FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
To:
From:
Date:
Re:
Press and Media Outlets
Juliane Ramic and Jason Hernandez, on Behalf of the Philadelphia Regional
Refugee Providers’ Collaborative
May 27, 2016
World Refugee Day Press Conference, Philadelphia
World Refugee Day Press Conference, June 20, 2016
Phillywrd.org
PHILADELPHIA, (May 27, 2016) -- On June 20, The Philadelphia Regional Refugee Providers’
Collaborative (PRRPC), a coalition of refugee resettlement and post resettlement service
providers, will join the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and countless
global cities and organizations in observance of World Refugee Day 2016. Now entering its 15th
year, the international event is designed to raise awareness of the global refugee crisis, while
honoring the strength, courage, and resilience of the growing number of people forced to flee
their homes each year.
To mark the event, PRRPC member agencies (see list below) and Mayor Jim Kenney will hold a
press briefing from 1:00PM to 3:00PM. The theme for 2016 is “creating a welcoming
community” and will feature remarks by Mayor Kenney, refugee service providers, resettled
refugees, English as a second language teachers, and employers who have given refugees
their first chance at achieving self-sufficiency.
In addition to the press event with Mayor Kenney, the general public is invited to the Philly
World Refugee Day Event Series composed of two additional community events. Many Lumens
World Refugee Day will be held on June 18th at Mifflin Square Park from 3-8PM and the
Philadelphia World Refugee Day Festival will be held on July 9th from 11-3PM at City Hall. All
events are free to the public but accept donations. Festivities will include food, performances,
testimonials, arts installations, and crafts celebrating Philadelphia rich history of welcoming
those seeking refuge.
“The city of Philadelphia has long been a place of refuge for those displaced by conflict and
crisis,” says Juliane Ramic, Senior Director for Refugee and Community Integration at the
Nationalities Services Center, a PRRPC member agency. “The theme of ‘welcome’ perfectly
encapsulates our vision of Philadelphia as a leader in helping resettled refugees on the path to
self-sufficiency in the United States.”
Each year, more than 800 refugees find their new homes in Philadelphia and remains a
welcoming city for refugees and immigrants under Mayor Kenney’s leadership. The Mayor will
declare June to be Immigrant Heritage Month in Philadelphia as we join welcome.us to continue
developing Philadelphia as a welcoming city. The City of Brotherly Love is one of 66
“Welcoming Cities,” participating in the Welcoming America and Welcoming Refugees
Campaigns. These campaigns create inclusive communities across the nation which become
more prosperous by making every member feel like they belong. Our city is one of 18
participating in United for Immigration Action, a coalition that supports the President’s refugee
resettlement objectives.
Please join us on June 20th to celebrate World Refugee Day and welcome refugees like Gin
Sum, who arrived from Burma in 2009 as refugee escaping a brutal dictatorship and now works
in refugee resettlement. Gin initially started as a case aide providing his fellow refugees with
interpretation and accompaniment to social service and medical appointments. Since then, Gin
has expanded his skills to become a housing coordinator, negotiating with local landlords to find
housing at fair prices for refugees. Gin is a United States Citizen and the perfect example of the
rich history of migration upon which this country was built. He embodies the spirit of the
American Dream set forth in Emma Lazarus’ iconic sonnet graven into Lady Liberty’s tablet,
"Give me your tired, your poor, [y]our huddled masses yearning to breathe free, [t]he wretched
refuse of your teeming shore. [S]end these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me, I lift my lamp
beside the golden door!"
About PRRPC
PRRPC is a coalition of non-profit and government agencies working to improve the
coordination and delivery of services to refugees in the Southeastern Pennsylvania Region.
PRRPC agencies include:
American Red Cross Eastern PA Region, African Family Health Organization, Archdiocese of
Philadelphia, Bethanna, Bhutanese American Organization of Philadelphia, Children’s Crisis
Treatment Center, City of Philadelphia Mural Arts Program, Grow Philadelphia, HIAS
Pennsylvania, JEVS, Lutheran Children and Family Services, Nationalities Services Center,
New World Association, Migrant Education, Philadelphia Department of Public Health, the
Philadelphia Refugee Mental Health Collaborative, the School District of Philadelphia,
SEAMAAC, Upper Darby Township Welcoming Center, Women’s Opportunity Resource Center
Other co-sponsors include: 25th Century Foundation, Asian Arts Initiative, Cambodian
Association of Greater Philadelphia, the City of Philadelphia Office of Immigrant Affairs,
Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual Disability Services, Hummingbird Foundation,
Laos in the House, Philadelphia Asian American Film Festival, and Philadelphia Community
Access Media
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