For Immediate Release
March 15, 2017
Press Contact:
Miji Bell
mbell@lirs.org; 410-230-2841
Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service (LIRS) is pleased to announce the 2017 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 Washington, DC on June 18-20, 2017.
The three-day training will bring together thirty former refugee leaders and 10 returning participants and trainers. The Academy will culminate on Tuesday, June 20th with a World Refugee Day breakfast briefing and visits with lawmakers on Capitol Hill.
This will be the fifth annual Academy for LIRS. It is designed to equip participants with legislative advocacy and leadership enrichment skills that will enable them to become advocates for migrant and refugee issues in their local communities. Through the experience, participants will be equipped to mobilize and engage in sustained advocacy for creating welcoming communities for refugees. Since its inception, the Academy has trained over 150 refugees and migrants from 37 states.
Participants are 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. Each individual’s inspiring story of overcoming hardship to become a community leader illustrates the courage and perseverance of former migrants and refugees.
To apply, please visit the website at lirs.org/lirsacademy. For more information, please contact Folabi Olagbaju at 410-625-6744. Media interested in attending any portion of the Academy may contact Miji Bell, 410-230-2841.
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Founded in 1939, Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service is the second largest refugee resettlement agency in the United States. It is nationally recognized for its leadership advocating with refugees, asylum seekers, unaccompanied children, immigrants in detention, families fractured by migration and other vulnerable populations. Through more than 75 years of service and advocacy, LIRS has helped over 500,000 migrants and refugees rebuild their lives in America.