wfn.org | CWS, Affiliates, Churches Plan World Refugee Day Events 6/17-22

["CWS News" <awalle@churchworldservice.org>]

For Immediate Release

Church World Service, Affiliates, Congregations Plan World Refugee Day Events
Detailed Here: Columbia, S.C.; Durham, N.C.; Louisville, Ky.; Chicago, Ill.;
Washington, D.C.; Cleveland, Ohio

June 16, 2005, NEW YORK CITY - 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.

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.

-end-

Media contact: Ann Walle, awalle@churchworldservice.org; 212-870-2654