A Refugee Experience

Houston’s Refugee Women’s Collaborative presented an afternoon luncheon focusing an insight into the refugee experience: The Resilient Soul at the University of Houston Main Campus. The MD Anderson Library witnessed a packed audience with mostly ladies enthusiastically learning about Houston’s refugee experience. The stories were inspirational and life changing.

The mission of the Houston Refugee Women’s Collaborative is to recognize the resilience of refugees, the organization seeks to assist resettled women in improving their quality of life by providing education, support, and raising awareness in the community. “The collaborative tries to fulfill the unique needs of female refugees who often face more obstacles than their male counterparts,” says Carey Reagan, on the Board of the Refugee of Women’s Collaborative.

The afternoon had a vibrant group of speakers followed by a panel discussion. Amongst the speakers were Dr. Sophia Banu, Caltriona Lyons, Refugee program Coordinator for the State of Texas, and Claudia Kolker, an award winning reporter and author of The Immigrant Advantage. Also present amongst the audience was Yani Rose Keo, Founder of Alliance For Multicultural Community Services who shared with Lights Camera Action her unique story and her inspiration to start the alliance center.

HRWC also holds many educational workshops for the refugee women, in their native languages, and awareness events to educate the Houston community about refugees.