The world is facing an enormous challenge: how to best support the millions of refugees across the globe. LIRS has joined dozens of other humanitarian, religious, and non-profit organizations that are working to support refugees both overseas as well as in the United States.
The Refugees Welcome campaign was created to address the largest refugee crisis since the end of World War II. Right now, over 60 million people around the world are displaced. In response to the crisis and the rise in anti-refugee rhetoric, a group of humanitarian, non-profit, and faith-based organizations created the initiative with a goal of creating welcoming communities around the United States.
Through events that bring interfaith, community, business, and political leaders together with refugees, we hope to create a dialogue on the importance of welcoming regardless of country of origin, religion, or ethnic group. So far, we have had over a dozen events take place across the United States!
On the Refugees Welcome site, you’ll find a list of welcoming resources to help you advocate, speak up in support, or plan and register an event. The list of resources includes:
We also have LIRS materials we encourage you to use:
- The Courageous Journey video about Omar Almuqdad, a Syrian refugee
- A video, The Journey, about Carlos and Alcides, two of thousands of children who fled their homes in Central America
- The “What Would You Take With You?” Refugee Simulation guide
Join LIRS in using #RefugeesWelcome on social media so we can share and retweet welcoming messages.