SDSU to Host Researchers Fighting to Protect LGBTIQ+ Refugees and Migrants in Crisis
Grant-sponsored, international conference is coordinated by Public Affairs Professor Roddrick Colvin with the support of the US Embassy, Fundación Amal Argentina, and SDSU
by Aleesia Benkey
October 25, 2021
SDSU and the School of Public Affairs will host an exchange of ideas and research to support vulnerable populations across the globe November 3 - 9, 2021. Symposium partners including Fundación Amal Argentina, the US Embassy in Argentina, and SDSU will come together with various passionate stakeholders for symposiums and talks focused on refugee and migrant research and resettlement.
Fundación Amal Argentina utilizes Community Sponsorship, a unique resettlement model created in Canada in 1979, to increase the number of resettled refugees and achieve the best integration of LGBTIQ+ families and people in a new community.
Public Affairs Professor Roddrick Colvin has spearheaded SDSU’s efforts toward this project and has been involved for nearly two years.
“In Jan 2020, I was the faculty lead for a Criminal Justice study abroad to Argentina,” Colvin said. “Part of the trip included meeting with various communities to learn about their experience with the local criminal justice system. AMAL and the LGBTQ community were among the several that we met with. In 2021, AMAL approached me about a collaborative project on border-related issues, as both countries are managing influxes of migrants and refugees. Often overlooked in the conversation are LGBTQ persons who are often escaping oppressive regimes, hostile families, and unsupportive communities.”
International visiting experts will include three staff members from the Fundación Amal Argentina, working to develop best practices in and around supporting LGBTIQ+ refugees and migrants. There will be three public-facing events on the SDSU campus. All three of these events are open to anyone interested.
Welcome Reception for the Fundación AMAL Argentina & Symposium Kick-off
WHEN: November 3, 2021 - 1 - 2 p.m.
WHERE: Seminar Room and Patio: Adams Humanities (AH 4131)
Campus-wide talk: Community Sponsorship as a model for Resettlement (Women, Girls and LGBTIQ+ people) by Mariano Ruiz
WHEN: November 4, 2021 - 10 to 11 a.m.
WHERE: Seminar Room and Patio: Adams Humanities (AH 4131)
Symposium: The State of Refugee and Migrant Research: Building a More Inclusive Agenda
WHEN: November 9, 2021 from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Session A: 10 - 11:30 a.m. “Current State of Research”
Session B: 12:30 2 pm “Building Collaborations”
WHERE: Seminar Room and Patio: Adams Humanities (AH 4131)
Fundación Amal Argentina received the grant to help build the nonprofit and expand on their goals. The partners supporting the grant including Jewish Family Services, the San Diego LGBT Community Center, Mpact Global, the Williams Institute, and Unitarian Universalist Justice Ministry of California, share passions in supporting vulnerable populations, including LGBTIQ+ refugees and migrants. In addition to providing public events at SDSU, stakeholders will attend a variety of discussions, presentations, and delegation meetings to discuss this ongoing grant-supported project.
For more information regarding this project and events, please contact Roddrick Colvin at rcolvin@sdsu.edu, or 619-594-2880.
The content within this article has been edited by Lizbeth Persons.
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