RWN Conference
Come participate in the biggest gathering organized by and for refugee and immigrant women and their allies in the United States
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In Our Hands:
Building Solidarity and Community
9th Annual Refugee & Immigrant Women’s Leadership Conference
November 14-16, 2008
Westin Peachtree Plaza Hotel, 210 Peachtree Street, Atlanta, GA 30309
About the Conference
Join Refugee Women’s Network Inc., at the 9th Annual Refugee & Immigrant Women’s Leadership Conference to share your experiences and best practices, and to network and learn from one another. Our theme, “In Our Hands: Building Solidarity and Community,” highlights individuals, organizations and communities who have worked tirelessly to build solidarity and community. Workshop formats emphasize collective learning with panels of speakers, facilitated groups and interactive learning sessions. Learn and deepen your knowledge about health, gender & gender based violence, human rights and social justice advocacy, microenterprise, youth and youth leadership and personal growth and development. At the end of the conference, celebrate the strength and courage of refugees, immigrants and women in overcoming challenges and building a strong and just world for everyone in a collective closing ceremony.
Who Should Attend
RWN invites everyone who is involved in building solidarity across cultural, religious and ethnic lines for the benefit of refugees and immigrants to participate in the conference. Conference proceedings focus on how refugee and immigrant communities are affected by and have been affecting change. If you are an individual, a community leader, a refugee service provider agency, a mutual assistance organization, a resettlement agency, or from local, state and federal agencies and media, then come for a dynamic and provocative weekend.
Keynote Speakers
November 14th, 2008
Kabzuag Vaj – Kabzuag Vaj is a Hmong refugee woman who came with her family to the US in 1981. She is a founder, and the Executive Director of Freedom, Inc., a grassroots organization that advocates and provides services to low and no-income communities of color in Madison, Wisconsin. Kabzuag Vaj has worked and organized in her community since she was 15 years old. In the last 19 years, she has worked on many social justice issues, which include welfare reform, immigration issues, youth justice, and racial profiling. In the last 8 years, she has worked on ending violence against women and children. Currently, she is a part of a team effort in Wisconsin working to address trafficking issues/abusive international marriages and murder suicide within the Hmong community.
November 15th, 2008
Reaching Across Ethnic Divides to Build Solidarity & Community is a panel discussion on the genesis of three organizations: International Community School, Tapestri, Inc. and International Women’s House. All three institutions exist because concerned community members recognized that the learning and empowerment needs of immigrants and refugees were unique and that they were not being met adequately within the existing educational and service institutions. Panelists will discuss how they worked through ethnic, social, cultural and economic divides to build solidarity, find common grounds and build a community that is responsive, respectful and supportive of the immigrant and refugee community.
International Community School (ICS) is a charter school located in DeKalb County, Georgia. The school was strategically designed to bring together refugee, immigrant and native-born children in an academically challenging and nurturing environment. ICS began operation during the 2002-2003 school year and has grown to be one of the most successful charter schools in the state. The school is a nurturing community for children and their families who carry deep physical and spiritual wounds of war.
Tapestri, Inc., is dedicated to ending violence and oppression in refugee and immigrant communities, using culturally competent and appropriate methods. As advocates for refugee and immigrant families affected by domestic violence, sexual assault and exploitation, Tapestri is committed to using education, community organizing, direct services and advocacy to effect change in the lives of these families.
International Women’s House is a shelter for immigrant and refugee women and their children who are survivors of domestic violence. IWH supports refugee and immigrant women break the cycle of violence through education and empowerment.
Conference Highlights
Workshops:
Increase your knowledge or learn new information in the following major thematic categories: Leadership/Personal Development, Advocacy/Women’s Empowerment, Organizational/Community Development, Health, Microenterprise Development, and Intergenerational Challenges. Each track offers several thematic workshops designed to enhance overall understanding. Click here to see the list of confirmed workshops (PDF)
Gallery of Community Change-Makers:
Display your work and accomplishments in the Gallery of Change-Makers. Bring display boards or distribution materials for an opportunity to share your work, and your passion with all the conference attendees. Throughout the conference, women leaders will have opportunities to display their work, be identified as a Community Change-Maker and network with similarly motivated individuals.
Celebration Dinner/Fashion Show:
Join RWN for a celebratory dinner in honor of all refugee and immigrant women on November 14th. Entertainment during the dinner includes a fashion show of traditional attire from different regions of the world. Be sure to bring your ethnic clothing and participate in the fashion show.
Caucus/Networking:
Throughout the conference, network with women from the region of the world you are from, the region in the US that you live in or who have similar personal and professional interests. RWN will provide dedicated opportunities on the evening of November 13 (7-9p) and the evening of November 15 for networking and caucusing. Sign up for caucuses or for networking during registration and you will also be invited to join caucus groups online for continued communication and support post-conference.
Marketplace: Shop local Atlanta businesses or set up your own booth at the Westin Peachtree Plaza Hotel and market your products to Conference attendees as well as Westin Hotel patrons. RWN will host a marketplace in the lobby level of the hotel on November 14 & 15 from 8am—6pm.
If you are interested in participating as a vendor, please contact RWN for more information at 404-299-0180 x 227
Fees
Early Registration (by October 15, 2008) (Late Registration ( October 16, 2008 – November 1, 2008)
In-town-Attendees $150 In-town-Attendees $200
(with no room requirements) (with no room requirements)
Out-of-town Attendees $350 Out-of-Town Attendees $400
(requiring rooms) (requiring rooms)
Conference registration includes three continental breakfast, two lunches, one dinner, snacks, registration materials and accommodation, if applicable. It also includes access to all the workshops, marketplace and other conference proceedings.
Registration fees include approximately $100 subsidy for all participants.
RWN is able to offer the room rates based on two or more occupancy per room. If you would like an individual room, please add $80/day ($240) to your registration cost.
Cancellation Policy
Cancellation Requests received before November 1, 2008 are subject to 25% fee. Cancellation requests received after November 1, 2008 will not be honored. Substitutions will be allowed.
Registration Questions: 404-299-0180 x226
Register Online at: www.riwn.org
Mail Registration Form & Payments to:
9th Annual Conference
Refugee Women’s Network
4151 Memorial Drive, Suite 103F
Decatur, GA 30032
Phone: 404-299-0180
Fax: 404-296-9118
Email: info@riwn.org
Download Registration Package (PDF)
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| sponsor this event.pdf | 168.57 KB |
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