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"Our responses to refugees must be grounded in our shared values of responsibility sharing, non-discrimination and human rights, and in international refugee law, including the principle of non-refoulement." — UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon

According to The UN High Commissioner for Refugees, there are more than 21 million refugees around the world, half of whom are under 18. The majority comes from war-torn regions in Somalia, Afghanistan and Syria. But no matter the country of origin or destination of refuge, it is an issue that impacts us all.

On World Refugee Day, join us to hear Bay Area organizations tackling the refugee crisis talk about their critical work providing resettlement assistance, legal advocacy and access to education. Learn how you can get involved.

Our keynote speaker for the evening is Subhi Nahas. Nahas fled Syria following threats from President Bashar al-Assad and ISIS after he was outed as gay. He has since addressed the United Nations Security Council on the persecution and violence faced by LGBT+ persons in Syria and helped found and support a number of organizations advocating for LGBT+ rights, including Spectra Project.

CONNECT is an avenue for like-minded individuals to interact and strategize on the issues that matter. Held each month, CONNECT events give global change-makers, artists and entrepreneurs the opportunity to share their work and inspire others.

SPEAKERS

Chanel Adikuono
Employment Program Specialist, International Rescue Committee

Cristy Dieterich
Program Manager, Newcomers Health Program, San Francisco Public Health Department

Lex Duey
Senior Community Outreach Associate, Western US, Upwardly Global

Julia Glosemeyer
Development and Impact Coordinator, Refugee Transitions

Gerald Gray
Board President, Partnerships for Trauma Recovery

Jyoti Gurung
Development and Program Associate, Refugee Transitions

Doug Hewitt
Co-Founder and Director of Programs, 1951 Coffee Company

Sarah Jones
Center for Economic Opportunity Program Manager, International Rescue Committee

Lara Maxey
Economic Empowerment Manager, International Rescue Committee

Sergio Medina
CEO and Founder, Refugee and Immigrant Services (RISE)

Subhi Nahas
Founder and Chairman of the Board, Spectra Project

Monika Parikh
Founder, Executive Director, Partnerships for Trauma Recovery

Brian Rawson
Associate Director of Advocacy and Communications, Asylum Access

Bijan Yaminafshar
Volunteer Program & Events, Western Region, Upwardly Global