The second annual Ruth Steinkraus-Cohen Memorial Speaker will be His Excellency Ambassador Tareq M.A.M. AlBanai, Permanent Representative of Kuwait to the UN.
When the Stars are Scattered Westport Library Visit features National Book Award Finalists Victoria Jamieson (Illustrator) and Omar Mohammed (Author) and their graphic memoir When the Stars are Scattered about Omar’s childhood in the Daadab refugee camp in Kenya. Victoria and Omar will discuss Omar’s story as a refugee and how Victoria helped tell this story visually. Guests will be able to ask questions following this discussion.
Dr. Mary Evelyn Tucker of the Yale Forum on Ecology and Religion will be the first Ruth Steinkraus Cohen Memorial Lecturer.
jUNe day is a very special event established in 1965 by the late Ruth Steinkraus Cohen, private secretary to Eleanor Roosevelt and founder of the UNASWCT, in observance of the signing of the UN charter on June 26th, 1945. Friendly interactions between UN visitors and their Connecticut hosts embodies the UN goal of “working together for peace, freedom, and justice.” Hundreds of UN diplomats, staff, and families, from around the world, interact with local Fairfield County “citizen ambassadors” in a variety of activities, demonstrating good will and people-to-people diplomacy in its purest sense. jUNe Day guests have free access to Earthplace (nature center), Compo Beach, Longshore Park's seaside pools, tennis, golf and paddling.
Congressman Jim Himes speaks to Rotary at the invitation of President Bill Hass.
On Women’s Day, The United Nations Association Southwest Chapter will be co-hosting Martine Dherte, Refugee Services Program Manager of Connecticut Institute for Refugees and Immigrants; Therese LeFever, Program Manager of Burroughs Community Center; and Andrea Mucino-Sanchez, Associate Public Information & Communications Officer of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to address, educate and share what happens in the refugee process in Connecticut, specifically how it affects women. In the next few months, close to 300 Afghan refugees will be resettled in Connecticut. This program will give ways to help the refugees arriving.
