Why do we need former refugees to exercise leadership? Build trust with newcomers Authentic voice on the issue through power of story telling Create greater community understanding Create support for resettlement and integration Example of successful approaches to fostering leadership development refugee engagement and grassroots advocacy Empowering Refugees in Advocacy

Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service (LIRS) LIRS is the nation’s second-largest resettlement agency, assisting nearly 11,000 refugees each year. Since its founding in 1939, LIRS in partnership with our local affiliates has resettled nearly 400,000 refugees from around the world into communities across the United States.

Leadership Training and Advocacy In recent years, LIRS has celebrated World Refugee Day by bringing together former refugee leaders for a 3-day training designed to: hone their leadership skills create opportunity for networking advocate for issues of concern to the broader refugee community Our goal: Lift up the voices of all refugees in order to create welcoming communities around the country

World Refugee Day Academy In 2014, 51 former refugee leaders from 23 states representing 16 countries of origin Participants engaged in legislative advocacy training met with their Members of Congress developed a 1-2 point action plans to take back to their communities

LIRS Refugee Academy Key portions of the training sessions were led by former refugees. Highlights include 114 Hill visits, meetings with the White House and State Department. Local action plans with 2-3 specific efforts or activities that the participants will undertake to address refugee issues in their local communities.

Taking it Back Home! Some of the participant’s Strategic Action Plans include: Developing a network of immigrant faith leaders Providing a training for refugees and allies on cultural diversity and communication Creating a program to provide support for refugee parents, including dispelling myths around Child Protective Services (CPS) teaching parents how to be advocates for their own children in the local school system Organizing a food fair in the local community Connecting with local elected officials and businesses

Structured Support for Sustained Engagement We have also developed a structure to follow up with Academy participants. Organized within 4 regional grouping with a team leader. Regular regional and national check-in calls. Communication tools including E-Newsletter, listserv and Facebook page.

Organizing through Relationships & Story-telling Story telling is a practiced act of Leadership. Refugees naturally have a great deal of compelling story to tell. Key is to be selective, structured, and intentional in story-telling “story of self” “story of us” “story of now”

Lessons Learned No substitute for face-to-face meeting to build a network of leaders and develop lasting relationships. Training is not a one-off experience. Important to build a structure for sustained engagement. Create leadership opportunities for team members and support network for their efforts. Be cognizant of, and respectful of, former refugees’ time and prevailing situation.

Looking Ahead LIRS plans to grow and expand the Academy. Explore more robust use of current academy participants to plan and implement future ones. “My greatest success has been my ability to encourage and empower fellow refugees to have a voice” Omar Bah, 2013 Refugee Academy Participant and Trainer for 2014 Refugee Academy.