BALTIMORE,
May 28, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/
-- Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service (LIRS) will host the
2015 Migrant and Refugee Leadership Academy, a three-day event for
migrants and former refugees focused on building advocacy,
community organizing, and leadership skills. The event will take
place in Baltimore and
Washington, DC on June 16-18.
This will be the third annual Academy for LIRS, one that marks
an important expansion to include migrant leaders for the first
time. The Academy will equip participants with legislative advocacy
and leadership enrichment training to become strong advocates for
migrant and refugee issues. Through the experience, participants
will be equipped to mobilize and engage in sustained advocacy for
creating more welcoming local communities.
Ninety participants, including nine planning committee members
and training facilitators - some of whom are former refugees and
migrants - were selected from a pool of applicants with
demonstrated leadership experience, strong ties to their local
communities, and a desire to mobilize in support of pro-migrant and
refugee policies. The participants hail from 33 states and
represent 22 nationalities of origin. Each individual's inspiring
story of overcoming hardship to become a community leader
illustrates the courage and perseverance of former migrants and
refugees. The Academy schedule is as follows:
Tuesday, June 16th:
Academy participants will take part in leadership skills
enrichment and legislative advocacy training; discuss issues that
bridge the immigration experience between migrants and refugees;
and will prepare for visits with elected officials on Capitol
Hill.
Wednesday, June 17th:
Participants will travel to Washington,
DC for a Lobby Day. Participants will meet with
members of Congress to share their personal stories in an effort to
support of pro-refugee legislation.
Thursday, June 18th: Participants will focus on
strategies for sustained community engagement and collaborate on
plans for on-going initiatives within their local communities.
After they return home, the network of Migrant and Refugee
Leadership Academy participants will continue to serve as a support
system and resource for the work of each leader in his or her
respective community.
For more information about the Migrant and Refugee Leadership
Academy, please contact Folabi Olagbaju at 410-625-6744. Media
interested in attending Capitol Hill meetings on June 17th may contact Miji Bell, 410-230-2841.
Press Contact: Miji Bell
410-230-2841, mbell@lirs.org
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SOURCE Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service