Ithaca Welcomes Refugees September Newsletter
Ithaca Welcomes Refugees
Dear members of IWR,
As we transition into the Fall, there are significant updates from the summer regarding the direction of IWR and efforts to create a fair and welcoming environment for refugees in the Ithaca area. This newsletter includes information about upcoming events, IWR strategic plans, and ways to be involved in our ongoing efforts.
Upcoming events:
1. Welcoming America Webinar: Stand Together Messaging About Muslims and Refugees in Challenging Times
This 1hr webinar will answer questions about positive communications and engaging your community. It will be held at 1pm on Thursday, September 8th. If you are interested and available, here is a link to register: Register Now
2. The Refugee Challenge in Europe and the US: A Roundtable Discussion
Where: Cornell Campus, Room 401 Physical Sciences Building
When: Thursday, September 8, from 3:30-5:00pm
Come join the discussion with Gail Holst-Warhaft (Cornell Institute for European Studies), Sidney Tarrow (Cornell Department of Government & Cornell Law School) Stephen Yale-Loehr (Cornell Law School & immigration expert) and IWR's own Walaa Maharem-Horan. Check out the attached flyer!
3. Ithaca Voice presents: A Road to Refuge
Hear the stories of refugees who have fled their home countries and learn how local organizations have responded. Coffee and Q&A panel to conclude the in-depth series.
Co-sponsored by Ithaca Coffee Company and The History Center in Tompkins County.
Where: The History Center 401 E State St.
When: Friday September 9, from 6:30-8:30 pm
4. IWR Potluck in the Park
Bring a dish to pass and come be a part of building the IWR community. This social event will be open to the community, and the focus will be on getting to meet one another. We hope this will be the first of many fun events to build our sense of cohesion and bring us together, reinforcing what it means to create a welcoming community.
Where: Cass Park (701 Taughannock Blvd, Ithaca, NY 14850)
When: Sunday, September 25 at 11 am-2 pm
General Updates and Strategic Plans:
The IWR storage facilities now have a great inventory of furniture and other supplies to meet basic needs of refugees. The storage facilities and their contents have all been donated by members of the community, reflecting the energy behind our efforts. Thank you to Abdou, Marge, Meredith and the basic needs sub-committee for taking the lead on this. A full list of materials that continue to be in demand is included below in "ways to be involved."
Going forward with our overall strategic plans, members of the IWR steering committee will receive training from an experienced organizer of refugee resettlement efforts based in Rochester. This will take place on 9/13. With that training, the plan is to organize modules that we can then integrate into a training sequence for all interested members of IWR.
With regard to IWR communication, the plan is to circulate regular newsletters and continue to share updates and resources via this Google group, Facebook, the IWR website and other social media. If you have thoughts or suggestions with regards to effectively reaching out to different communities in the area, please email ithacawelco...@gmail.com.
Ways to be involved:
1. Attend any or all of the events above and help spread the word!
2. Interpreters are needed. If you speak another language and would be interested in offering services as an interpreter, please send an email to ithacawelco...@gmail.com
3. Donate or organize drives to collect any of the following items: couches, kitchen tables, blankets, full size flat & fitted sheets, can openers, alarm clocks, lamps, sponges, paper towels, toilet paper, trash bags, large and small bicycles & helmets
cribs (if up to code), basic office supplies (notepaper, pens, tape, etc.), basic sewing kits/goods (scissors, thread, needles, etc.)
4. Volunteers are needed to help orient new or recently arrived refugees in the following subject areas: transportation, housing & healthy home, health & personal hygiene, personal safety & 911/police, banking & budgeting, utilities & how to pay, voicemail, importance of ID documents.
If you would be interested in offering training/orientation in any of the following areas, please email Ithacawelco...@gmail.com
Note: Interest in offering training/orientation does not imply that you already know the content area, but simply that you would be interested to learn and then teach others.
In general, spreading the word about IWR and raising awareness of the ways in which community members can be involved in this work is incredibly valuable. Please direct anyone who you think might appreciate it to the IWR website and let them know that they can join the group by sending an email to Ithacawelco...@gmail.com
Thank you,
Walaa Maharem-Horan and David Rhodes