Education

Good Reads

• RCUSA member HIAS has released a list of 10 recommended books about the refugee and asylee experience, many of which are written by refugees and asylees themselves

Rent, Stream, View

Movies

• Human Flow: Directed by artist Ai Weiwei and released in 2017, the documentary Human Flow explores the global refugee crisis through movement, and the global responsibility in helping those fleeing violence and persecution.
• Midnight Traveler: Shot on three phones, Hassan Fazili, an Afghan filmmaker, captured the journey of his own family as they fled from Taliban threats.
• Beasts of No Nation: Based on the novel by Uzodinma Iweala, Beasts of No Nation explores the story of Agu, a young boy forced into becoming a child soldier.
• The Good Lie: An imagined drama chronicles the resettlement of a group of “Lost Boys” and their fight to have their sister reunited with them in the wake of 9/11.

Shorts & Shows

• Vietnamese Cajun is the Unsung Food Hero of New Orleans: Hundreds of Vietnamese refugees were resettled in New Orleans following the Vietnam War. This Vice short shows the exchange of Vietnamese refugees and old New Orleans, creating delicious new Cajun crawfish and brisket banh mis.
• My Vietnam War Story – Civilians and Refugees: A 30 minute short from PBS interviewing individuals to learn their Vietnam war stories – including civilian volunteers, and refugees.
• Homeland: Refugees: The first episode of PBS’s 2012 documentary series “Homeland: Immigration in America” focuses on the experience of refugees being resettled in the St. Louis area, providing a first-person account of refugees and the communities and workers helping them settle.

YouTube

• I Was a Boat Person: Vietnamese Refugees Look Back: A group of Vietnamese refugees are interviewed by AJ+ to reflect on their experiences fleeing violence, drawing connections to today’s refugee crisis.
• What does it mean to be a refugee: A TED-Ed animation introducing the circumstances of refugees.

RCUSA Webinars

RCUSA and its members have created a pre-recorded webinar series to help our communities stay engaged in working with refugees during COVID-19. Explore the growing series below.

Educating Yourself On Refugees

The first webinar in the series, “Educating Yourself on Refugees,” was developed by HIAS and offers information on refugees and other forcibly displaced populations in the United States, and useful resources including book and film recommendations. Watch the webinar and consider sharing it with those in your community.

[Transcript]

30 Ways to Care for Yourself, Others and Immigrants During COVID-19

The second webinar in the series, “30 Ways to Care for Yourself, Others, and Immigrants During COVID-19,” offers suggestions on how to build a healthy community, starting with yourself and expanding to your family, your neighborhood, and the refugee community.

Through the webinar, you will be able to:

• Utilize the tool, “30 Ways to Care for Yourself, Others, and Immigrants During COVID-19,” in your home
• Identify multiple ways to support refugees during COVID-19
• Access a platform to share stories of welcome during COVID-19

The webinar was developed by RCUSA member, Church World Service and features a refugee community leader and small business owner, and an affiliate community engagement coordinator. Watch the webinar and consider sharing it with those in your community.

[Transcript]

Leveraging Mutual Aid Networks in Support of Refugees

The third webinar in the series “Leveraging Mutual Aid Networks in Support of Refugees” offers an introduction to mutual aid and explores programs offered by ECDC affiliate offices that lend themselves to mutual aid work.

Through this webinar you will:

• Gain an understanding of mutual aid frameworks
• Identify which relationships and networks of your own can form the basis of mutual aid networks
• Takeaway tools for joining or beginning your own mutual aid network

[Transcript]

Refugee Advocacy in the Age of COVID-19