Wars, conflict and persecution have forced more people than at any other time to flee their homes and seek refuge and safety elsewhere. Globally, one in every 122 humans is now either a refugee, internally displaced or seeking asylum.

What impact does this have on the people and what responsibility do we have as U.S. citizens in communities of faith to stop our government from exacerbating the problem with more wars and violence, and welcome the strangers who seek refuge at our doors?

Come educate yourself:

• Angela Sanbrano, Chair of Central American Resource Center and President of the National Alliance of Latin American and Caribbean Communities, will speak on the situation of immigrants fleeing the violence in Central America.
• Kris Coombs, President of the International Refugee Assistance Project, part of the Immigration Clinic at USC’s Gould School of Law, will speak on the situation of refugees from Syria and Iraq.
• Sabine Freij, PhD candidate in World Politics and Methods at Claremont Graduate University, will share the challenges and joys that a local congregation, All Saints Church Pasadena, has experienced in opening its doors to a Syrian refugee family.