Two Catholic Charities Maine experts will join a national panel exploring “A Better Approach Toward Reception of People Seeking Asylum”

Two Catholic Charities Maine experts, Chief Program Officer Julie Allaire, and Program Director Joanna Testa, were featured in a panel discussion hosted by Refugees International and the Women’s Refugee Commission exploring how displacement throughout the western hemisphere is growing, and increasing numbers of people seeking safety and better lives for their families have come to the southern border of the United States over the past several years. Meanwhile, federal and local reception policies have adapted but remain incomplete and contested.

The virtual event highlighted challenges and best practices that should drive the development of a humane and sustainable reception policy. Speakers addressed how to coordinate efforts by federal and local governments and NGOs to strengthen long-term support for newcomers and their U.S. communities.

Event Sponsors and Moderators:

• Yael Schacher, Refugees International (https://www.refugeesinternational.org/), author of forthcoming report “From Crisis to Possibility: Moving Beyond an Emergency Approach to Reception of Asylum Seekers in the United States”
• Katharina Obser, Women’s Refugee Commission, (https://www.womensrefugeecommission.org/), co-author of forthcoming report “Opportunities for Welcome: Lessons Learned for Supporting People Seeking Asylum in Chicago, Denver, New York City, and Portland, Maine”

Speakers:

• Julie Allaire, Chief Program Officer, Catholic Charities Maine
• Joanna Testa, Program Director, Catholic Charities Maine
• Camille Mackler, Executive Director of I-ARC, New York
• Kate Clark, Senior Director of Immigration Services, Jewish Family Service of San Diego
• Atim Otii, Director, Denver Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs

You may watch the recorded webinar here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qdZ_9L81WeU.

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