UNA-USA Pasadena Human Rights Day Event

 On Thursday, December 9, 2021, Global Scholars and student members of the Poly-UNA Campus chapter. Grayson G., Ikenna O., Sydney P., and Aleen K., and UNA member Kate D. hosted the UNA-USA Human Rights Day Event: "UNA-Pasadena and Pasadena Mayor's Office UN Human Rights Day Celebration: Supporting our refugee and migrant communities here and beyond."

The event featured five wonderful speakers: Reyna Grande, award-winning author; Martin Zogg, Executive Director of the International Rescue Committee (IRC) Los Angeles Office; Priscilla Taylor, Director for Educational Programming at the Southern California Children's Museum; Yoland Treviño, Board President and Executive Director of Pasadena Altadena Coalition of Transformative Leaders (PACTL); and Miganoush Sarkes Melkoian from the Armenian Relief Society.

All of the speakers at this event shared captivating and inspiring stories. Reyna Grande's discussion of her trauma as an immigrant highlighted the difficulties that many immigrants to America face through her personal connection. I am looking forward to reading Reyna Grande's book, The Distance Between Us, to learn more about her experience.

I was especially interested in hearing Martin Zogg, who followed Reyna Grande, speak to his experience working on the IRC. Considering the high number of immigrants that have been arriving in America recently, Martin Zogg's discussion of how the IRC supports immigrants was relevant and inspiring. I also appreciated how he went in-depth about the procedures of the IRC.

Finally, the last three speakers had such interesting backgrounds, and I would have loved to hear from them more. Congratulations to Grayson, Ikenna, Aleen and Sydney!