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CANYON CORRIDOR CONNECTION
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COMMUNITY HIGHLIGHTS
An Oasis in the Desert:
2014 Refugee Highway Partnership North America
F
OR THOSE FLEEING for their lives,
and for those who seek to serve them,
there is a vital need for a season of
restoration. For a time of joyful reunion with
people who understand the demands and
depletion experienced during the journey
on the refugee highway. For a retreat, where
encouragement, strength and renewed vision
are infused into our souls as we stop to listen
to, learn from and laugh with our friends.
A multi-church Arizona team and more
than 80 volunteers provided such an oasis
for the Refugee Highway Partnership North
America’s 350 Roundtable participants, hosted
this year on Grand Canyon University’s
campus in Phoenix.
Vibrant discussions filled the 65 Table
Talks, which included topics such as
successful integration, contextualized witness,
incarnational ministry, church mobilization,
holistic healthcare, immigration issues, ethnic
discipleship and team tune-up.
Conference attendees were able to
participate in a three-hour Walk in Their
Shoes refugee journey simulation each
afternoon. During this journey, participants
took on the identities of a typical refugee
family and were introduced to the harsh
realities of life in a camp and the complex
process of refugee resettlement. Participants
could also choose to go on a four-hour Vision
Tour to a total of 11 locations, including
refugee resettlement agencies, community
gardens, Serrano Village Apartments, The
Refuge and the Refugee Women’s Health
Clinic (one of two in the nation).
Following worship sessions, 17 speakers
delivered humorous and thought-provoking
messages. Speakers examined the cycle of
poverty, gave advice about advocacy, pondered
whether we were engaged in transaction or
transformation, recognized how close some of
us were to burnout, took in tips for working
with trauma victims and grappled with
more than a dozen additional concepts. The
Refugee Highway Partnership North America
especially thanks the European and Middle
East RHP leaders for each taking a session
to give us a glimpse of refugee needs and
ministry in their regions.
Roundtable attendees were served by a
prayer team, interceding onsite for 12 hours
daily; a group of seven IT techs who provided
free assistance for laptop woes; and four
seasoned counselors who met
privately, by appointment, with
those seeking mentoring and
professional direction.
Roundtable participants are
still savoring the memory of
the scrumptious Beautiful Day
granola bars, made by refugees in Rhode
Island, and the delectable chocolate, pecans
and coffee samples generously provided by
Koinonia Farms (Americus, GA). These groups
were just two of the 30 Roundtable exhibitors
and vendors.
An international banquet on Friday
night, featuring a parade of nations and
entertainment from a Sudanese violinist,
Burundi youth choir, Arab calligrapher,
Eritrean coffee-making ceremony and henna
artists, capped the Roundtable. Tom Albinson,
director of International Association for
Refugees, led the group in a time of personal
reflection and prayer and focused on renewed
commitment to God’s call on our lives to serve
forcibly displaced people.
Be sure to “Like” Refugee Highway
Partnership – North America on Facebook;
visit rhpna.com, where digital recordings
of the Table Talks will be posted; and
reserve vacation time next July for the 2015
Roundtable in Atlanta, Ga.!
■
What is the Refugee Safety Initiative
(RSI)? The RSI was started two years
ago in order to enhance refugees’ sense
of well-being, belonging and safety. The
objective was to increase participation
and engagement in society with the
primary goal of increasing access to help
law enforcement agencies and other
mainstream services.
The initiative is comprised of various
community stakeholders under the
leadership of Stephanie Vasko, senior
program supervisor of the Education and
Orientations team of Catholic Charities
Refugee Resettlement agency, and
Detective Luis Samudio of the Phoenix
Police Department.
The RSI has accomplished several
key milestones, including conducting
safety workshops and developing
culturally appropriate resource materials
such as the Refugee Resource Card,
videos and additional cultural trainings
for police officers. The RSI has also
developed What to do When Stopped by
Police cards for refugees, translated in
over five languages!
RSI is now focused on addressing
Special Immigrant Visa issues and
continuing outreach to refugee
communities, including addressing
issues of drowning and various other
safety issues.
For more information, please contact
Stephanie Vasko at 602-749-4437 or
[email protected]Refugee Safety Initiative