A Message from ECDC President and CEO
In this interview with Tsehaye Teferra, ECDC President and CEO, learn about the Ethiopian Community Development Councils (ECDC) work with refugees and the needs of the organizations refugee clients during the COVID-19 pandemic and how you can help.
In celebration of World Refugee Day - celebrated each year on June 20th - the Ethiopian Community Development Council will host a series of virtual events on June 18th, 19th, and 20th. For details on the events and to register, please scroll down.
EVENT SCHDULE
Live Reading: Thursday, June 18th @ 7:30 PM
Advocacy Workshop: Friday, June 19th @ 2:00 PM
Refugee Panel Discussion: Saturday, June 20th @ 2:00 PM
Musical Performance: Saturday, June 20th @ 7:30 PM
In addition to the above virtual events, ECDC has partnered with Their Story is Our Story (TSOS) and will share refugee stories produced by TSOS on our Facebook page on the 18th, 19th, and 20th. To view this refugee stories, click the 'Follow Us' button below.
EVENT SCHDULE
Live Reading: Thursday, June 18th @ 7:30 PM
Advocacy Workshop: Friday, June 19th @ 2:00 PM
Refugee Panel Discussion: Saturday, June 20th @ 2:00 PM
Musical Performance: Saturday, June 20th @ 7:30 PM
In addition to the above virtual events, ECDC has partnered with Their Story is Our Story (TSOS) and will share refugee stories produced by TSOS on our Facebook page on the 18th, 19th, and 20th. To view this refugee stories, click the 'Follow Us' button below.
COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund
Events are free to attend- donations welcome!
Donations made during our WRD celebration will be matched 1:1. Meaning, if you donate $19 your donation will be matched $19 - doubling your impact!
Donations will go towards ECDC’s COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund. The Fund provides critical assistance to recently arrived refugees who have been negatively affected by COVID-19. In the last three months, ECDC has supported 196 individuals meet their critical expenses, such as rent, through the Fund. Your gift will go directly towards providing emergency assistance to recently arrived refugees who cannot afford their rent or food because of COVID-19.
When you donate, you will be entered to win a pair of earrings from Fugeelah, a gift certificate to Immigrant Food, a gift certificate to Dafero, or a piece of handmade Ethiopian jewelry. Learn more about the businesses that have donated these items below!
Donations made during our WRD celebration will be matched 1:1. Meaning, if you donate $19 your donation will be matched $19 - doubling your impact!
Donations will go towards ECDC’s COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund. The Fund provides critical assistance to recently arrived refugees who have been negatively affected by COVID-19. In the last three months, ECDC has supported 196 individuals meet their critical expenses, such as rent, through the Fund. Your gift will go directly towards providing emergency assistance to recently arrived refugees who cannot afford their rent or food because of COVID-19.
When you donate, you will be entered to win a pair of earrings from Fugeelah, a gift certificate to Immigrant Food, a gift certificate to Dafero, or a piece of handmade Ethiopian jewelry. Learn more about the businesses that have donated these items below!
Live Reading
Meet Abeera: refugee, student, author, broadcaster, innovator, and more. Originally from Somalia, living in Malaysia, Abeera will share a live reading of a short-story she wrote, "Put oneself in someones shoes."
The story is about a girl who lives inside a box, and a man called Racism who carries her.
The story is about a girl who lives inside a box, and a man called Racism who carries her.
Reserve your spot for a live reading with Abeera
Thursday, June 18th @ 7:30 PM
Thursday, June 18th @ 7:30 PM
Advocacy Training Workshop: Refugees civic engagement in times of crisis and elections
Participants in this zoom workshop will focus on how we can promote civic engagement, voter education and turnout, and community organizing among newcomers to win local policy changes and shape the narrative about refugees. They will also hear from refugee leaders how they are shaping local narrative through civic engagement. We will also share best practices on how local consent were sought and won. Resources about how participants can be actively involved in advocacy activities in support of refugee resettlement will be provided.
These efforts are critical in the fight to influence welcoming policies and ensuring that refugees are included in COVID-19 relief policies. This workshop will focus on how storytelling, and civic engagement prepared refugee and immigrant leaders to be at the forefront of this fight to restore the resettlement program. Presenters will provide an update on the current issues impacting the resettlement and refugee communities with special attention to racial justice through reflecting on current social movements. This workshop will be led by Church World Services (CWS).
Friday, June 19th @ 2:00 PM
Panel Discussion
Refugees are not immune to the impact of COVID-19 on their communities. During this all-refugee panel, refugees who have resettled to the United States within the last 1-4 years will discuss the impact of COVID-19 as it relates to their lives, including their coping mechanisms, resiliency, and hope for the future. Guests will have the opportunity to hear directly form panelists about their experiences before arriving to the U.S. as well as their experience in their new communities across the country. Their stories will shed light on their contributions to the social and economic fabric of communities they now call home.
Saturday, June 20th @ 2:00 PM
Thank you to our Sponsors
A special thank you to our sponsors! We are greatly encouraged by their dedication to improving the lives of refugees and immigrants in the United States and Globally. We encourage you to visit their websites to learn about the work they are doing!
