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To read the last edition of Encouraging Hope, the KRM newsletter, click here.
IN FOCUS
* KRM Receives $150,000 Grant from The UPS Foundation (1.19.08)
* Local Church Celebrates Wedding of Karen Refugees (12.31.07)
* KRM Awarded Grant by Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky (6.7.07)
* KRM Hosts Visiting Members of Parliament from Norway (2.28.07)
* KRM Receives Award from Center for Interfaith Relations (11.09.06)
* Refugee Youth Creating Mural at Iroquois Manor Valumarket (10.19.06)
* Chase Bank Supports Refugee Financial Literacy (9.13.06)
* Refugees Victims of Material Support Admissions Bar (8.24.06)
* Local Hotels Depend on Refugee Workers (7.31.06)
* Lexington Churches Assist Refugees (5.31.06)
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SAVE THE DATE: NOVEMBER 7, 2008
GLOBAL GOURMET, KRM's annual fundraiser, will be held
Friday, November 7th at Glassworks, starting at 6:30 pm.
SUMMER 2008 at KRM
World Refugee Day
A 2000 U.N. Resolution designated June 20 of each year as World Refugee Day. This year KRM held its annual World Refugee Day Picnic at Highland Presbyterian Church. Staff, clients, volunteers and community members enjoyed international food donated by ValuMarket and Coco's Bakery. The celebration included music, soccer, games, and informational exhibits by refugees from Burma (Karen), Burundi, Cuba, Iraq and Somalia.
Refugee Book Discussion
On July 27, KRM hosted a book discussion at the U. of Louisville Library. Panelists Joseph Twagililimana from Rwanda and Prof. Jennie Burnet of U. of L., shared their perspectives on Left to Tell, a survivor account of the Rwandan genocide. Fedja Buric from Bosnia offered background to Sarajevo Marlboro, a collection of short stories set during the Bosnian Civil War. The memoir From the Land of Green Ghosts depicted the sufferings of the residents of Burma under that county's repressive regime. Louisville resident Mahn Saing testified to the persecution his own ethnic Karen people face in Burma. Steve Clark and Annette Ellard, members of Crescent Hill Baptist Church, spoke of their experience assisting Karen refugees locally and in Thailand. Congressman John Yarmuth made the closing remarks to the discussion, which was moderated by Prof. Terry Singer, Dean of U of L's Kent School of Social Work.
Summer Youth Program
KRM's Summer Youth Program recently concluded its 8-week session. JCPS instructors provided over 30 newly-arrived refugee kids with daily intensive ESL and academic skills instruction. The kids also participated in computer and art therapy projects. Field trips to the Kentucky Derby Museum, the Louisville Zoo, the Muhammad Ali Center and the Louisville Fire Department 4th District Headquarters made for a fun community orientation for these young newcomers.
* * *
KRM recently received a $150,000 Challenge Grant from
The UPS Foundation.
* * *
2007 WORLD REFUGEE DAY COMMUNITY CHOIR
with HARRY PICKENS
Kentucky Refugee Ministries, Harry Pickens and the members of
the World Refugee Day Community Choir would like to thank all
those who attended yesterday's concert. It was a joy to share
our music with such a large and appreciative audience. (7.2.07)
Harry Pickens (far right) and the World Refugee Day Community Choir
during their July 1st concert at the Brown School.
Special thanks to the Kentucky Arts Council and Louisville Metro
Councilman Tom Owen for their sponsorship of this event.
Summer Youth Program
As a community orientation activity, the recently-arrived refugee kids in KRM's Summer Youth program participated in a Scavenger Hunt in the Highlands. Above, Regina, from Burundi, locates the flour at the Mid-City Mall ValuMarket.
All the children were hosted by the staff at The Highland Coffee Company's Bardstown Road location, who provided free drinks and a friendly welcome. KRM would like to thank Highland Coffee for its longtime support.
(See more photos in the Summer @ KRM photo gallery.)
The Karen Burmese
KRM recently began assisting a new population, as the first refugees belonging to Burma's Karen ethnic minority arrived in Louisville. The Karen are coming to the U.S. from Thailand, where they have lived for years in a cluster of refugee camps near the Thai-Burmese border. KRM Director Carol Young recently returned from a visit to one of these camps, Mae La.
Mae La Refugee Camp, Thailand
Additional photos from the Mae La camp have been posted in our Photo Gallery. Those interested in learning more about the Karen and other Burmese refugees being resettled in Louisville can find more information here.
Louisville's International Population
Louisville's sizeable refugee communities figure prominently in a detailed profile of the city's international population prepared by the Urban Institute. The report was commissioned by the Louisville Metro Office for International Affairs.
A Profile of the Foreign-Born in the Louisville Metropolitan Area
Full Report (pdf) * Summary (pdf)
Church Co-Sponsor: Springdale Presbyterian Church
Most newly-arrived families resettled by Kentucky Refugee Ministries are co-sponsored by an area church. A member of the sponsorship team from Springdale Presbyterian Church contributed this account of Springdale's experience assisting two families of Meskhetian Turk refugees from Russia.
Refugee Youth Mural Unveiled
On January 7, 2007, a dedicated group of refugee and immigrant youth publicly unveiled the 50-foot mural they painted on the wall of the Iroquois Manor ValuMarket (5301 Mitscher Ave, off of Third St.). Working on weekends over the course of several months, the young artists created the mural under the guidance of local artist Nico Jorcino. Visit the KRM photo gallery to see photos of the project. For more background, click here.
Encouraging Hope Cards
Is there someone you would like to honor with a special gift?
KRM Receives Award from Center for Interfaith Relations
The Hearts in Harmony Award was presented at an Interfaith Breakfast held during the Center for Interfaith Relations' 2006 Festival of Faiths.
2006 Global Gourmet @ Glassworks
Many thanks to all the friends, supporters, restaurants and corporate sponsors who made our 7th annual Global Gourmet fundraiser such a success. Photos from the event are posted in the KRM photo gallery.
Financial Education for Refugees
For the second year, Chase Bank has awarded Kentucky Refugee Ministries a grant to support financial literacy education for refugees.
United States Citizens
Many former refugees were among the 374 local residents sworn in as United States citizens at the naturalization ceremony held September 1, during Metro Louisville's Worldfest. To see pictures taken at the ceremony, visit our photo gallery.
The current schedule for KRM's five weekly citizenship classes and contact info for refugees wanting to learn more about the naturalization process are available here.
KRM Citizenship Coordinator John Whitaker poses with three new Americans.
Church World Service Marks 60th Anniversary with Refugee Stories
Kentucky Refugee Ministries is a local affiliate of Episcopal Migration Ministries and Church World Service. To mark its 60th anniversary, Church World Service is featuring the stories of the some of the more than 450,000 refugees the agency has helped resettle in the United States since its founding in 1946.
Mission Statement
Kentucky Refugee Ministries, Inc. (KRM), a non-profit organization, is dedicated to providing resettlement services to refugees through church- and agency-based sponsorship in order to promote self-sufficiency and successful integration into our community. KRM is committed to offering access to community resources and opportunities and to promoting awareness of diversity for the benefit of the whole community.
KENTUCKY REFUGEE MINISTRIES, INC.
969-B CHEROKEE ROAD * LOUISVILLE, KY 40204 * 502.479.9180
201 EAST MAXWELL STREET * LEXINGTON, KY 40508 * 859.226.5661 | 
