Sunday, March 25, 2012

WMST BB 3/27: Refugee, Farmworker, and Gender Rights in Central New York

On Tuesday we will host 3 speakers who will discuss the status and rights of refugees and farmworkers in Central New York, with a particular focus on gender.


Shelly Callahan will be the representative from Mohawk Valley Resource Center for Refugees. The Mohawk Valley Resource Center for Refugees is an organization in Utica that helps refugees relocate in the surrounding area. Their aim is help refugees and their families transition to life in America and in return these refugees become active community members. Over the past five years, the center has relocated roughly 500 refugees each year. People from a total of 31 countries have benefited from the center including Bosnians, Burmese, Cambodians, Romanians, Russians.


Barrie Gewanter is the ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union) Regional Director. "A graduate of Webster University with a Master's in sociology from Washington University, Ms. Gewanter has been a longtime community activist, focusing on women's rights, gay and lesbian rights, workplace health and safety, labor issues, economic justice, civil rights, and civil liberities.  She has been recognized by the Human Rights Commission of Syracuse and Onondaga County for her work on the Living Wage campaign and other social justice issues. Ms. Gewanter currently coordinates the NYCLU's Central New York Bill of Rights Defense Campaign." *


Sonia Martinez is the Board President of the Mohawk Valley Latino Association. The Mohawk Valley Latino Association's mission is "To improve the standards of living for all residents of the Mohawk Valley through various services that will educate and empower them. To achieve awareness amongst the different cultures of the Mohawk Valley. To help shape the minds of our youth and demonstrate to them the great opportunities available within the Mohawk Valley and our Nation." **


Co-sponsored with ALST and Upstate Institute 
FREE food; all are welcome!


* http://www.utica.edu/instadvance/marketingcomm/dissent/gewanter.cfm
** http://mvlautica.org/index.php/about-us/mission-statement


-Michelle Van Veen

No comments:

Post a Comment