Community Coalition on Refugee and Immigrant Concerns (CCORIC) has partnered with the Centre for Community Based Research (CCBR) Initiatives to organize a webinar on June 20, 2020 from 1-2:30pm entitled, “Becoming Neighbours at a Distance”. Join us to listen and to learn from refugee newcomers of all ages, Rich Janzen, Co-Executive Director at CCBR, and local dignitaries. Details to register as follows.
When: Saturday June 20, 2020 at 1pm
Register in advance for this meeting:
June 20th marks World Refugee Day (WRD), when the international community celebrates the stories, perseverance, and contributions of refugees. In the Waterloo Region, our community is proud of its rich history of welcoming, supporting, and being strengthened by refugee newcomers.
Since 2002, the Community Coalition on Refugee and Immigrant Concerns (CCORIC) has brought together community partners to collaborate in organizing annual events during the month of June in recognition of World Refugee Day. Our annual theme is, “Becoming Neighbours”.
As community builders, the COVID-19 Pandemic has presented us with a significant challenge. We find ourselves asking, how do we build community at a distance? This time also presents us with an opportunity to listen and to learn from experts in our community – individuals with lived refugee experience are familiar with this reality, COVID-19 or not. Refugee newcomers are often separated from family members who are scattered around the world and need to be intentional about staying connected. Their lives have been suddenly changed by factors beyond their control and are familiar with feeling vulnerable, isolated, afraid, and anxious about the unknown.