocacy.episcopalchurch.org

Facebook: www.facebook.com/TheEPPNTwitter: @TheEPPN

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