Author: Robert Creenan
The University at Buffalo will be sponsoring two events on March 30-31 under the banner, “Syrian Refugees: Buffalo Responds”.
The first event will be a film screening of a documentary called “A Requiem for Syrian Refugees” at Clemens Hall on UB North campus. The film details the lives of Syrian refugees as they try to make a better life for themselves after escaping from their home country. Two shorter films will also be shown. After the films, Gamileh Jamil of Access-WNY will lead a guided discussion.
The second event is at the Buffalo & Erie County Central Library. It will be a symposium on the issues involved with the refugee crisis, with issues revolving around European viewpoints, humanitarian work in the refugee camps, mental health issues, and the familial issues. The event takes place from 8:30am to 4:30pm. Speakers include Asli Yalim of the UB School of Social Work, Deborah Reed-Danhay of the UB Department of Anthropology, Sarita Fritzler of Save the Children, Hussam Jefee-Bahloul of the University of Massachusetts, Othman Shibly of the UB School of Dental Medicine, and a panel of experts in the Buffalo area that deal with refugee resettlement. Speaking times vary from 15 minutes to an hour and a half.
This is the first event in the WNY area to bring together various perspectives and constituents on this issue. There is also a World Refugee Day taking place in May, but that itself doesn’t deal directly with the Syrian crisis.
A Requiem for Syrian Refugees
Wednesday, March 30th, 2016
6pm – 9pm
120 Clemens Hall (North Campus, UB)
Light refreshments provided.
Free event. No RSVP required.
Film screening with guided discussion.
Guest facilitator: Gamileh Jamil of ACCESS of WNY
Sponsored by the UB School of Social Work. For more information, contact: sw-events@buffalo.edu.
Syrian Refugees: Buffalo Responds
Thursday, March 31st
8:30am – 4:30pm
Buffalo & Erie County Central Library: 1 Lafayette Square
This event is free and open to the public. See RSVP details.
Keynote: “Mental Health Issues for Syrian Refugees Affected by Armed Conflict”
Hussam Jeffe-Bahloul, MD
Guest Speaker: Sarita Fritzler of “Save the Children” (via Skype)
Panelists & Other Guests:
Denise Beehag, International Institute of Buffalo
Kim Griswold, M.D., UB Family Medicine
Ali Kadhum, M.S.W., Iraqi American Society
Pam Kefi, WNY Center for Survivors of Torture
Donna Pepero, Journey’s End Refugee Services
Deborah Reed-Danahay, Ph.D., UB Dept of Anthropology
Meghan Rumpf Perry, Journeys’ End Refugee Services
Othman Shibly, D.D.S., UB School of Dental Medicine
Sponsored by the UB School of Social Work. For more information, contact: sw-events@buffalo.edu. Co-sponsored by the UB Asian Studies Department.