The public is invited to a panel discussion, presented by InterFaith Works, during which new Americans who came to Central New York as refugees will share their experiences. Staff members from the Center for New Americans also will discuss the process of resettlement and what it would mean to resettle refugees in Cazenovia. There will be an opportunity for questions and answers.

The event will be held at 7 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 14, in the Cazenovia Public Library community room.

“There is a great deal of interest in and attention to the global refugee crisis but very little firsthand information,” said Common Grounds Coordinator Kelli Johnson. “This is a very unique opportunity to hear from those who have experienced the resettlement process and from those who guide people through it.”

The panel discussion is sponsored by the Common Grounds Challenge Grant committee, which was established in 2014 with the purpose of inspiring innovative ideas to improve the quality of life in Cazenovia. In 2016, the committee decided to try something new and focus on one “Big Idea” rather than multiple smaller projects. As a result, the committee spent the first part of 2016 exploring the idea of making a small contribution toward a global challenge by welcoming a refugee family to our community.

The committee connected with InterFaith Works of Central New York and its Center for New Americans, a Syracuse-based resettlement agency. IFW President and CEO, Beth Broadway, also happens to be a member of the Cazenovia community. She has been instrumental in guiding the committee through the learning process and helping to research the logistics and work through the challenges of refugee resettlement in a rural area such as ours. The ultimate goal of this project is to support InterFaith Works and the Center for New Americans in the resettlement of two families within our community.

For more information on this project, contact [email protected].