Covey Center Art Exhibit with Elizabeth Thayer
Written by Megan Carson
Don’t miss out on an extraordinary opportunity to meet Elizabeth Thayer, the incredible portrait artist behind the paintings done of our friends seeking refuge. She has her work currently on display at the Covey Center in Provo, Utah (on Center Street).
THIS FRIDAY, August 3rd from 6-9pm, Liz will be greeting exhibit-goers at a reception for her exhibit. You won’t want to miss this exhibit - it’s soul-stirring and powerful! And, to meet Liz in person, to hear her experiences behind the paintings makes them really come to life.
I had the privilege of meeting Liz this week, as she walked with me through the stories of the courageous subjects of her paintings. In an intimate setting like that, these beautiful people became so much more than refugees. It was clear that she was telling me about her friends.
You also don’t want to miss an interview she had with Julie Rose on BYU Radio as they walked around the exhibit together! Liz knows the people and their stories, and her personal connections with them bring them as much to life as her paintbrush.
My First Asylum Case: An Attorney's Perspective on Asylum in the United States
I took my first asylum case in 2016, when our national dialog on immigration took a decidedly negative turn. As a corporate attorney, I had no experience in immigration law, but my license allowed me to represent individuals fleeing severe persecution and I signed with a local non-profit to offer my help. My first asylum client was a young mother and her two small daughters. I could see myself in Saba.
Their Story is Our Story Applauds the Signing of Virginia House Bill 995 and Continues Efforts to Open Doors for Foreign-trained Medical Professionals in Other States
Their Story is Our Story (TSOS), a non-profit organization that collects and shares the experiences of refugees to deepen understanding and influence action, applauds the signing of Virginia House Bill 995 into law by Governor Glenn Youngkin, after its unanimous passage through the Virginia House of Delegates and Senate. It will create a pathway for foreign-trained doctors who have immigrated to the state, including those whose careers were interrupted by forcible displacement, to fill workforce gaps in medically underserved communities.
Idaho One Refugee Conference
Last fall I was able to attend the 1Refugee Conference in Idaho. The event was well organized and everyone who approached our table was interested in what we did and wanted to know how to get involved. There were at least 100 students majoring in a variety of things who attended the event and we had 20 students give us their contact information. Most were interested in our internship programs.