September 2016
Calling All UCC Youth (Grades 9-12)! Help Refugees – Win Scholarships – Share your Creativity!
ENTER the SYRIAN REFUGEE ACCOMPANIMENT VIDEO CONTEST
Show your awareness of the response to the Syrian refugee crisis and highlight your local community’s plan of action for awareness-raising and welcoming.
Submit videos between October 1 and November 11, 2016.
Three scholarships ($2,000, $1,000 and $500) will be awarded.
Your work will be shared on ucc.org during the month of December as part of the Our Stillspeaking Voice multimedia initiative.
More information and the submission form are on the video contest webpage: http://www.ucc.org/SyrianRefugeesVideoContest
Give a boost to the visibility of a UCC extravagant welcome. Join other congregations in opening hearts and communities to refugees. First Federated Church, North Jackson, OH and Sylvania UCC share their mission trip experience via video walking “Hand in Hand” with Syrian Refugees resettling in Toledo, OH.
Questions? Contact Mary Schaller Blaufuss, UCC Global Sharing of Resources Team Leader, blaufusm@ucc.org or 216-736-3214.
10,000 Syrians Resettled in U.S. During FY16!
The U.S. State Department’s Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration (PRM) has recognized faith communities as a significant force in meeting this goal. “Without your advocacy and persistent positive presence in receiving communities, we wouldn’t be here today.” As we celebrate this important step in protecting some of the most vulnerable survivors of the Syrian conflict, we must not lose sight of the other 21 million refugees globally still in need of a solution.
The Refugee Council USA, including Church World Service and the UCC, believes that the U.S. should commit to provide protection to 200,000 refugees in FY17 through resettlement and alternative admissions pathways to the United States– at least 140,000 of which should be admitted through the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program. A commitment to admit more refugees must be matched with a level of resettlement funding which ensures that refugees have access to the services and support that they need to integrate quickly and successfully upon arrival in welcoming American communities.
You can be part of making this happen. Be part of the National Refugee Call-In Day TODAY, Tuesday, September 6th. Urge the United States to lead by example on refugee protection and resettlement.
Congress is considering legislation that would severely limit funding to protect and serve refugees in the United States and overseas. As we approach two historic summits on refugee protection by the United Nations and President Obama this month, we need the U.S. government to show bold leadership.
TODAY, Tuesday, September 6 is a national refugee call-in to make your voice heard and tell Congress to increase refugee protection and resettlement.
At a time when there are over 65 million displaced people in the world, more than any point in recorded history, we cannot allow this legislation to pass. Today, you can tell Congress to support welcoming communities and to help refugees integrate and thrive.
It is more important than ever before that global leaders find solutions to the largest refugee crisis in history. It will take all of us speaking out to ensure the U.S. lives out our moral responsibility to stand with refugees.
Action doesn’t stop there! After joining the national call-in, sign this postcard to show your community is ready to welcome! You can also print out postcards to have them signed at your church, event, or community gathering. Package them together and mail them to 110 Maryland Avenue NE, Suite 110, Washington, DC 20002 by September 12th so they can be delivered to Congress.
