Upcoming Events

In honor of World Refugee Day, IRIS & Sanctuary Kitchen are partnering to celebrate our vibrant refugee & immigrant community from around the world.
Enjoy performances by students from IRIS & chefs of Sanctuary Kitchen as they share stories & poems on the theme of “Emerging.”
This event would not be complete without international food! Purchase a Sanctuary Kitchen snack box of Cheese & Spinach Fatayer, Hummus & crudite. Order now for pick up at the event!

Cultural attire & face masks are welcome. Please wear a face mask if you’re not vaccinated. This event will be streamed live on our FB event page.
Purchase tickets to experience the event in person: https://poetrystorytelling.eventbrite.com

2021 Community conversations

Upcoming

September TBD | Topic: “DACA Status & Future”
Details to come!

October TBD | Topic: “2021 is the 20th year of the Afghan war. How did we get here?”
Details to come!

Past

APRIL 29 | Topic: “Climate-Induced Migration”
Moderator: Kaveh Khoshnood, Professor at Yale School of Public Health | Speakers: Ali Noorani, Executive Director of National Immigration Forum | Bruni Pizarro, Executive Director of Junta for Progressive Action | Andrew Harper, Climate Action Special Advisor of UNHCR

We discuss the emerging issue of climate-induced migration, international and national policies, responses on the Southern border and in the Caribbean, and how all of these elements affect Connecticut.

MARCH 31 | Topic: “The Criminalization of Immigration in the U.S.”
Speakers: Attorney General William Tong, State of CT | Kica Matos, VP, Vera Institute | Chris George, IRIS ED | Daniela Carranza, IRIS Case Manager

Special guests and IRIS as explore the historical events, laws, and policies that have led to the criminalization of immigration in the US. We’ll discuss the racialization of immigrants and the disproportionate detention of immigrants of color.

The Community Conversation Series is sponsored by WSHU Public Radio