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THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH
LOVE IN ACTIONEpiscopal Churches Welcome Refugees
An Educational Webinar Offering from Episcopal Migration Ministries March
8, 2017
Introductions
L O V E I N A C T I O N
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
• Technical issues? Use questions pane to contact Claudia Carrete or email questions to Kendall Martin, [email protected]
• 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.
L O V E I N A C T I O N
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
• 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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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
Prerequisite for today’s webinar:
The Episcopal Church Welcomes RefugeesFebruary 1, 2017
www.vimeo.com/emmrefugees
L O V E I N A C T I O N
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
On Monday, March 3, President Trump rescinded his January 27 executive order on refugees and replaced it with a new one.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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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
WVIRM is an interfaith organization of community members
WVIRM’s mission is striving to improve the lives of refugees
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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
WVIRM: Who are we?
L O V E I N A C T I O N
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
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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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
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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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
Our Community Action & Fundraising
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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
Our Community & Political Education/Activism Efforts
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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
What does the future hold for WVIRM?
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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
A Love That GrowsIn the NeighborhoodRefugee Community CenterEpiscopal Church of the MediatorAllentown, PA • Diocese of Bethlehem
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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
Northern Virginia (NoVa) Friends of Refugees
L O V E I N A C T I O N
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
Who is St. George’s / NoVa Friends of Refugees?
What have we accomplished and what are our plans ahead?
What were our lessons learned?
L O V E I N A C T I O N
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
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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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
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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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
Who is St. George’s Episcopal Church/ NoVa Friends of Refugees?
What have we accomplished and our plans ahead?
What were lessons learned?
L O V E I N A C T I O N
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
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
L O V E I N A C T I O N
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
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
L O V E I N A C T I O N
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
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?
L O V E I N A C T I O N
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
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
L O V E I N A C T I O N
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
How Churches Can Get StartedPartner with Us to Start a Movement! Partner to organize & build a welcoming community
Email Wendy Chan ([email protected])
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 ([email protected])
L O V E I N A C T I O N
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
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
L O V E I N A C T I O N
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
Support the work of Episcopal Migration Ministries
L O V E I N A C T I O N
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
Bit.ly/EMMDonation | www.episcopalmigrationministries.org
Join the Episcopal Public Policy Network
advocacy.episcopalchurch.org
L O V E I N A C T I O N
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
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 – [email protected] to request the recording.
L O V E I N A C T I O N
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
Future “Love in Action” Offerings
L O V E I N A C T I O N
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
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 [email protected]
Allison DuvallManager for Church Relations & Engagement
Episcopal Migration [email protected]
Kendall MartinManager for CommunicationsEpiscopal Migration [email protected]
Lacy BroemelRefugee & Immigration Policy Analyst
Episcopal Church Office of Government [email protected]
L O V E I N A C T I O N
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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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
