 Hello and welcome. My name is Akhlas Ahmed, a refugee from Sudan, Darfur. Today is June 20th and I'm so honored to be here with you to celebrate the story and the resiliency of so many refugees, including my family, but it's a day to also remember those who are still in refugee camps fighting for their lives. Our meeting today is through Facebook and Zoom due to COVID-19, even though we're so far away but we're still here together. COVID-19 has claimed so many lives, especially in our community. I would like to invite us all to take a moment of silence to honor their lives. Thank you for taking that moment of silence with me. World Refugee Day has been celebrated in the state of Maine for so many years with the help of many organizations. Our next speaker is someone that is a good friend and a mentor to me. She is the CEO of the Immigrant Resource Center of Maine. Her work in Louisville and in the entire state of Maine is crucial to fostering a sense of belonging to everyone. Please help me in welcoming my friend and mentor Fatuma Hussein. Hello, Fatuma Hussein, a refugee from Somalia. Welcome to World Refugee Day 2020. As we come together in solidarity to address hate and injustice in all its forms, it is very important to remember millions of people are displaced around the world to become refugees every day. Some of them are resettled in the state of Maine. Please join us in the play of refugees by becoming a welcoming community. On Saturday, June 20th, we'll have our celebration and we'll have an extended celebration at a later date. Thank you. Thank you so much Fatuma for sharing your story and your wisdom with us and for always working so hard to make sure we are together as a community. Please make sure you share some love with Fatuma in our shop box by liking, sharing and sending so many emojis so that Fatuma can receive them. Up next is also another mentor of mine. His name is Tarlan. He is the state of Maine refugee coordinator at Catholic Charity. He works tirelessly here in the state of Maine and in Washington DC to make sure all of our voices are heard. Please make sure you give him a big round of applause for his speech. Hello everyone. My name is Tarlan Amadov. I'm the state refugee coordinator at the office of Maine Refugee Services, Catholic Charities of Maine. Today on June 2020, we are here to join with people in the world to recognize and honor the World Refugee Day. We are joined together survivors in light of global pandemic and also as fighters against the racial injustice. America is no stranger to crisis. We have suffered through world wars, through the threat of nuclear annihilation, economic catastrophes and public health pandemic that have tested our national character. There is a quotation says, our greatest glory is not in ever falling but in rising every time we fall. Perhaps no other phrase describes America as well. The fight for equity is a fight that unites refugees and host communities around the world. In our community, we are honored to see refugees leading the Black Lives Matter movement, both in Lewis and Portland and across the states. We stand with our African-American friends and neighbors in calling for just and true accountability. We also call for a new normal, one where every person, regardless of the race, religion, gender is treated equally under the law, unable to live safely in their communities without fear. Each year on June 20th, we honor the resilience and courage of more than 65 million forces displaced migrants around the world, which includes 25 million recognized refugees who have been forced to flee war, persecution, discrimination, social injustice and violence, including those who were impacted by climate change. On December 4th, 2000, United Nations General Assembly decided that from June 20th, 2000 would be celebrated as a World Refuge Day. But prior to this declaration, the Roman Catholic Church has been celebrating the World Day of Migrants Refugees since January 1914, which was instituted by the Pope Pius X. While initially created by the United Nations General Assembly to recognize the courage and resilience of refugees worldwide, it's also a moment to recognize those communities and people around the world who receive refugees, offering them a safe place, welcoming them in their schools, their workplace and their societies. Refugees come from all over the places and have survived an unimaginable on their journey to safety. Some arrive here in Maine, an unfamiliar place, unfamiliar with the language, unfamiliar with the climate, customs and system, yet determined to build a better life and with hope to a brighter future. This hope for a brighter future in 2020 includes our Black and African American brothers and sisters. Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inscapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects our one directly affects all directly, Martin Luther King. Being a refugee is never easy. But recent years have been particularly challenging for refugees in our country and in the world, causing fear and making the future even more uncertain. But we at the Office of Maine Refugee Services continue this great Catholic tradition of welcoming those who are new to our country and we stand in solidarity with refugees as we work towards justice. Thank you for joining to honor the World Refugee Day 2020. Thank you. Thank you so much darling for your words and for always inspiring us, especially in highlighting the systemic racism that exists in the United States and around the world. Today is a crucial time that people are protesting in the streets to make sure that there is justice not just for part of us but for all of us. So thank you darling for highlighting that. Our next speaker is Morphine Chan, the co-president of the Cambodian community here in the state of Maine. Please let's give him a big round of applause. I'm Chan and the co-president of the Cambodian Community Association of Maine. Just wishing you all a happy World Refugee Day. I'm the second generation and my parents, uncles and grandparents were the first generation to arrive and we all moved here to Portland Maine. Maine's been a huge part of our lives and we just want to celebrate that with you. So please join us with all of the ethnic and community-based organizations in celebrating this important day because it means so much not only for us but also for Portland and Maine as a whole. And that's my nephew, the third generation. Thank you Morphine for your encouraging words and for introducing us to our next generation of happy and vibrant manors like your nephew. Our next speaker is our friend Inza Otara. Inza serves as the refugee health coordinator at Omar's. He's a refugee himself from our recourse. He has a passion for teaching and he's always sharing his knowledge and expertise to make sure refugee health care are an issue that we all talk about. Please help me in welcoming Inza to the stage. Good afternoon everyone and given our current circumstances I would like to welcome you all to this virtual World Refugee Day Celebration. My name is Inza Otara. I am the refugee health coordinator for the state of Maine here in the United States. Every year we come together to celebrate and bring awareness to the courage resilience and positive contributions that refugees make in their host communities. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the World Refugee Day Celebration. It is also a year of greater challenges for refugees wherever they are due to the unprecedented global health crisis. As the state refugee health coordinator please allow me to call your attention on some of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on refugees and their families from their difficult journeys to their final destinations. As a result of the COVID-19 mobility restriction by many states thousands of refugees are currently stranded at borders and in overcrowded transit centers. While resettlement is currently suspended in many receiving countries refugees remain at higher risk of coronavirus contamination in crowded camps and on unsafe roads. Those are made it to their final resettlement destination before the COVID-19 outbreak are now faced with the difficult task of learning how to live in virtual world and staying confined as if years of confinement at refugee camps were not enough for them. Refugees are one of the most impacted population by the coronavirus pandemic today as they cannot appropriately isolate themselves in their homes if they have any. They hold jobs that they cannot afford to do safely from home. They are challenged by cultural language and technological barriers. These situations expose refugees to the virus more than anyone else. As I speak today my thought goes to the refugee community members that pass away due to the coronavirus disease. May they are so rest in perfect peace and my condolences to their families. This World Refugee Day reminds us times again how difficult and critical the refugee condition is as they lack protection and now they are faced with life-threatening health disparities. As we celebrate this year's World Refugee Day I would like to call on policymakers and world leaders and our leaders in Maine to seriously consider putting more resources towards mitigating the health disparities refugees suffer from. I wish a happier World Refugee Day to you all. Thank you for listening and stay safe. Thank you so much for sharing, Inza. Your words have really deeply touched me and I'm sure others are feeling the same way. Up next is the CEO of Catholic Charity, Steve Laterno. Hi, I'm Steve Laterno, CEO of Catholic Charity's Maine and I'm honored to join in this year's Virtual World Refugee Day celebration. Catholic Charity has certainly been blessed for what have been welcomed refugees for more than 45 years. Embracing and supporting immigrants is in keeping with our agency's mission and something we truly feel called to do. We recognize that when we welcome refugees we add to the engine of our economy through the diversity of our workforce and we infuse our communities with new languages, music, and art that enrich our society. Not to mention the food, which I will miss dearly this year, as we celebrate virtually. And while during these unprecedented times we cannot honor this day together in person, please know that Catholic Charity's commitment to stand for and with refugees is unwavering. We are united in our commitment to ensuring all new manors are celebrated with diversity they bring to our state and receive the equal rights and inclusion that our country promises. You know it pains me to see that the members of our Black communities are hurting. Racial injustice and systemic racism continue to needlessly destroy the lives of Black men, women, and children in this country along with other minorities. As an organization, Catholic Charity's is enriched by the diversity in our own workforce. At the same time, we will continue to challenge ourselves to do better. We will work to strengthen the collaborations with like-minded organizations and to listen to voices of color and advocate on their behalf for real change. We recognize that for many of you the process was long, the road challenging, and yet the hopes remain high. So I want to take this opportunity to say how grateful I am that your journey brought you here to Maine, that we at Catholic Charity's affirm our resolve to be a beacon of hope for you, our refugee community today and every day. Thank you. Thank you Steve for sharing. You certainly made me hungry just thinking about the food we had at last year's World Refugee Day event. Up next is Charles Mogambe. He is originally from Congo. He was resettled by Catholic Charity and also now works for Catholic Charity. Please make sure you send him as many emojis as possible. Thank you Charles. Hello everyone. My name is Charles Mogambe. My family and I are refugees originally from Democratic Republic of Congo. We came to United States about four years ago, but coming to United States was a very long journey. First of all we had to endure a lot of suffering back in Congo, a lot of killings, a lot of drought, famine, a lot of instability, insecurity, lack of development, and we had to flee Congo to Uganda where we spent several years as refugees and finally arrived here to United States. Coming to United States was a life-changing moment for us because it meant a second chance to life itself. It meant a chance to explore opportunities such as schooling, such as employment and being able to become self-dependent, self-reliable. This was a great opportunity that we got coming to United States. The safety we didn't have to worry about whether or not we'd survive to see tomorrow. The World Refugee Day is a special day that reminds me personally about my route as a refugee, my journey as a refugee, the help I got along the way to shape me to the person I am today. So I would only add that World Refugee Day is not just a day for the refugees. It's a special day for everybody because I, as a refugee, by myself I wouldn't have done it, but the help I got along the way is what has shaped me to the person I am today. So I would say that this day is a day for everyone, a day of unity, a day to show that by ourselves we cannot do anything, but if we stand strong and support others and support immigrants and support our fellow neighbors, our friends, we will uplift the community and the community will grow. In France, we have a saying that in your fellow force, it means that unity brings about strength. Happy World Refugee Day. Thank you so much, Charles. I could not have agreed with you more. Today is a day not just for refugees, it's a day for everyone. Up next is our Governor, Governor Janet Mills. I remember last year we celebrated World Refugee at the Blaine House alongside Governor Mills. She is the person that always makes sure to fight for refugees and human rights because she wants to make sure all of our voices are heard. Please help me in welcoming our Governor, Governor Janet Mills. Hello, this is Governor Janet Mills. You know, back in 1963, just a few months before he died, John F. Kennedy spoke to the Anti-Defamation League. He said, quote, we are the descendants of 40 million people who left other countries, other familiar scenes, to come here to the United States, to build a new life, to make new opportunity for themselves and their children. I think it is not a burden, he said, but a privilege to share that great concept among all of our people, to make this really, as it was for them, a new world, a new world for us and indeed for all those who look to us. That is what this country has stood for for 200 years and that is what this country will continue to stand for. That's what John F. Kennedy said and that is what the state of Maine stands for today as well. Being a refugee is a long and arduous painstaking process, a difficult journey, dangerous one to escape violence and injustice. Not a journey willingly assumed by anyone without great cause and great effort. That is why in the year 2000, the United Nations General Assembly decided that from that year forward, June 20th would be celebrated as World Refugee Day, a day that raises awareness and seeks support for refugees around the world. That is also why I've issued a proclamation declaring World Refugee Day in our state. Urging citizens to recognize the enduring contributions of refugees within our borders. Maine has its own painful history of bias and discrimination against people from other countries, people of different religions, people of different races, dating back generations. Our state, like many, still struggles with inequities among our people. But I am committed both as your governor and as someone who cares deeply about our state. I'm committed to defending the lives, integrity and inequality of all people. We believe and we know that all people are created equal and that no one should be deprived of life or liberty because of race, creed, color, national origin, religion, disability, gender, age or sexual orientation. Let us remember today the words of John F. Kennedy as we celebrate World Refugee Day and as we remember the very fundamental principles on which our state and nation are founded. Thank you. Thank you so much, Governor Mills, for your wonderful work and your support for the new normal that is inclusive to everyone, including refugees. Up next, we welcome the Arjabar originally from Iraq. They are just graduated from Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences and earned a Doctor's of Pharmacy degree. Welcome, Duvar. Hi, everyone. My name is the Arjabar. I'm originally from Iraq. I arrived to the United States 10 years ago and with my family and it was a long journey but I would not do it by myself without the help of the people who they show me the way and the life, taught me the culture and show me the right way and the quality I saw and which I hope it's more and more for this country and everywhere. And this day, it's where all the words celebrating the Refugee Day, I found it's also very important to mention that to work and toward to the equality and anti-racism and I would mention Prophet Muhammad peace upon him, he always, he said that it's no person is above another by virtue of race or ethnicity but a person is distinguished over another by the quality of one's character and conduct. I would encourage all the people to strive toward the anti-racism and work so hard to dismantle racism in the society since all mankind descended from Adam and Eve. Happy Refugee Day. Bye. I would also like to thank all the people who supported and supported them and directed them to the right way and explained to them the things that they should do and to do and to learn the culture of this people and how things work in the right way. Also, on this day, for the whole world to celebrate the Refugee Day, I would also like to remind you that we should start with the sectarianism and the Iraqiism and as Prophet Muhammad peace upon him said, there is no better person than the Iraqi and the original and only the better person or the difference between a person and a person is in work and personality and especially because all mankind is from Adam and Eve I would like to thank all the people who supported and supported them and directed them to the right way Thank you very much. Bye. And whereas refugees in communities across the welcoming state of Maine resettle in the hope of finding peace and safety for themselves and their families and whereas refugee communities from diverse backgrounds with a variety of skills, abilities and experiences have been and continue to be woven in the fabric of Maine's vibrant culture tapestry for over 40 years and whereas refugee led organizations in Maine share in the priority of our state to strengthen communities by engaging with and improving the lives of all manors and whereas Maine celebrates the refugee communities who have been on the front lines of Maine's response to the COVID-19 pandemic and whereas all of Maine's communities are hoping to stay strong together as we recover from a time of uncertainty reminiscent of experiences in the diaspora now therefore be it resolved that Kate M. Snyder, Mayor of the City of Portland and members of the City Council do hear about proclaim June 20, 2020 to be World Refugee Day in Portland, Maine and recognize the positive impact and endearing contributions of refugee communities seeking refuge within Portland, Maine's border still signed on June 15, 2020 by Kate Snyder, Mayor of the City of Portland Thank you so much Councilman Pius Ali for reading the proclamation Up next please help me in welcoming Bishop Robert Deely from Catholic Diocese of Portland Hello, I'm Bishop Robert Deely I'm happy to join you in celebrating World Refugee Day This year it is virtual but its purpose is the same We lift up the gift that refugees are to our communities and our country And I'm also grateful for the joy in life they bring to our parishes throughout Maine They are our brothers and sisters who should always feel welcome In Maine, Catholic Charities Maine has offered that care for decades through refugee and immigration services helping individuals and families who flee from violence and come to America seeking opportunity for safety and stability The work of that program is inspiring It arises out of the call of our faith to serve the most vulnerable among us regardless of whether they are born in America or are new arrivals We cannot turn our backs and close our doors on people who are victims of terrorism and violence Immigration is after all the story of America People come here for many reasons but we are strengthened by the presence of refugees and their eagerness to participate fully in the life of the community including in its churches Refugees from many African and Central American countries contribute to the vibrant spirit and diversity of our Catholic parishes in Portland and Sanford Bangor and Cherryfield and many places in between These communities are enriched by the joy of these new people in our midst who proudly arrived in Maine to live in peace and join us in worshiping God So please join me on this World Refugee Day in asking God to protect all refugees and migrants in their travels and in their resettlement May they find a loving welcome in our country and may our kindness and care make us worthy of the refugee and mercy we all find in the Lord our Creator It warms my heart to see official declaration signed to foster a sense of belonging for refugees in our state of Maine Cancelwoman Deja, thank you for recognizing refugees Good evening everyone, my name is Deka Dalak I am one of the City Councilors for the City of South Portland, District 5 The City Councilors unanimously voted for June 20, 2020 to be proclaimed for World Refugee Day I'm going to go ahead and read the proclamation World Refugee Day mayoral proclamation Whereas the World Refugee Day was launched by the United Nations to honor the bravery, strength, determination of refugees fleeing war and persecution Whereas refugees in communities across the welcoming state of Maine presettle in the hope of finding peace and safety for themselves and their families Whereas refugee communities from diverse backgrounds with a variety of skills, abilities and expertise have been and continue to be woven in the fabric of Maine's vibrant culture for over 40 years Whereas refugee-led organizations in Maine share in the priority of our state to strengthen communities by engaging with and improving the lives of all Maineers Whereas Maine celebrates the refugee communities who have been on the front lines of Maine's response to the COVID-19 pandemic And whereas all of Maine's communities are hoping to stay strong together as we recover from a time of uncertainty of experiences in the diaspora Now therefore, I, Catherine H. Lewis, Mayor of City of South Portland, do hereby proclaim June 20, 2020 to be World Refugee Day In the City of South Portland, I recognize the positive impact and enduring contributions of refugee communities seeking refuge within South Portland borders Thank you, enjoy and happy World Refugee Day. Thank you Please help me in welcoming Bishop Thomas Brown from the Episcopal Diocese of Maine Today, as we celebrate World Refugee Day, I join faith and community leaders in honoring and in responding to refugees Our call is particularly needed right now because of the global coronavirus pandemic and because of the systemic racism and inequality of black, indigenous and people of color As an Episcopalian and as a spiritual leader of Episcopalians, I'm reminded that as followers of Jesus, welcoming new neighbors is a response to our baptismal promise In which we pledge to seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving our neighbor as ourself and to strive for justice and peace among all people Respecting the dignity of every human being To these pledges, we say we will with God's help May God bless the work of your hands and your hearts in caring for and lifting up refugees May God bless you Thank you so much Bishop Brown for your blessings and the warmest that you shared with all of us Up next, I would like to welcome a friend and a sister and a hero to so many of us, Councilwoman Tafiya Khalid from the city of Lewiston So everyone, it's Tafiya Khalid here from Lewiston City Council from World One I wanted to quickly come on here and wish you a happy World Refugee Day Right now, everything is uncertain, you know, there's a lot going on from a pandemic to an election season to a census You know, there's three major life changes happening 2020 But I hope that, you know, with all that's happening, I hope you can get together with your family and your friends virtually, of course And celebrate your culture, your tradition, your nationality, and all that that makes you you And with that, again, happy World Refugee Day Salam Aleykum Thank you so much, Councilwoman Tafiya Khalid for always being a source of our pride and joy Now, I would like to welcome Dina Yaqouba Da from the Islamic Center of Maine Hello everyone My name is Dina Yaqouba Aga, I'm a member of the Islamic Center of Maine in Orono I want to welcome all refugees who survive hardships in their journey to safety We want to tell you that we greatly appreciate you and value your experiences and contributions to our communities all over Maine We are fortunate to get to learn from you the traits of perseverance, patience, and hope You have brought new perspectives and new cultures that have added to the mosaic of our society and enriched our understanding of the world Your journey into the U.S. hasn't been easy You have survived living in war, loss of loved ones, famine, and political unrest Living in the U.S. comes with its own challenges of adjusting to and overcoming the barriers of learning a new language Having access to employment and integrating in the society I want to tell you that we are more successful when we help you overcome these challenges We are stronger when we work together and support each other We respect you and we welcome you Happy World Refugee Day Thank you Now, as Congressional delegation, we will be receiving remarks from our Honorable Senator Susan Collins Senator Angus King, U.S. Congresswoman Shelley Pingery, and U.S. Congressman Jared Golden This is Senator Susan Collins thanking you for joining together in this virtual commemoration of World Refugee Day The prosperity and freedom we are blessed with here in America carry a special obligation to address the plight of refugees around the world At the same time, we must recognize the difficulties faced by communities of color here at home Thank you for your commitment to this cause This is a difficult period with the COVID pandemic and also with the issue of racial justice that's sweeping our country I hope that it will be found to be a time of rejuvenation, a time of returning to our fundamental values about equality and freedom and liberty and justice for all I'm proud that in Maine, many Black Lives Matter demonstrations across our state have been organized by refugees who recognize the current system of injustice We are lucky to have a growing community of refugees and asylees in Maine who represent a mosaic of voices from across the globe and make vital contributions to our state But I also recognize that there is more we can do to support immigrants of color in Maine. I am proud to stand alongside those calling for more Thank you for all you do There's so much we have in common that brings us together, but nothing so much as our hope for an even better future for the children, for the next generation Even in the midst of today's challenges, we have so much to be optimistic about I want to thank you for your work on behalf of refugee communities in Maine and happy World Refugee Day 2020 Thank you so much to our distinguished leaders for their remarks Our next guest speaker is Father Moran who will be sharing a blessing with us in Spanish and then in English I am Father Francisco Morin, a priest of the Catholic Church of Maine I am invited to pray this prayer Oh sir, as we did in the past, today we share your vision of hope We have also experienced the burning sand and the serene soil of indifference and the human exclusion We pray for the suffering of our Latin American brothers and sisters And from other places, forced by violence, corruption and misery, abandoning the family All that is needed to find an opportunity to live here in our blessed land But we know, sir, that you yourself are a person in your child You have already experienced being a migrant Very good sir, our hearts and minds of our leaders to love them as you love them Love them with your love May we be your love for the migrants and refugees in the door of our country Fill our hearts with your compassion Help us to know that loving this way we will not depend on our limited resources But on the abundance of those who, with a simple blessing, provided a banquet To 5,000 with five small plates and two bowls Fill us with joy and joy while we are witnesses to your transformative work You who believe in the life of nothing and make the desert bloom Salva a los que te invocan Rescátalos y llenanos con su alegría Amen Pray for migrants and refugees O Lord, in times past, so will we in this time share your vision of hope We too have experienced the burning sands and thirsty ground of human indifference and exclusion We mourn the suffering of our sisters and brothers from Latin America and elsewhere Forced by violence, corruption and misery to leave family and everything they treasure To seek a chance at life here in our blessed land Move our hearts, Lord, in the hearts of our leaders to love them as you do To love them with your love, to be your love for migrants at the doorway of our country Fill our hearts with your compassion Help us to know that by loving in this way we will not be depending on our limited resources But upon the abundance of the one who with a simple blessing Through the one we call his son, provided a banquet for 5,000 With five small loaves of bread and two fish Fill us with joy and gladness as we become witnesses of your transforming work You who call forth life from nothing and make the desert bloom Save those who call upon you Ransom them and fill them with your joy Amen Thank you, Father Moran, for reminding us of the abundance of love that we all need to embrace in our daily life Up next, please help me in welcoming Rabbi Erika Ash from the Temple Bath El in Agasta Refugee Day, I'm reminded of Abraham and Sarah, they're of the Jewish religion They had to flee and their journey was just like the journey of so many refugees today Who are forced to leave their homelands because of violence or famine circumstances beyond their control As we think about all of those refugees who have found their way here to America We hope that they find wonderful and beautiful lives here And we pray for all of those across the world who are still suffering because they are refugees I'd like to offer this prayer by Rabbi Marla Feldman And so we pray, we recount the centuries of human history We pray that one day bondage will lead to freedom We pray that indifference will give way to mercy We pray that hatred will turn to compassion and fear turn to hope We pray that one day nations will defy history and proclaim in one voice Never again will tear-stricken exiles face angry waters alone Never again will vulnerable victims be locked behind barbed wire Never again will desperate refugees be turned away at the borders of freedom And we vow, until that day arrives, we will be the miracle that parts the angry seas for today's refugees We will take it upon ourselves to lead the mixed multitude to dry land And we will bring them to a place of redemption Amen Thank you so much Rabbi Erika for reminding us about the refugee journey And for those who are still in refugee camps fighting for their lives Our final guest speakers are people that I cherish and I respect greatly Please help me in welcoming Nasir, Rohani and Idee Rohani Who will be closing our ceremony with the Baha'i faith of blessings and unity and love Baha'i writings are filled with references to oneness of humanity and unity of mankind In the Baha'i scripture we read, the diversity in the human family should be the cause of love and harmony As it is in music, where many different notes blend together in making the perfect chord And that concludes our program, it has been an honor to be your emcee Thank you for joining me in celebrating World Refugee Day in honoring and remembering those who are still suffering in refugee camps Let's still continue to talk about those who are suffering And hopefully next year we are joined in better terms in one space where we can have our food, our music and togetherness Happy World Refugee Day 2020 Thank you for joining Thank you so much