Kaufman in the News
Welcoming Refugees: Do Unto Others Summary
March 14, 2016
On March 8, 2016, the “Welcoming Refugees: Do Unto Others” event took place with an incredible turnout for community conversation. With over 400 attendees and 60 co-sponsors, shared values were put into action by learning about and engaging with local refugees and committing to help continue efforts to make Grand Rapids welcoming and inclusive to all people. Attendees also learned about the resettlement process for refugees, as well as heard testimonies from refugees from around the world.
The major theme of the event was ‘Do Unto Others’. “A fundamental principle in nearly all religions is care for the stranger. We find it in Jewish, Christian and Muslim Scriptures as well as in other religious texts.” says Doug Kindschi, Director of the Kaufman Interfaith Institute."
For a list of co-sponsors of the event, see below:
ACLU of Michigan - Western Branch
Amnesty International Group 78,
Detroit
Aquinas College Community Leadership Program
Aquinas
College Service Learning Office
Baha'i Faith Community of Greater
Grand Rapids
Bethany Christian Services
Calvin College Center
for Community Engagement and Global Learning
Calvin College Middle
East Club
Calvin Theological Seminary
Catholic Charities of
West Michigan
Center for Inquiry - Michigan
Central Reformed
Church
Christian Reformed Church Office of Social Justice
City
of Grand Rapids
Congregation Ahavas Israel
Diocese of Grand
Rapids
Dominican Center at Marywood
Dominican Sisters - Grand
Rapids
Emmanuel Hospice
Faith Alive Books
Faith Magazine
Grand Rapids
Feel Like You Belong
Fountain Street Church
Genesis United Methodist Church
Grand Rapid's Buddhist Temple and
Zen Center
Grand Rapids Community Relations Commission
GVSU
Community Service Learning Center
GVSU Division of Inclusion &
Equity
Headbloom Cross-Cultural Communication
Holy Cross
Episcopal / Ascension Lutheran Churches
Institute for Global
Education
Interfaith Clergy Association of Grand Rapids
Islamic Mosque & Religious Institute - Masjid At-Tawheed
Justice for our Neighbors - West Michigan
Kaufman Interfaith
Institute
Kent Intermediate School District
Law Office of
Richard Kessler
Lutheran Social Services
Michigan Office for
New Americans
MIRC - Welcoming Michigan
National Heritage
Academies
Senior Neighbors
St. Luke University Parish
St.
Andrews Episcopal Church
Taqueria El Rincon Mexicano
The
Cathedral of St. Andrew
The Catholic Information Center
The
Salvation Army Social Services of Kent County
Thrive Refugee
Services
Trinity Lutheran Church
Trinity United Methodist
Church
United Methodist Women
Wesley Fellowship at GVSU
West Michigan Coalition for Immigration Reform
West Michigan Hindu
Temple
West Michigan Islamic Center
West Michigan Refugee
Education & Cultural Center
Westminster Presbyterian
Church
World Affairs Council of Western Michigan