The APALA President’s program, co-sponsored by IRRT and REFORMA, “From Vietnam to Syria: Refugees, their Stories, and Needs” explores the many parallels between the refugee crisis during the Vietnam War, the current crisis in the Middle East, and refugees crossing the Southern border of the United States. The program will include: stories from Vietnamese Americans about resettling in the local Orlando area from Krsytle and Thuy Vincent Nguyen; an overview of the work of REFORMA’s “Children in Crisis Task Force” from Ady Huertas and Oralia Garza de Cortés; information about the Syrian refugee crisis from Laila Hussein Moustafa; and tips and strategies for helping libraries and librarians to serve refugee communities from Touger Vang.
Today, Laila Hussein Moustafa, the Middle East and North Africa Studies Librarian at University of Illinois at Urbana – Champaign, shares a bit about herself, an article she hopes you’ll read, and an invitation to begin a dialogue on refugees with APALA Vice President/President-Elect, Lessa Pelayo-Lozada.
Lessa Pelayo-Lozada (LPL): Introduce yourself! What’s your name? Where do you live? What do you do and what are you passionate about?
Laila Hussein Moustafa (LHM): My Name is Laila Hussein Moustafa. I am in Illinois and I am passionate about cultural heritage preservation and children’s rights.
LPL: In June, you’ll be speaking at the APALA President’s Program in Orlando, entitled ““From Vietnam to Syria: Refugees, their Stories, and Needs”. Is there anything you’d like people to know before they hear you speak?
LHM: I would like our audience to read the Amnesty International Report about Female refugees facing physical assault, exploitation and sexual harassment on their journey through Europe.
LPL: What else would you like to tell those interested in our panel?
LHM: Please come to our event and share your thoughts on refugees with us.
To learn more about serving refugees, join us at the APALA President’s Program, “From Vietnam to Syria: Refugees, their stories, and Needs”, co-sponsored by IRRT and REFORMA, on Saturday, June 25, 10:30-11:30 a.m., OCCC W103B.