Eckerd Student Refugee Alliance - ESRA

This morning we got the chance to participate in Tyrone Middle School's Great American Teach-in. We spoke to an ESOL class about refugees, as well as the language and cultural barriers that many refugees and migrants face.

In an activity, we asked them to draw how they view themselves, their neighborhood, and their country. You can see their interpretations in the drawings below!

Tonight we'll be screening a documentary, After Spring, that follows two Syrian families at the largest refugee camp in Jordan, Zaatari. The event will be at 7pm in Miller Auditorium.

We plan to have a representative from Gulf Coast Jewish Family & Community Services, a local organization that has a refugee resettlement program, to answer questions that you may have.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Hi everyone,

ESRA is looking forward to a new semester working with our local refugee communities. While we have some exciting activities planned, we'd like to know if there is anything special YOU would like to participate in!

The need for advocates and education on the topic of refugees is important now more than ever, and we'd like to hear your ideas. If you have any activities, conversation topics, speakers, and/or community groups with whom you would like to work, share with us!

We currently work with community organizations to tutor and mentor refugees in Pinellas county. We have a documentary showing planned, as well as a Dine and Discuss in the works. We can take your ideas to our Focus Groups, or turn them into a larger project.

Feel free to post in the comments section, message us on Facebook, or send an email to [email protected], we're looking forward to working with you!

Just a reminder, we will be meeting at 4 PM today at the Starbucks tables outside the James Center. Hope to see you there!

The past week has been filled with deeply disheartening actions being taken by the new president and his staff. As the Eckerd Student Refugee Alliance, the immigration ban directly opposes our values, goals, and beliefs. Now more than ever, refugees and immigrants everywhere need our help to counteract the hatred which seems to be infecting the American government, its policies, and many of the citizens of this country.

If you would like to help, we will be meeting this Friday, February 3rd, at 4 PM at the Starbucks tables outside the James Center to discuss possible actions we can take to make a change and help those affected. Hope to see you all there!

Hey guys! This Friday at 4 pm we will be going around to different thrift shops in the area to find items to purchase with the proceeds from the fundraiser. We will also be acquiring some bus passes. If you would like to join us, feel free to contact me:

Phone: 814-380-0932
Email: [email protected]
Facebook: Jordan Wilson

Raising money for the local refugee community! Come out and buy some pizza at the Eckerd mailboxes!

!! Update on the Fundraiser this Friday, the 4th. Instead of starting at 7:30 PM, we will be starting at 9 PM. We will be selling pizza at the mailboxes, be sure to let everyone know !!

To all who may be interested, the Eckerd Student Refugee Alliance will be holding a fundraiser on November 4th in order to aid the St. Petersburg refugee population not only in financial needs, but also with regards to material needs such as bikes, backpacks, kitchenware, etc.

Event Details -

What: Fundraiser (selling food and drinks)
When: November 4th, 7:30 PM - 2:30 AM
Where: Eckerd College Mailboxes

The event will be occurring during First Friday, so the idea is that students using the Eckerd Bus Service will be enticed to donate by purchasing food. While the most direct route to help out would be by attending the event and helping with setting up, managing operations, and tearing down, there are also other ways.

GET THE WORD OUT! Tell your friends about this, mention it to your professors, and if possible bring it up in your classes. Let people know that this is taking place, and make sure that they bring along finances to purchase food (it is still yet to be determined whether or not credit cards will be an accepted method of payment).

If you have any questions, contact me (Jordan Wilson) either here on Facebook or by these means:

Cell: 814-380-0932
Email: [email protected]

Hope to hear from you all soon!

Hey everybody!

The summer has a come to an end and it is time to get back to work. There is a lot happening with regards to the refugee community in St. Pete and so many ways to get involved. Specifically, there are two events coming up:

1.
What: Tampa Bay Welcoming Week Cultural Festival
When: Saturday, September 17th / 11 am - 2 pm
Where: USF Marshall Student Center Ballroom
Includes: Cultural Fashion Show, Music, Dance, Art, Celebrations of diversity, and embracement of refugee youth.

2.
What: Gulf Coast Jewish Family and Community Services Annual FACES Celebration
When: Thursday, November 17th / 6 pm
Where: Hilton St. Petersburg Carillion Park
Includes: An evening of sharing three of Gulf Coasts program success stories.

ESRA will be involved with both events, helping out as needed in different departments. If you would like to get involved with these events, know other ways to help the refugee community, or would just like to know more about ESRA, please do not hesitate to contact me (Jordan Wilson) either here on Facebook, or through other means such as:
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 814-380-0932

I hope all of your summers went well and I cannot wait to see what the semester holds in store for us!

Gulf Coast JFCS Refugee Youth Program, ESRA, ECOS, and the Office of Service Learning

This past Saturday was our first service event, the Refugee Youth Field Day! Together with Eckerd College Organization of Students and Eckerd College Office of Service-Learning, ESRA members and kids in the Refugee Youth program at Gulf Coast JFCS went on a tour of Eckerd's campus, played basketball, relay races, and got to know one another. We hope to have more events of this nature in the future! Message us if you'd like to be a part of the community building.