The Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) recently hosted its 2012 National Consultation conference in Washington, D.C. The conference attracted a record number of refugee service providers, partner agencies, honored guests and attendees who shared best practices and personal stories centered on this year's theme: Transforming Hope into a Brighter Future.
Amy Richardson, M.P.H
Amy Richardson, M.P.H. represented VIGH's Community Health Initiatives as a participant in the conference.
ORR Director Eskinder Negash welcomed the speakers at this year's conference. Among the speakers were: Anne Richard, Senior Policy Advisor for Immigration; Felicia Escobar of the White House Domestic Policy Council; Dr. Gabriela Lemus, Special Advisor to the Secretary of Labor, and Olympic athlete and former refugee from South Sudan, Guor Marial.
Marial served as the keynote speaker for the conference, speaking about his experiences as a South Sudanese refugee in the United States and his refusal to run in the 2012 London Olympics under the Sudanese flag. Marial ran as an Independent Olympic Athlete.
Visit the ORR's web site to learn more about the 2012 conference.