The workshop focuses on connecting personal experiences with public issues related to immigrants and refugees, discussing their challenges and opportunities. Participants will explore the narratives of displaced populations, the journey of refugees, and the impact of immigration policies, while also examining the role of art in advocacy. Key discussions will cover the skills necessary for support agencies and volunteers to enhance their impact on immigrant communities.

1. Personal Experiences,
Public Issues
Immigrants, Refugees, and You

2. In this workshop, we’ll discuss:
connecting our personal experiences with
relevant public and political issues;
identifying the challenges and opportunities for
immigrants, refugees, volunteers, and support
agencies; and
creating a knowledge base to support our service,
advocacy, and impact.

3. Introductions
Name
School/Year
Personal Experience
Public Issue

4. Video: Echando Raices/Taking Root
Central Valley, California - indigenous latino
groups fleeing persecution, economic and
political disenfranchisement for agricultural work
Houston, Texas - urban [im]migrant groups
confront each other in an unfamiliar place
Central Iowa - latino groups work in the meat
packing industry, clashing strongly with the white
population

5. Challenges & Opportunities For:
The Affected Population (immigrants & refugees)
Volunteers
Support Agencies, Service Sites

6. What is our impact?
Thinking about these challenges and opportunities...
What is our role in supporting immigrants and
refugees?
How can we support each other as volunteers?
Our sites and agencies?
What skills, tools, or knowledge do you need in
order to enhance your impact?

7. Uncovering [Im]migrant
Voices
Exploring the narratives of the
uprooted

8. In this workshop, we’ll discuss:
the various types of [im]migrant populations;
the experiences and narratives of immigrants
and refugees;
the importance of the inclusion of the
[im]migrant voice in society.

9. What is an immigrant?
A person who comes to a country to permanently
settle from another country.

10. What is an refugee?
A person outside of the United States who seeks
protection on the grounds that he or she fears
persecution in his or her homeland. To attain
refugee status, the person must prove that he or
she has a “well-founded fear of persecution” on
the basis of at least one of five internationally-
recognized grounds: race, religion, membership in
a social group, political opinion, or national
origin.

11. Journey of the Refugee
Allocation to Field Office
Hampton, Richmond or Roanoke
Refugee Notified of Resettlement Site in the U.S.
They prepare to enter last stage of processing before they arrive: medical examination,
processing, other clearance checks. If there are medical complications, they are put on
medical hold.
Processing Completed
Flight booked. CCC is notified of the date of arrival. Usually given 1-2 weeks notice.
CCC Refugee Resettlement Prepares for Arrival
Resettlement Coordinator assigns staff to the case.
Volunteer coordinator assigns mentors to the family.
Arrangements are made for apartment, furniture, and food (for 1week) for the family.
Refugee Family Arrives in Virginia
Caseworker/Interpreter and Mentor greet new refugee family at airport.
Bring them to their new home.

12. Journey of the Refugee
Refugee Flees Homeland
Africa – Somalia, Liberia, Nigeria, Sudan, Congo
Asia- Vietnam, Bhutan, Burma (Myanmar)
Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan
Former Soviet Union, Bosnia
United Nations High Commissioner of Refugees
Repatriation (to be sent to mother country)
Nationalization (stay in the country they fled to)
Third Country Asylum or Resettlement (less than 1% of refugee population)
U.S. Department of State/DHS/CIS
Conducts interview at Migration Processing Center with refugee to determine
resettlement eligibility
Allocation to Domestic Resettlement Agency
Migration and Refugee Services, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
Allocation to Resettlement Site
Commonwealth Catholic Charities

13. What is exile?
A person who is voluntarily absent from their
home country, or a person who has been expelled
from their home country.

14. What is an asylee?
A person in the United States or at a port of entry
who seeks protection on the grounds of
persecution or a “well-founded fear of
persecution.”

15. What is an internally displaced person (IDP)?
A person who has been forced to flee his/her
home because of war or fear of persecution, but
remains in their home country.

16. Understanding through Art
As you analyze the art in small groups, create a skit that addresses:
The experience of the artist’s intentions and
your interpretations
The events, beliefs, or people that may have
been affected by or are related to the work
The artistic choices used and why
The historical, political, social, cultural, or
spiritual contexts of the work

17. Discussion
Considering these pieces of art and your own experiences, let’s think about
some of these questions:
How did your depictions of the characters in your skits with the
history and experiences of refugees and immigrants?
Which characteristics of the art influenced your skit most
strongly?
What are some of the misconceptions of [im]migrant
community that could be challenged with what you learned today?
What role does art play in movements for refugee or immigrant
rights?

18. “To Legalize or Not to
Legalize?”
Tracing the political history of refugee
and immigrant issues

19. In this workshop, we’ll discuss:
personal and public perceptions of refugees and
immigrants;
the history of relevant immigrant and refugee
policy; and
the responsibility and opportunity to be
informed on the issues as a service provider.

20. Perceptions on [Im]migration
Should immigrants/refugees be allowed to come
to this country? Under what conditions?
Should the number of immigrants/refugees
entering the country be limited? By what
measures?
Should Americans have concerns about new
immigrants/refugees coming to America? What
might those be?

21. [Im]Migration Myths and Facts
MYTH FACT
“They don’t pay All pay taxes (income, property, sales, or other). This
taxes.” amounts to between $90-$140 billion annually.
“They take They pay $20-$30 billion more than the amount of
welfare.” government services they actually use.
“They send all their Their purchases, households, and businesses bring
money back home” $162 billion in tax revenue to the US government.

22. [Im]Migration Myths and Facts
MYTH FACT
“They take jobs and Many American “big businesses” create jobs
opportunities away specifically for migrant workers.
from Americans.”
“They are a drain They typically fill low-skill and high-skill gaps and
on the US arrive in “prime working time” (contributing labor
and tax revenue).
economy.”
“They don’t want to Over 75% speak English “well” within 10 years.
learn English or become Over 33% become naturalized citizens, which
Americans.” includes being fluent in English
“They come here Over 75% of immigrants are legal permanent
illegally.” residents in the US.

23. [Im]migration Legislation
While reviewing a section of this timeline in your small group,
consider...
The key policies established in that timeframe
What the policies were addressing and why
What other international or national influences
(events, belief systems) that could have affected the
creation of that policy
The actual or likely impact of that policy on

24. Informing Our Service
Let’s discuss how this information can inform our services:
Which policies stood out to you and why?
How does policy affect [im]migrant communities?
Which policies are you most passionate about?
What are the policy opportunities today?

25. Your Service Toolkit
A roundtable discussion on essential
skills for working with immigrants
and refugees

26. In this workshop, we’ll discuss:
the organizational structure of a typical refugee/
immigrant support agency;
the skills sets necessary to build organizational
capacity and enhance community impact;
our shared experiences, best practices, program
models, and ideas for building individual and
collective capacity.

27. Guest Presenter: Kurt Crays
Director for Grants Development,
Immigrant and Refugee Services (LIRS)
For over 70 years Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service has led a ministry of
welcome to America’s most vulnerable newcomers. We live out our mission of
welcome in the bold hope that our vision will become reality and the values we
hold most dear will be embraced by all.
Vision
All migrants and refugees are protected, embraced and empowered in a world of
just and welcoming communities.

28. Sample Support Agency Structure

29. Roundtable Discussion:
Building Skills to Work with [Im]migrants
Cultural competency
ESL Teaching
Knowledge about other social services/access to them
Psychosocial counseling
Working with youth
Reversing stigmas & stereotypes
etc.

30. Now What?: Making an
IMPACT for Refugees and
Immigrants
A career and advocacy panel

31. Presenters
Giuseppe Cespedes, Citizenship Now!
Kurt Crays, Lutheran Immigrant and Refugee Services
Omekongo Dibinka, Motivational speaker & refugee
activist
Dr. Robert Sitler, Latin American Studies professor