Recognizing Refugees
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ood grades, good health, good coffee, and a good movie brought awareness to refugees during several events this summer and made for some good and long-lasting memories. Students Recognized Three students served by CCC's Refugee Resettlement program in Richmond, Roanoke, and Hampton Roads were recognized for their high academic achievements through a new Office of Newcomer Services program. The students joined 15 peers as the first cohort of Mentoring Youth in Virginia. In August, the students toured the state capitol, the Library of Virginia, city hall, the mayor’s office, and ended the day with a canal cruise. “This day was very special to the students,” said Emila Stambol, Education Specialist, Refugee Resettlement. “I could see the happiness on their faces as they were recognized for their contributions.” Wellness Conference In Newport News, CCC sponsored the Refugee Wellness Conference, along with Eastern Virginia Medical School's Global Health, Newport News Public Schools, and the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services.
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Various speakers, including CCC's Suheir Diyab and Amar Bhattarai, presented information to raise awareness of refugee health issues and community-based prevention programs. Health Clinic In Richmond, CCC clients received free health screenings and were connected with medical resources in the community through a Refugee Health Clinic. Medical students with Refugee Connect, a program affiliated with the VCU School of Medicine, donated their time to provide the medical screenings. World Refugee Day The Refugee Resettlement program recognized World Refugee Day on June 20 through fundraisers of custom shirts and a partnership with 734 Coffee─a company started by a former CCC client who was once a refugee himself. Just before World Refugee Day, on June 18, CCC collaborated with other area resettlement agencies and RVA Lions, Richmond’s Australian Football League team, for a special showing of the movie, The Merger, at the historic Byrd Theater. The movie tells the story of refugees who helped save an Australian “footy” team.
