East
Bay Refugee Forum presents World Refugee Day 2012 in Oakland, CA
June
21, 2012 - World Refugee Day 2012 is a
celebration to honor, appreciate and raise awareness about refugees around the
world and in Oakland. The event will hosted by the East Bay Refugee Forum
(EBRF) on Friday, June 22nd at San Antonio Park in Oakland, CA from
12:00pm – 3:00pm.
The
East Bay Refugee Forum is a partnership of over 38 agencies in Alameda County that
serve refugees. The Forum was founded in 1978 as a partnership of five refugee
resettlement agencies that supported the large influx of refugees coming to
Alameda County. The Forum’s mission is to promote refugee self-sufficiency,
leadership, advocacy, and to serve as the common voice for refugees in the East
Bay.
World Refugee Day was established via Resolution 55/76 on December 4, 2000
at the United Nations General Assembly. The UN General Assembly noted that 2001
marked the 50th anniversary of the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of
Refugees and thus the day was incorporated. From June 18 to 20 the United
Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) commemorates World Refugee Day in order to draw
the public's attention to the millions of refugees worldwide who are forced to
flee their homes. Each year, UNHCR selects a theme and coordinates events
across the globe.
The East Bay event will include
cultural food, games and performances from many diverse refugee communities in the Bay
Area.
Event speakers and guests include:
Alex
Briscoe, Director of Alameda County Health Services Agency
Wilma
Chan, District 3 City Supervisor
Mina
Sanchez, senior aide from District 5 City Supervisor Keith Carson’s office
Pat
Kernighan, Oakland City Councilmember, District 2
Libby
Schaaf, Oakland City Councilmember, District 4
Alice Lai-Bitker, Alameda County Board Supervisor
Endalkachew Getaneh, guest speaker from the refugee community
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