The Ohio State University's Office of Diversity and Inclusion is partnering with Advocates for Basic Legal Equality (ABLE) and Ohio Immigrant Alliance to host: “Ohio Immigrants & Refugees: Lived Experiences, Mobilizing for Change.” This four-part workshop will explore the immigrant and refugee experience in Ohio, the policies that affect their lives, and mobilizing for change.
Daniela Pierre-Bravo (@dpierrebravo), an MSNBC producer and co-author of the book “Earn It! Know Your Value and Grow Your Career, in Your 20s and Beyond” will be kicking off the series, along with Mika Brzezinski. Raised in Lima, Ohio, Daniela went from being the only Latina in her high school class to the studios of MSNBC in New York.
- For more information about the event, please visit the Ohio Immigrant Alliance Website.
- You can register for the event on the OSU Office of Diversity and Inclusion website.
Additional information about each session of the workshop can be found below.
Session 1: Home is Here: Immigrants and Refugees in Ohio (Oct. 9)
- The actual, lived experiences of immigrants and refugees in Ohio today, featuring:
- Maria Otero, ABLE (Moderator)
- Daniela Pierre-Bravo, MSNBC (Keynote Speaker)
- Emily Brown, ABLE
- Cynthia Bukwira, Community Refugee & Immigration Services
- Lisa Factora-Borchers, Writer & Editor
Session 2: Education and Activism to Support Students from Immigrant Families (Oct. 16)
- Education challenges and barriers faced by immigrants and their children; innovative approaches; activism in schools, featuring:
- Yolanda Zepeda, OSU Office of Diversity & Inclusion (Moderator)
- Reem Subei, ABLE
- Chrissy Foster, ESL & Social Emotional Learning Practitioner
- Jessica Ramos, ABLE
- Gabriela Pickett, PhD, Dayton Public School Board of Education
- Liz Morales, Student Community of Progressive Empowerment (SCOPE)
- Uma Archaya, North Community Counseling Centers
Session 3: Current State of Immigration Policy (Oct. 23)
- An overview, featuring:
- Maria Otero, ABLE (Moderator)
- Houleye Thiam, Mauritanian Network for Human Rights in US
- Katie Kersh, ABLE
- Brian Hoffman, OCSILiO: The Ohio Center for Strategic Immigration Litigation & Outreach
Session 4: What Can You Do to Make Ohio a Better Place for Immigrants and Refugees? (Oct. 30)
- Mobilizing for change; advocacy campaigns to protect and expand immigrants’ rights, featuring:
- Lynn Tramonte, Ohio Immigrant Alliance (Moderator)
- Anna Babel, The Ohio State University
- Avery Martens, Showing Up for Racial Justice
- Mustafa Jamale, Voice for Refuge
- Melissa Bartolo, Welcoming America
- Mónica Ramírez, Justice for Migrant Women and #EssentialOH Campaign
