Forced migration education: A speaker panel discussion at CMU
The Refugee Outreach Collective (ROC) is an on-campus organization associated with a larger multi-state non-profit advocating for education access for displaced collegiate refugees. ROC is organizing Learning Beyond Borders: Voices of Displaced Students discussion panel from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Wednesday, March 20 in Pearce 127 at Central Michigan University.
Abby Bayne, president of ROC at CMU, said this panel focuses on education for forced migrants and how it promotes democracy. She said this is an important opportunity to share a global perspective with people who may not understand.
“This is a topic that not a lot of people want to talk about, want to hear about and it’s a little too heavy for the average listener, but it’s important to hear about because it’s a huge part of our world population,” Bayne said.
Three migrant scholars will speak at the panel: Shofi Alom, M’Munga Lulaca, Shukurani Nsengiyumva and the founder and executive director of ROC, Emily Worline. The panel is sponsored by Dr. Harold Abel Endowed Lecture Series in the Study of Dictatorship, Democracy and Genocide, the Critical Engagements initiative and ROC at CMU.
A luncheon with the speakers will also be open to all students from 12 to 1:30 p.m. Wednesday at the University Center on campus.
“I think it’s especially important because thinking of the audience, it’s going to be a lot of people who are in college who aren’t forced migrants,” Calvin Older, treasurer of ROC at CMU, said. “So being able to hear their perspective, (their) experience, will increase awareness and understanding of what they’re going through and hopefully, in turn, increase support.”
