Build trust with newcomers Authentic voice on the issue through power of story telling Create greater community understanding Create support for resettlement and integration Example of successful approaches to fostering leadership development refugee engagement and grassroots advocacy ID: 384314
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Why do we need former refugees to exercise leadership? Build trust with newcomersAuthentic voice on the issue through power of story tellingCreate greater community understanding Create support for resettlement and integrationExample of successful approaches to fostering leadership development refugee engagement and grassroots advocacy
Empowering Refugees in AdvocacySlide2
Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service (LIRS)LIRS is the nation’s second-largest resettlement agency, assisting nearly 11,000 refugees each year. Since its founding in 1939, LIRS in partnership with our local affiliates has resettled nearly 400,000 refugees from around the world into communities across the United States.Slide3
Leadership Training and AdvocacyIn recent years, LIRS has celebrated World Refugee Day by bringing together former refugee leaders for a 3-day
training designed to:hone their leadership skillscreate opportunity for
networkingadvocate for issues of concern to the broader refugee communityOur goal: Lift
up the voices of all refugees in order to create welcoming communities around the
countrySlide4
World Refugee Day AcademyIn 2014, 51 former refugee leaders from 23 states
representing 16 countries of origin Participants engaged in legislative advocacy
trainingmet with their Members of Congress developed a 1-2 point action
plans to take back to their communities Slide5
LIRS Refugee AcademyKey portions of the training sessions were led by former refugees.Highlights include 114 Hill visits, meetings with the White House and State
Department.Local action plans with 2-3 specific efforts or activities that the participants will undertake to address refugee issues in their local communities. Slide6
Taking it Back Home!Some of the participant’s Strategic Action Plans include:Developing
a network of immigrant faith leadersProviding a training for refugees and allies on cultural diversity and communication
Creating a program to provide support for refugee parents, including dispelling myths around Child Protective Services (CPS)teaching
parents how to be advocates for their own children in the local school
system
Organizing
a food fair in the local
community
Connecting
with local elected officials and
businessesSlide7
Structured Support for Sustained EngagementWe have also developed a structure to follow up with Academy participants. Organized within 4 regional grouping with a team leader.
Regular regional and national check-in calls.Communication tools including E-Newsletter, listserv and Facebook page.Slide8
Organizing through Relationships & Story-telling
Story telling is a practiced act of Leadership
.Refugees naturally have a great deal of compelling story to tell.Key is to be selective, structured, and intentional in story-telling
“story of self”
“story of us”
“story of now” Slide9
Lessons LearnedNo substitute for face-to-face meeting to build a network of leaders and develop lasting relationships.Training is not a one-off experience. Important to build a structure for sustained engagement.Create leadership opportunities for team members and support network for their efforts.
Be cognizant of, and respectful of, former refugees’ time and prevailing situation.Slide10
Looking AheadLIRS plans to grow and expand the Academy.Explore more robust use of current academy participants to plan and implement future ones.
“My greatest success has been my ability to encourage and empower fellow refugees to have a voice” Omar
Bah, 2013 Refugee Academy Participant and Trainer for 2014 Refugee Academy.