First hour: How faith-based groups are helping refugees in Rochester
Second hour: Addressing barriers to fatherhood
A number of local faith-based groups are coming together to help refugees who served the U.S. military. The refugees – from Afghanistan and Iraq – have come to America on Special Immigrant Visas through an organization called No One Left Behind. We discuss the current climate for refugees in the U.S., and we’ll talk to local refugees about how they are adjusting to life in Rochester.
- Ellen Smith, president of the Rochester chapter of No One Left Behind
- Belal Ahmadi, interpreter for the U.S. military who arrived in the U.S. from Afghanistan in January
- Bashir Qayyum, interpreter for the U.S. military who arrived in the U.S. from Afghanistan in January
- Rev. Ken Pitcher, Grace Church, and executive director of Refuge Rochester
- Rev. Jacqueline Nelson, Asbury First United Methodist Church
- Rabbi Peter Stein, Temple B’rith Kodesh
- Vicki Robinson, Messiah Lutheran Church
- Chandee Searcy, member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-days Saints
Then in our second hour, an upcoming conference aims to help fathers overcome barriers to parenting. The Resilience in Fatherhood conference is a collaboration between the Healthy Baby Network and Hillside Children’s Center. It will address challenges fathers face, stereotypes about fatherhood, and what healthy co-parenting relationships look like. We’re joined by conference organizers and program participants. In studio:
- Valerie Garrison, project director for Healthy Start, part of Healthy Baby Network
- Arthur Dilbert, fatherhood coordinator for Healthy Start, and parent educator at Hillside Children’s Center
- Mark Jabaut, Healthy Start program participant
- Kelly Murray, Healthy Start program participant
