THE IMPACT OF FAITH ON IMMIGRANTS AND REFUGEES

SUNDAY APRIL 23, 2017

RECURRING THEMES THROUGHOUT U.S. HISTORY*

4:00-5:45 p.m. • Fellowship Hall

Professor Barbara A. McGraw, J.D., Ph.D., – St. Mary’s College of California

Professor McGraw is Director of the Center for Engaged Religious Pluralism and Professor of Social Ethics, Law & Public Life at St. Mary’s. Drawing upon her extensive background and published works in religion and politics, Prof. McGraw will illustrate how the U.S. has experienced repeated “welcoming” and then “restricting” cycles on immigration and refugee matters throughout its history. Building on these themes, in conversational format with the facilitator, Prof. McGraw will further detail the religious currents underlying these ongoing cycles which still prevail today and how this plays out publicly in our society.

SUNDAY APRIL 30, 2017

REAL-LIFE FACTS ON THE CURRENT REFUGEE CRISIS*

4:00-5:45 p.m. • Fellowship Hall

Julie Atkinson, J.D. – Legal Process Confronting Refugees
Kathryn Winogura – Director of Volunteers, Jewish Family & Community Services Bobbie Preston, MD – East Bay Chair, No One Left Behind, Inc.

• What are the many vetting steps that refugees must undergo both before and again after being considered for potential entry to our country?
• If refugees are able to clear this extensive vetting, how are they assigned to geographic areas in the U.S. and what is the process then undertaken by the resettlement agencies (like JFCS) to assist in relocating refugee families?
• Once the statutory period for assistance by the resettlement agency has run its course, what are the many roles and forms of support provided by welcoming agencies (like NOLB) to help them begin to assimilate into our society? And how can interested volunteers at LOPC become involved?
• In light of recent Executive Orders, what course of action is suggested regarding relocation and assimilation of refugees in the East Bay area?

  *Each program will consist of the speakers from 4:00-4:45 pm,
  audience Q & A for 30 minutes, and 30 minutes for small group discussion.

  Questions: Contact Terry Clark terence.clark08@gmail.com