Panel to Discuss Support Options for Immigrants Seeking Settlement in Greenwich

Executives from organizations in Greenwich that have active support programs for refugees and immigrants will lead a panel discussion on how to assist new members of the community in making smooth and successful transitions. Open to the public, the forum takes place November 20, 6pm – 8pm, at the Vanderbilt Education Center. Historical Society members: $10, Non-members: $15.

For more information and reservations, click on:  Community Panel.

Confirmed panelists include Bobby Walker, Jr, CEO of Boys and Girls Club of Greenwich, Mary Lee Kiernan, president and CEO YWCA Greenwich and Claudia Connor, president and CEO of Connecticut Institute for Refugees and Immigrants (CIRI).

“We are fortunate to have organizations in Greenwich committed to providing services that help immigrants and refugees, who risked everything to come here, get a head start on making a better life,” said Anna Greco, Greenwich Historical Society Director of Education. “We believe their personal experiences and perspectives will help inspire other non-profits, businesses and residents to become involved in ways that will enrich the quality of life for everyone in Greenwich.”

The panel discussion is one of several programs this fall tied to an exhibition at the Historical Society on the immigrant experience in Fairfield County: An American Story: Finding Home in Fairfield County.

Featured individuals residing in Greenwich have received resources and support from Boys and Girls Clubs, the YWCA and other non-profits that have had a meaningful impact on their transitions. Organized originally by the Fairfield Museum and History Center and CIRI, and expanded by the Greenwich Historical Society, the exhibition runs through January 6, 2020. Gallery hours are Wednesday through Sunday, noon – 4:00 pm.

“I learned how to play hockey at the Boys and Girls Club. It taught me to be tough and resilient, so I joined the Marine Corps to make my family proud. I was the first person in my family to serve in the U.S. military and will be the first to graduate with a bachelor’s degree. Everything my parents wanted for me will be achieved. They would have been comfortable living in Colombia, but they sacrificed their comfort for the opportunities in this beautiful country.” – Diana Venegas, Greenwich