Dear John,
As we wrap up this challenging year, we are grateful for the support of individuals like you, John, who despite difficulties faced, remain engaged in our work. Thanks to you, we’re able to advance our mission to advocate for the value of immigrants and immigration to the nation.
In 2020’s final edition of The Forum, I want to share with you some uplifting content of our most recent work -- from a recap of last month’s Leading the Way virtual convening to our first book club podcast with Nancy Jooyoun Kim, author of The Last Story of Mina Lee. I hope you enjoy these as much as I did.
Wishing you and your family
a wonderful holiday season!
With appreciation,
Beth Sears
Vice President & Chief of Strategic Partnerships
P.S. This season of giving, we’ve set a goal to raise $10,000 by the end of the year. Will you help us reach our goal and help advance our work? Make a gift today!
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ICYMI: Leading the Way 2020
Last month, we held Leading the Way, our first-ever virtual convening. Across four days, 13 panels, 39 high-profile speakers and over 1,000 registrants, we discussed issues ranging from post-election analysis, global migration, national identity and the economy. It was a great event overall. I recommend two of my personal favorites: Global Migration in the Age of COVID-19 with Mexican Ambassador to the U.S. Martha Barcena Coqui; Mindy Belz, Senior Editor, World Magazine and David Miliband, CEO of the International Rescue Committee; and Repairing the Fabric: Shared Identity as a Counter to Polarization with Stephen Hawkins, Director of Research at More in Common; Catherine Rampell, Opinion Columnist, The Washington Post and Amanda Ripley, a freelance journalist. Of course, the entire set of panels are great and I highly encourage you to watch them all. You can watch one or many of our discussions here. You’ll want to watch them all! READ: Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo op-ed on Alejandro Mayorkas
In an op-ed published on foxnews.com earlier this month, Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo -- co-chair of the Law Enforcement Immigration Task Force -- highlights reasons law enforcement leaders support President-elect Joe Biden’s choice of Alejandro Mayorkas for Homeland Security secretary. Mayorkas "can help pursue commonsense immigration reforms that will help protect our communities and promote respect for the rule of law," Acevedo writes. He also notes Mayorkas’ implementation of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and streamlining of visa processes for immigrant workers, both of which "support immigrants as key contributors to our economy and society." For our part, we feel Mayorkas is the right choice for DHS because he understands the balance between keeping the nation secure and ensuring that we welcome the talent and the families that help all Americans reach their fullest potential. Read Chief
Acevedo’s op-ed here, then share it with your networks.
FACT CHECK: The Refugee Ceiling for FY 2021
The FY2021 refugee ceiling is 15,000, marking a historic low for our nation’s refugee resettlement program. Admission numbers were historically broken down by geographic regions. But last year and this year, they were based on categories that are very restrictive. As we lay out in our bipartisan set of priorities for the incoming Biden administration, increasing the refugee resettlement cap should be a Day One priority. Check out the stats in our infographic here. WATCH: Interview with Sarah Rubio: Far From Home
Recently, Sarah Quesada from Women of Welcome sat down with author Sarah Rubio to chat about her children’s book, Far from Home: A Story of Loss, Refuge, and Hope, a simple but multi-layered refugee story (drawing directly from headlines) that will help children understand the world around them and remind them that they are not alone. This book is the perfect age-appropriate gift to help your own children acknowledge the struggles of refugees, especially those who are children. Watch the full interview with Sarah Rubio here and then make sure to share with your own networks! TUNE IN: Only in America episode and The Last Story of Mina Lee
Need a break from refreshing your news sites? Tune in to this cozy and thought-provoking episode about the power of storytelling and immigrant experiences in the U.S. In this episode, Ali chats with Nancy Jooyoun Kim, whose debut novel, The Last Story of Mina Lee, has become a New York Times and USA Today Bestseller since being published in September. They discuss immigrant experiences in the U.S. and how telling those stories can bring a powerful perspective to a complicated topic. Mina’s book challenges the assumptions of the American Dream and the types of immigrant stories we often hear. Plus, her book is the perfect gift this holiday season. Take a listen to the episode here, then make sure to subscribe to never miss an episode.
Thank you for reading The Forum. If you like what you see here, send us an email at [email protected]. Or, feel free to forward to your friends and family!
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