July Library Series

Resettling Iraqi Refugees in West Michigan:
"I Didn't Know How You Would Receive Me"

July 8th (7pm) Herrick Public Library series meeting

presented by the Lakeshore Women for Peace

The speaker is Elizabeth Smith, the sponsor developer of a refugee settlement program of Bethany Christian Services in Grand Rapids, MI. Ms. Smith also serves as the refugee and immigrations ministries coordinator for the Western Michigan annual conference of the United Methodist Church. She works to train recruit and empower church groups to serve alongside newly arrived refugee families. PARA (Programs Assisting Refugee Acculturation) has resettled over 1,000 refugees in the West Michigan area from Cuba, Sudan, Burma, Bhutan, Liberia, Congo, and now Iraq.

Churches and other groups in the Holland/Zeeland area are invited to send representatives, to learn how they can become involved in supporting the settlement of Iraqi refugees and the special concerns and issues experienced by people coming from the war zone.