Shannon Linehan, Benson Area Refugee Task Force | July 8, 2013
Working with refugees through Omaha’s Benson Area Refugee Task Force, I get to be inspired every day. Our task force extends extra support to refugees being resettled to Omaha, Neb., many of them by Church World Service. Many of the refugees work more than 40 hours a week, have three or more children, and attend various classes. They say moving …
For “Paw,” a refugee from Burma now resettled in Omaha, Neb., learning to “log on” has opened many opportunities, including home ownership. She is a recent graduate of a computer literacy course offered by the Benson Area Refugee Task Force, a coalition of organizations and individuals who collaborate to give extra support to the nearly 500 refugees who are resettled …
Angela Rupchock-Schafer | July 6, 2013
Around the United States communities are celebrating the 4th of July this weekend with fireworks, festivals and parades. Families are coming together for Independence Day cookouts. Except not everyone that gathers this holiday will have enough food to put on the (picnic) table. “In our country, in the richest, most powerful nation in the history of the world, the reality …
Daniel Rearick, Uniting NC | July 2, 2013
As originally published on the Uniting NC website: http://www.unitingnc.org/2013/06/no-story-highlights-immigrants-generosity/#comment-1122 Last Saturday we continued our series of service events bringing together immigrants and non-immigrants to give back to their community. And again the response was wonderful. This time we had over 30 volunteers from 10 different countries all working together on a community farm that provides fresh produce to the Food …
Nick Kiger | June 29, 2013
When organizing CROP Hunger Walks, the phone is your friend. CWS field staff spend a lot of time calling congregations, colleges, individuals or anyone else who will listen about growing CROP Hunger Walks. Nothing is better than getting a call from a person who wants to start a CROP Hunger Walk. Seriously, you should see our faces when we hear …
June 28, 2013
On July 9 and 10, 2013, beginning at 2 p.m. Eastern time each day, Church World Service Emergency Response Specialist Susanne Gilmore will present a two-part webinar on “Long-Term Recovery Basics.” The webinar will cover a wide range of topics designed to help communities rebuild and recover after a disaster – such as this spring/summer’s tornados, storms, floods and fires; …
June 27, 2013
Church World Service commends the Senate on its critical vote this afternoon to achieve comprehensive immigration reform. The Senate passed the Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act with a robust bipartisan majority of 68-32. “This vote represents a historic landmark in the path to justice for millions of families across our nation who have spent too long facing …
Jen Smyers | June 26, 2013
As I’ve worked on immigration reform for the past six and half years with CWS, I’ve felt the heartbreak that so many of our community members have experienced due to the failure of our lawmakers to achieve reform. But this moment is different. It looks like we have the necessary votes – plus a few more – for the Senate …
June 25, 2013
Moment arrives for Senate vote on legislation after years of advocacy and organizing As the U.S. Senate comes to a final vote on the bipartisan immigration reform bill S. 744, The Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act, Church World Service urges Senators to vote “yes” in support of the historic legislation. “Our undocumented community members have waited decades for this …
Nao Sok and Jacqui Collis |
During their recent visit to Cambodia, Dr. Kirk G. Alliman, former executive director of CWS’ Asia Program and his wife, Jean, visited the CWS staff at the Phnom Penh office. Alliman last stepped foot in Cambodia 34 years ago, during the aftermath of the fall of the Khmer Rouge that ruled Cambodia from 1975 to 1979. This was a regime …