Jan 6 2023 Forum
"Welcoming New Neighbors as We Begin a New Year”
Friday, January 6, 2023 at 9:30 a.m.*
via ZOOM**
* We will gather at 9:30 for fellowship, have announcements at 9:50, then begin the program at 10:00.
Come with questions for our panelists!
**I will send out the Zoom link to our CWU email list two-three days before January 6th.
IF you are NOT on the regular email list for newsletters, but wish to be included in the Zoom meeting,
please contact me at mstoops@swcp.com and I will put you on my list.
A panel of three guests will present the stories of their work with immigrant/ asylees in our area. Pat Bonilla, who works with Asylee Welcome ABQ, meets the buses of immigrants from the border who are going on to family and friends in other parts of the country. Also, as a volunteer with VIDA , she will talk about their work with the immigrants in detention centers. Julia Cusatis is Director of Development at Encuentro, a program that engages Latino immigrant families in education and career development opportunities. Sarah Camp, who works in the Asylum/Refugee Program, will represent ABQ FaithWorks. The panel will be moderated by Jessica Corley, ABQ FaithWorks Executive Director. This promises a wide variety of work being done in ABQ and ways in which CWU participants may become involved in many ways—volunteering, providing needed items for care, donating needed funds for their operations. Please join us in reaching out to these important efforts to welcome our new neighbors!
Join us on ZOOM!
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"Albuquerque, New Mexico continues long tradition of welcoming refugees"
Mohammed Munir (3rd from left) pictured with colleagues during a visit with UNHCR in June. © UNHCR/Lindner
Excerpt from UNHCR article:
Mohammed Munir arrived in the United States in October 2017. In Afghanistan, he had worked as an interpreter for the U.S. Army and subsequently received a Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) allowing him to start a new life in the United States. He says his first few months were difficult adapting. “Finding a job at the beginning was a little bit difficult because I had been teaching at a university for many years. I started working as a cashier, which helped me become more familiar with U.S. culture and allowed me to improve my English,” says Munir.
An experienced educator, he now works for Lutheran Family Services Rocky Mountains as an education coordinator, helping other refugees arriving in Albuquerque. According to Munir, “it’s my turn to use my knowledge and experience to help other people.”