Refugee Resettlement: We Are Our Brother’s Keepers
An informative event hosted by CNIA which provided attendees with current information on Refuge Resettlement organizations, activities and needs in the Inland Empire.
Opening Speaker: Jean Arnott
I Was a Stranger, Refugee Outreach coordinator for North America West Area
Jean’s love for the Afghan people began when, in 2004, she directed the first of two projects to benefit the women and children of Afghanistan. After meeting weekly for ten months, a container filled with gifts sailed out of Long Beach and arrived in Karachi, Pakistan. Goods were then trucked over the mountains into Kabul and were distributed under the direction of International Orphan Care with the help of U.S. forces, Rotary Club International, and Islamic Relief Worldwide. An even larger effort followed a few years later and was transported on a C-17 out of March Air Base.
Six years ago this week, with the encouragement of leaders of her church, she began searching for refugees to assist. Since that time, she and volunteers of many faith groups have assisted in the resettlement of over 250 families from twelve countries. Her refugee families are dear to her heart, and she counts many of them amongst her dearest friends.
Jean currently serves as the I Was a Stranger, Refugee Outreach coordinator for North America West Area, Southern California Region for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and is founder of Women of Faith Interfaith Service Community. The work she and others do is joy-filled, sometimes heartbreaking, and always sprinkled with tender mercies.
Jean and her husband have lived in the Redlands area for 45 years and are the parents of nine children.
Panelists: Heather and Damon Flexman: Our position is I was a stranger coordinators for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Corona-Norco. We coordinate a variety of services to help refugee families who come to Corona and Norco to get comfortably settled in their new homes. Our goal is to make them feel welcome and cared about and to help them become confidently self-reliant. We love getting to know them and our connection with them has enriched our lives.
Arevik Sargsyan, Capacity Building, Community Outreach and Volunteer Coordinator
International Rescue Committee Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles
Arevik Sargsyan was born in Armenia and raised in Cuba. Her passion working with immigrants started at a young age since her father was a diplomat and growing up, she was witnessing her father’s job every day. After moving to the United States in her early 20s, she started to volunteer at the International Rescue Committee and that’s where her career path initiated as an advocate for refugees. Currently, Arevik is providing Capacity Building Services and is the Community Outreach and Volunteer Coordinator at IRIS. She speaks five languages and is in the process of becoming a DOJ accredited representative.
View the recorded event here: https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/share/zZjGkGt26DMo1Iw12b8WDRJc3rgjdJBr6KzyKflSkkV8r6fGjsndJ7kgaXPmfQYu.g38UVhhJjl6kCAZ7
Passcode: 4xw43w$f
Opening Prayer
Merciful God, we pray for families and individuals who have left or fled their homes, seeker safer and better lives. We lift up to you their hopes, fears, and needs, that they may be protected on their journeys, their dignity and rights may be honored and upheld, and they may be welcomed with open arms into generous and compassionate communities. Amen.
Closing Prayer
O God,
Open our eyes that we may see the needs of others;
Open our ears that we may hear their cries;
Open our hearts that we may feel their anguish and their joy.
Let us not be afraid to defend the oppressed, the poor, the powerless, because of the anger and might of the powerful.
Show us where love and hope and faith are needed, and use us to bring them to those places.
Open our ears and eyes, our hearts and lives, that we may in these coming days be able to do some work of justice and peace for you. Amen.