For Immediate Release
Weekend events place local spotlight
on World Refugee Day celebration
World Refugee Day is a global occasion each year to remember the tens of
millions of refugees and others who have been forcibly displaced, and to recall
what makes them different
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (June 17, 2009) -
The Jacksonville
refugee community will gather for a local celebration of World Refugee Day on
Friday, June 19, at Shepherd of the Woods Lutheran Church, Lakeshore Property,
as part of a weekend of activities surrounding the annual celebration.
Lutheran Social Services of Northeast Florida is teaming with World Relief and
Catholic Charities to promote the gathering, which will allow refugees in the Jacksonville community to mix and mingle while celebrating
their various journeys to America.
Winn-Dixie generously donated refreshments for the event, which will take place
from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Included in the day's schedule of events will be games, outdoor activities for
children and special art projects.
World Refugee Day is a global occasion each year to remember the tens of
millions of refugees and others who have been forcibly displaced, and to recall
what makes them different. More than 50,000 refugees were resettled in the United States within the last year, including
more than 300 by LSS in the Jacksonville
area in the last 12 months.
"This event is always a tremendous blessing for those who participate, as
well as the organizers," said Barbara Carr, refugee and immigration services
program director at Lutheran Social Services. "Many refugees have taken
advantage of their opportunities to create new lives in this country, and
events like this give them a chance to interact with others who have traveled
the same path."
Shepherd of the Woods Lakeshore Property is located at 6595 Columbia Park Court, one mile from Greenland Road and Philips Highway.
For more information on World Refugee Day, contact Barbara Carr at 904.448.5995
or e-mail bcarr@lssjax.org.
Other events planned
for this week in recognition of World Refugee Day, include:
Lunch & Learn -
Thursday, June 18
at Women's Center
of Jacksonville
A luncheon event focusing on the issues faced by refugees. This
is a free event from noon to 1 p.m.
World Refugee Day
Celebration/Naturalization Ceremony - Saturday, June 20 at Jacksonville Public Main Library
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services will hold a
naturalization ceremony and short reception in honor of World Refugee Day. The
event begins with the ceremony at 9:30 a.m. in the Main Library multipurpose
room on the concourse level, where approximately 20 candidates will be officially
sworn in as American citizens. Following the ceremony, family members, friends,
elected officials and community leaders, refugees and members of the community
will gather for a reading of a proclamation by Jacksonville Mayor John Peyton
and a special keynote welcome by Congresswoman Corrine Brown.
Screening of the
movie "Anonymously Yours"
- Saturday, June 20 at the San Marco
Theatre - Noon
Directed by American Gayle Ferraro, "Anonymously Yours" is
the outcome of a daring filmmaking operation on sex-trafficking in a military
state where nothing is as it seems. Four women's stories are exposed, revealing
a reality engulfing as many as 40 million women worldwide. Advanced tickets for
the film can be obtained for a donation of $10 in advance and on the day of the
show. Refreshments have been generously donated by Whole Foods.
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About Lutheran Social Services of Northeast Florida
Lutheran Social Services was formed in 1979 by area Lutherans and business leaders to fill gaps in services offered in the community for people in need. The first program of the agency was the Food Network, a precursor to the Second Harvest Food Bank of North Florida, which it still operates. In addition, LSS serves people in need through Refugee and Immigration Services, which, since 1980, has resettled refugees coming to Jacksonville through Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service (LIRS) and Episcopal Migration Ministries (EMM); AIDS Care and Education Program and Representative Payee Services. LSS also operates The Sharing Place Thrift Shop, 4615 Philips Highway, Tues.-Sat. Call 904.730.8234 for more information about any of these programs and services. |
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| CONTACT:
Lutheran Social Services of NE Florida Tom Strother
Advancement Manager (Communications)
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World Refugee Day
Schedule of Events
Lunch & Learn at Women's Center of Jacksonville - Noon - 1 p.m.
Friday, June 19
World Refugee Day celebration event for the local refugee community at Shepherd of the Woods Lutheran Church, Lakeshore Property. 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Saturday, June 20
Naturalization ceremony at Jacksonville Main Public Library, followed by a reception and address by Congresswoman Corrine Brown. 9:30 a.m.
Screening of the movie "Anonymously Yours" at the San Marco Theatre. Noon.
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