World Refugee Day is June 20
Episcopal News Service. June 17, 2005 [061705-1]
World Refugee Day is June 20, and congregations and communities across the United States and around the world are planning events throughout June to recognize the plight, and celebrate the contributions, of refugees.
The Church World Service Immigration and Refugee Program, member denominations, and refugee resettlement affiliates - which together help about 5,000 refugees resettle in the United States each year - are among groups planning World Refugee Day events nationwide. The United Nations General Assembly designated June 20 as World Refugee Day. 2005 marks the observance's fifth anniversary.
There are about 11.5 million refugees in the world today, according to the World Refugee Survey 2005, released on Wednesday. Refugees are persons who, "owing to a well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion," have fled their home country and are unable or, "owing to such fear," unwilling to avail themselves of that country's protection.
For over 60 years, Episcopal Migration Ministries (EMM) http://www.episcopalchurch.org/emm has served as a continuation of the rich tradition of the Episcopal Church in responding to homeless and displaced persons from around the world. EMM's network of 33 affiliate offices in 26 dioceses of the Episcopal Church, many congregations, and countless volunteers help to relieve the burden of the world's suffering through refugee resettlement and immigrant assistance. In recognition of World Refugee Day, EMM is organizing an event at the Church Center on June 27 which will feature Episcopal Bishop Catherine Waynick of the Diocese of Indianapolis and John Prendergast of the International Crisis Group.
Among World Refugee Day celebrations is a Friday, June 17, event in Columbia, S.C., in front of the King Monument in Martin Luther King Park on Green Street in Five Points. Lutheran Family Services in the Carolinas, Inc., a joint CWS-Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service (LFS) affiliate, is partnering with the Collaborative for Community Trust, area refugees and local religious and community organizations on this event, scheduled for 11 a.m. Guest speakers include the LFS refugee resettlement services director, Hannah Foh; Dr. Carl Evans, Partners in Dialogue, and a member of the Somali Bantu community. For more information, contact Catherine Fleming Bruce, Collaborative for Community Trust, at 803-960-2079.
A June 18 World Refugee Day festival will be held from 1 to 4 p.m. at Erwin Terrace, Durham, N.C., near Duke University. Lutheran Family Services in the Carolinas, Inc., a joint CWS-Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service (LIRS) affiliate, is sponsoring this event in collaboration with Shade Tree Coffee, which is donating 20 percent of its proceeds from the afternoon to the affiliate. The event will feature refugee musicians, a drum circle, cultural crafts, advocacy and awareness booths, a local teen Burmese dance group, "Pata Pata" dance lessons, and activities for children. For details, contact Sarah Ivory (803-750-9917; sarah.ivory@lfscarolinas.org).
VISTA volunteers at the CWS resettlement affiliate in Louisville, Ky., are organizing a June 18 mock refugee camp. Kentucky Refugee Ministries Executive Director Carol Young said a letter to churches inviting middle and high school youth drew 125 registrations in the first week. June 19, Kentucky churches will take loose change offerings for KRM, which is a joint CWS-Episcopal Migration Ministries (EMM) affiliate, and on June 20, staff from KRM and other resettlement agencies will hold a cookout to honor recently arrived refugees. Contact Carol Young (502-479-9180; cyoung@kyrm.org) for details.
In Chicago, Interfaith Refugee & Immigration Ministries, a joint CWS/EMM/LIRS affiliate, is planning a June 18 party and culture fest for resettled refugees, cosponsored by the city chapter of the United Nations Association of the United States. IRIM also is inviting the business, legal, and academic community to a June 20 event with music, dance, and speakers on refugee issues. "It is envisioned as a time of celebration and advocacy," said IRIM Executive Director Gregory Wangerin (773-989-5647; gwangerin@irim.org).
June 22 in Washington, D.C., Church World Service will host a World Refugee Day worship service, to begin at 12:10 p.m. in the chapel of the United Methodist Building, 100 Maryland Ave. N.E. Contact Joan Maruskin (202-544-2350; jmaruskin@churchworldservice.org).
June 22 in Cleveland, Ohio, a 9 a.m. World Refugee Day worship service and 12:30 p.m. "brown bag" luncheon program will be held at the offices of the United Church of Christ, 700 Prospect Avenue, whose Refugee Ministries is the sponsor. The half-hour service, in Amistad Chapel, will feature liturgical dance performed by Shirlee Ashworth of Community Refugee and Immigration Service of Columbus, Ohio, and a solo by Annie Congress. The 90-minute luncheon program will feature as speakers Ashworth; Rev. Kathryn Obenour of David's Church, Canal Winchester, Ohio, and Kedia "Kafay" Braima, a Liberian refugee youth. Bring your own lunch; RSVP to Mary Kuenning Gross at 216-736-3212 or grossm@ucc.org to "reserve" a salad and dessert.