1. Refugees Welcome All Partners Webinar
December 7, 2016

2. Welcome
Sharon to describe: Partners, Timeline, Types of Events

3. Welcome
The mission of the Refugees Welcome campaign is to provide opportunities for refugees to share their experiences with faith and community groups to:
Build friendships among diverse cultures and faiths
Strengthen public and private welcome of our refugee neighbors
Promote refugee integration and leadership
Celebrate refugees’ community contributions
Sharon to describe: Partners, Timeline, Types of Events

4. In Unity and Prayer
Stand Up for Someone’s Rights Today: UN Human Rights Day 2016, Dec. 10
Each faith shares values to protect the vulnerable:
Jewish & Christian: Leviticus 19:33-34
Christian: Matthew 2:13-23
Islam’s “ijara” and “iwaa” values of granting protection & sheltering
Sharon to describe: Partners, Timeline, Types of Events

5. Presenters
Rev. Dr. Sharon Stanley-Rea Director, Refugee & Immigration Ministries Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) Meredith Owen Policy Advocate Immigration and Refugee Program (IRP+) Church World Service
Lenny Ndayisaba
Refugee Leader
Resident of Durham, North Carolina
Refugee from Rwanda
Liza Lieberman
Director of Advocacy and Outreach
HIAS, the global Jewish
Nonprofit that protects
refugees
Dr. Sofia Khan, Founder, KC for Refugees
Judi Barkema, Chair, St. Andrew Christian Church “Hand of Welcome” Refugee Ministry

6. Policy Update Potential Threats to Refugee Resettlement
Bills to stop, pause, or de-fund resettlement to/in the United States
Administrative action to reduce or end refugee admissions
Discrimination against refugees from certain countries/faiths
Allowing states or local communities to “veto” resettlement
Potential Threats to Immigrants Rights
Legislation that would deny protections for Central Americans fleeing violence, block funding for sanctuary cities, militarize the U.S. border
Administrative action to end Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, increase deportations and raids, force local police to act as federal immigration officers
State and Local Policy
2016: 52 anti-refugee bills in 19 states
2017: TX in session with 5+ pre-filed bills on refugees & immigrants
Meredith Owen – 10 minutes

7. 2016 Election: Making History
U.S. Congress
California: Former CA Attorney General Kamala Harris, first Indian-American to serve in the U.S. Senate
Florida: Stephanie Murphy, first Vietnamese-American woman to U.S. House of Representatives
Washington: Pramila Jayapal, first Indian-American woman to U.S. House of Representatives
Meredith Owen – 10 minutes

8. 2016 Election: Making History
State Governments
Minnesota: Ilhan Omar, first Somali-American Muslim woman & former refugee, MN House of Representatives
Nevada: Catherine Cortez Masto, first Latina senator in U.S. history, NV State Senate
Oregon: Kate Brown, country’s first LGBT governor

9. It’s Time to Stand Up & Act!
Meet with people one-on-one to share each other’s greatest fears and greatest hopes for your community
Bring together like-minded people – refugees, faith leaders, supporters, etc. to strategize
Brainstorm ways to lift up the many ways your community welcomes refugees
Make a list of your local, state, and national policy makers and reach out to them to urge them to commit to protect refugee resettlement
Strategize ways to continually build relationships with all policy makers – Members of Congress, Governors, Mayors, etc.
Meredith Owen – 10 minutes

10. Take Action Today! www.refugeesarewelcome.org/get-involved
Meredith Owen – 10 minutes

11. Meet Lenny
Lenny – 10 minutes

12. A Menu of Welcoming Actions
Share a Meal
2. Invite Refugees to Speak at Congregational Services
3. Hold Multi-Faith Services or Vigils
Meet with Your Policy Makers
5. Share Stories of Welcome
6. Discover Our Resources: Refugees Welcome Toolkit
Sponsor a Newly Arriving Refugee Family
Go to: and for a one pager, with details and
links related to each action.
ALSO: Don’t forget to tell us about your work by ing

13. What is your community doing to welcome refugees?
Success Stories
What is your community doing to welcome refugees?
Kansas City’s Welcoming Efforts
KC for Refugees Facebook:
Hands of Welcome Brochure:

14. Success Stories
What is your community doing to welcome refugees? How can Refugees Welcome support your efforts? How will you re-commit to welcoming in this crucial time?

15. Faith & Community Resources
Hanukkah:
Advent:
Las Posadas: (English) and (Spanish)
Yearnings to Belong

16. Faith & Community Resources
Refugee Resettlement Offices Around US:
Map of Refugee Resettlement Offices Around US: file:///C:/Users/sharon/Documents/PRM%20Affilaite%20Map%20with%20details pdf
Refugees Welcome Resources:
Refugee Council USA Updated Congressional Toolkit:
Faith Community Resettlement Support: Contact your denominational representatives!

17. Questions? Contact us via email: info.refugeesarewelcome@gmail.com
To register your event and for additional resources:
Stay tuned for resources,
Join our next strategy call, and help us continue to grow welcoming networks around the U.S.:
9 a.m. Eastern, Dec. 13th (
for call in info.)