For UU congregations interested in the Syrian refugee crisis, UUCA and UU Church of Rockville have compiled important information and the best ways for UU congregations to respond.

More Information

• Refugee Settlement Process: Refugees from Syria (or any other country) come into the US under the auspices of organizations which have contracts with the State Department, and there are state and local organizations which contribute to the settlement process of such refugees. This is a highly regulated process and UU organizations can contribute at many levels and many points in the process, but always in collaboration with the organizations that have the main responsibility. Read the document About Refugees from the Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Arlington (CCDA) to understand the whole process.
• Current status of refugee resettlement in Northern Virginia: The CCDA and LSS resettlement model is: self-sufficiency through early employment. Currently, the CCDA assisted one Syrian refugee family’s resettlement in Northern Virginia in 2014. The husband of the family was an Arabic-language journalist in Syria who is still struggling with English and now working as a landscaper.  Langley Hill Friends Meeting has set up a fund that now provides an adequate safety net. There are tens or perhaps hundreds of Syrians in Northern Virginia displaced from their homes but with their own funds and with U.S. relatives who are helping them resettle on their own. UUCA will have further contact with the social worker at DAH to find out what, if any, assistance might be needed. CCDA and LSS expect Syrian refugees to arrive at the end of 2016 or the beginning of 2017. Annually on the Federal fiscal year cycle, CCDA can at most resettle 660 refugees in this area.
• On Wednesday, May 11, a press conference was held with co-leads and stakeholder groups to introduce the Freedom of Religion Act. Congressman Beyer’s bill ensures that immigrants, refugees, and international travelers will not be banned from entering the United States because of their religion.

 

Resources for Refugees

Virginia

• Department of Health 
• Department of Social Services

Maryland

• Refugee Resettlement Office in Maryland
• Intercultural Counseling Connection
• International Rescue Committee

DC

• International Rescue Committee

 

UUs – Take Action!

• Attend an Interfaith Round-Table to Support Local Refugees on Thursday, May 19, 8:30-10:00am at Human Rights First (HRF), 805 15th Street NW, Suite 900, Washington, DC 20005. Faith communities and HRF will continue discussion on how faith communities can help these individuals obtain meaningful, self-sustaining employment. Bring your creativity and compassion; we will provide a light breakfast. RSVP.

• Collaborate with approved Voluntary Agencies operating in the DC area. Both CCDA and Lutheran Social Services (LSS) accept UU congregations/organizations as sponsors and specific levels of sponsorship. See the LSS Sponsorship Levels flyer for their four levels of sponsorship and the Migration and Refugee Services – Donations flyer as specified by CCDA.

• Join a quarterly community dialogue working group for faith-based groups with LSS and CCDA. To sign up, visit www.ccda.net, click volunteer, search by program and select Migration and Refugee Services-North or contact Dr. Patricia Maloof, Program Director of CCDA, at 703-841-3879 or Lutheran Social Services (LSS) Jessica, Falls Church office of LSS at 703 698-5026 x133.

• An advance copy of UUSC’s “Building Bridges: A Refugee Support and Advocacy Toolkit” is now available! In connection with the toolkit, UUSC will be launching the Refugee Rapid Response Network in order to provide ongoing resources and support for local action on refugee issues.

• Help host a #RefugeesWelcome dinner or event in your community. One great way to begin building relationships with recently arrived refugees is by hosting a welcome dinner, luncheon, or other #RefugeesWelcome event. As part of the Refugees Welcome Campaign, we are inviting congregations, campus clubs, and community groups around the United States and Canada to collaborate with local refugee resettlement agencies by hosting events.Interested in learning more about hosting or participating in a #RefugeesWelcome event? Check out this sneak peek of the “Building Bridges” toolkit.

• Register interest in becoming a refugee advocate. Refugee and Immigrant Center for Education and Legal Services (RAICES) is looking for people to help recently arrived refugees find support services. Priority cities are: Dallas, Houston, El Paso, Atlanta, Boston, Baltimore, Charlotte, Memphis, Orlando, Miami, New Orleans, NYC, Chicago, Arlington, Washington D.C., and Los Angeles.

• Share your story with us! In early April, David Strauss and UUCR’s Immigration Team provided volunteers and  financially supported a dinner welcoming 30+ Syrian refugees at the University Christian Church in Hyattsville, MD. UUCR is also a site for the upcoming 2016 Immigration Film Festival, for the third consecutive year, and they hope to help register immigrants to vote. Feel free to share with us what your congregation is doing about the Syrian Refugee Crisis by contacting info@uusj.org.