Smarter Together: Huntsville’s Welcoming Initiative
Interfaith Mission Service, a partnership of organizations and congregations committed to building a beloved community, is establishing a task force in response to the world’s refugee crisis to help Huntsville achieve its goals of creating a more compassionate and inclusive community. Join the conversation.
GOALS:
Educate our community.
Garner support for creating a more welcoming atmosphere.
Build foundation for helping refugees in the future.
=======================Updates==========================
Progress Report on Welcoming | Mary and Joseph Packs
Huntsville Islamic Center and St. Thomas Youth Collaborate
Neema PowerPoint | Refugee Support in Chattanooga
=======================Documents==========================
LIRS My Neighbor is Muslim | TIRRC Report Countering the Backlash | Welcoming the Stranger UNHCR
Local Congressional Visit Advocacy Toolkit | Refugee Facts
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On this page you’ll find many resource links to explore. If we all are working to make a difference in our organizations and congregations, then a difference will happen!
Resources for Congregations Seeking to Educate and spur their congregations to Help with World’s Refugee crisis:
Jewish
http://www.hias.org/resources
Lutheran
http://refugeesunday.lirs.org
Episcopal
http://www.episcopalmigrationministries.org/how_you_can_help/creating_welcome.aspx
Methodist
http://www.umcor.org/UMCOR/Programs/Refugees/Refugees
Church World Service—serving Baptist, Methodist, Presbyterian and other denominations
http://cwsglobal.org/our-work/%20you-can-help-syrian-refugees
UNHCR—For All Faiths—Principles of Welcoming the Stranger
http://www.unhcr.org/51b6de419.html
Video Resources by Faiths
Methodist
http://www.umcmission.org/learn-about-us/news-and-stories/2015/december/1218welcomestranger
Jewish
http://www.hias.org
Want to Learn More?
Tackling Islamophobia
http://www.charterforcompassion.org/index.php/compassion-and-religion/islamophobia-guidebook
How You Can Help!
http://www.hias.org/global-refugee-crisis-how-you-can-help
Offices/Agencies/Coalitions dedicated to work with Refugees and Immigrants
Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition
http://www.tnimmigrant.org
(A group established in 2001 to advocate for immigrant rights and build leadership)
Refugee Council USA
http://www.rcusa.org
(A non-profit coalition of US based agencies committed to help world’s refugees)
Welcoming America
http://www.welcomingamerica.org
(National, grassroots-driven collaboration dedicated to promoting mutual respect and cooperation between foreign-born and US-born Americans)
UNHCR — The UN Refugee Agency
http://www.unhcr.org
Office of Refugee Resettlement
http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/orr
(A division of the US Department of Health and Human Services)
Denominational Resources
Presbyterian: https://pda.pcusa.org/page/world-refugee-day/
Methodist church: https://shar.es/1Jq4LP
Episcopal Church: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/page/world-refugee-day
Church World Service: http://cwsglobal.org/cws-offers-ways-to-commemorate-world-refugee-day-2013/
Baptist: https://gobgr.org/news/news_detail/world-refugee-day-video
Roman Catholic: http://www.usccb.org/about/resettlement-services/world-refugee-day.cfm
Lutheran: http://refugeesunday.lirs.org
Jewish: http://www.hias.org/blog/six-books-make-your-world-refugee-day-more-meaningful
