Refugee Outreach Collective hosts first annual academic conference
The Refugee Outreach Collective (ROC) will host its first annual academic conference from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday, April 11, in Grawn Hall at Central Michigan University.
The conference will focus on empowering refugees and displaced individuals through education. Joseph Marah, president of ROC, said it advocates for a global society where refugee camps are not considered long-term solutions.
“The event provides students with the opportunity to have conversations with ROC members who have lived experiences, hear from multiple speakers and connect with organizations," Marah said.
As the hosting chapter, ROC hopes the conference will establish a lasting platform that continues to grow student involvement and advocacy efforts at CMU, Marah said. Students interested can also get involved with ROC through volunteering and future leadership opportunities.
The keynote speaker, Innocent Magambi, founder and CEO of Inua Advocacy and author of "Refugee for Life", will be traveling internationally to share insights on refugee advocacy. He works with multiple nonprofits and strives to create a framework for refugees to escape poverty and become self-reliant.
“This is a student-led initiative, creating meaningful community engagement and impact here at CMU,” Marah said. “It focuses on real conversations about refugee experiences, policy and support where students don’t just learn but engage and take action.”
Additional sessions will explore topics such as Afghan evacuees’ resettlement in Michigan, social integration among Burmese and Congolese refugees and legal frameworks impacting international students.
Marah said students can expect to gain practical perspectives from experts and greater awareness of policies and legal frameworks affecting refugees and international communities.
“We didn’t want this to be just another event,” said Marah. “We wanted it to be a space where real conversations lead to real connections and real action.”
The conference is open to all students. Attendees are requested to RSVP in advance.
