““The best way The best way to find to find yourself, is to yourself, is to lose yourself lose yourself in the service in the service of others."of others."

---Ghandi---Ghandi

Who is a Refugee?Who is a Refugee?

► Someone found outside Someone found outside his/her home country his/her home country who has a “well founded who has a “well founded fear of persecution” fear of persecution” because of his/her:because of his/her:

Race, religion, nationality, Race, religion, nationality, social group membership social group membership or political opinionor political opinion

► 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees. Refugees.

Who is in Lansing?Who is in Lansing? AfghansAfghans Bhutanese Bhutanese BosniansBosnians BurmeseBurmese BurundiansBurundians CongoleseCongolese CroatsCroats CubansCubans EthiopiansEthiopians Eritreans Eritreans HmongHmong IraniansIranians

IraqisIraqis KurdsKurds LiberiansLiberians Meskhetian TurksMeskhetian Turks Somali / Bantu SomaliSomali / Bantu Somali SudaneseSudanese Vietnamese Vietnamese Immigrants from all Immigrants from all

continents of the continents of the worldworld

AndAnd many many others. . . others. . .

2010 Statistics2010 Statistics

In 2010 the RDC: In 2010 the RDC:

►Offered services to Offered services to 850+ people 850+ people representing over representing over 40 countries40 countries

► Secured over 300 Secured over 300 volunteersvolunteers

*St Vincent Catholic Charities/Refugee Services

648 people resettled in FY 2010*

Coming To AmericaComing To America

What children may faceWhat children may face

► Yet another move / life Yet another move / life outside a refugee outside a refugee camp camp

► School and language School and language pressurespressures

► TraumasTraumas lost parents, hunger, lost parents, hunger,

violence, etcviolence, etc

► Unexpected and Unexpected and unbalanced unbalanced responsibilities within responsibilities within their families their families Inverted power structureInverted power structure

► Poverty in the “Land of Poverty in the “Land of Opportunity”Opportunity”

By surviving life threatening and By surviving life threatening and dangerous war situations, dangerous war situations,

children may have learned:*children may have learned:*

1. The world is NOT a safe place1. The world is NOT a safe place2. Parents and other adults cannot protect you2. Parents and other adults cannot protect you3. You cannot trust anyone3. You cannot trust anyone4. You are hopeless4. You are hopeless5. You are powerless5. You are powerless6. Violence is a way to resolve conflicts6. Violence is a way to resolve conflicts7. Others will respect you if they fear you7. Others will respect you if they fear you8. Death can happen at any time8. Death can happen at any time9. Tomorrow may never come 9. Tomorrow may never come

**Center for Victims of Torture (www.cvt.org)Center for Victims of Torture (www.cvt.org)

What is the Pathway Out?What is the Pathway Out?

EducationEducation

Support Support

& & OpportunitOpportunit

yy

It Takes a Community to It Takes a Community to Welcome NewcomersWelcome Newcomers

► PartnersPartners: : Lansing School DistrictLansing School District

►65 countries, 51 65 countries, 51 languageslanguages

MSUMSU Peckham Industries Peckham Industries Christ Lutheran Church Christ Lutheran Church

& the Greater Lansing & the Greater Lansing Faith CommunityFaith Community

Resettlement AgenciesResettlement Agencies Donors, Funders & Donors, Funders &

FriendsFriends

Doing Our Part:Doing Our Part:

►History & MissionHistory & Mission►What we Offer:What we Offer:

Drop in assistanceDrop in assistance ESL ClassesESL Classes AdvocacyAdvocacy Youth/Parent Youth/Parent

ProgrammingProgramming Opportunities to Opportunities to

learn & make new learn & make new friends friends

2011 Road Map2011 Road Map

►Youth ProgrammingYouth Programming:: After school tutoring, After school tutoring,

youth groups, youth groups, summer camp, summer camp, support groups support groups (Somali Girls & Ele’s (Somali Girls & Ele’s Place, bullying, pen pals)Place, bullying, pen pals)

►Adults:Adults: ESL, parent groups, ESL, parent groups,

drop In services etc.drop In services etc.

►Community Events: Community Events: & Collaboration:& Collaboration: World Refugee DayWorld Refugee Day Community / State Community / State

InitiativesInitiatives►Greater Lansing Greater Lansing

Alliance Against Hate Alliance Against Hate Crimes, RS Advisory Crimes, RS Advisory Council, etc.Council, etc.

►Fundraising EffortsFundraising Efforts:: RDC Signature event, RDC Signature event,

letters, 3letters, 3rdrd party events party events

Thank you for joining our Thank you for joining our cause! cause!