About The champion newspaper. (Decatur, GA) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 8, 2019)
LOCAL THE CHAMPION, THURSDAY, AUGUST 8 -14, 2019 • Page 6 REFUGEES Continued From Page 1 number of refugees allowed to resettle under the act to 35,000, according to the Congressional Research Service. Officials with CRSA claim there are more than 25.9 million refugees worldwide in search of a home. During the town hall, several faith leaders said they are concerned for the future of refugees in America. “We know that these people want a better life. We have to ask ourselves, ‘what are we going to do about it?’ We have to step out of our comfort zone, and we have to act,” said Louisa Merchant, coordinator of refugee ministries at All Saints’ Episcopal Church. “We have to do things we’re not comfortable with like picking up your phone and calling your senator and congress person and telling them that this is not OK.” Merchant, who works with refugee communities in Clarkston and Stone Mountain, said the U.S. government has the resources to help refugees in need. “Once [America] was this shining example of refugee resettlement and now look at what we are doing,” Merchant said. Congressman Hank Johnson was the keynote speaker for the event. Johnson said he co sponsored the GRACE Act. The act would guarantee an annual refugee admission ceiling of 95,000. Since the passing of the Refugee Act, from 1980 to 2016 the U.S. set an average refugee admissions ceiling of 95,000, according to CRSA officials. “These people are fleeing from tragic situations,” Johnson said. “If we can help them, clothe them, house them and give them the opportunity to be self-sustainable, then you look up and see that they are actually contributing to make our country better. This is a country of refugees. It has been and it is now. That’s what the GRACE Act is all about.” ?|HKIS School supplies donated by several organizations were sorted by elementary and middle schools. ' 11 aoueijsclxa HELPS Continued From Page 1 Elementary and Freedom Middle School. On Aug. 6, a representative from The Champion Newspaper delivered school supplies to eight teachers at Freedom Middle School. Freedom Middle School teacher Yvonne Strouv said her students will benefit from the donation. “Some of our students come without their supplies so it is always nice to have them. The students will have no excuse to not do their work and it is awesome that [The Champion] selected us to donate supplies to,” Strouv said. Teacher Nathaniel Hayes said he wants his students to understand the importance of giving back to the community through efforts such as school supply drives. “Getting involved makes communities stronger,” Hayes said. “When these students see that there is community involvement it’s a positive motivation for them. Subconsciously students will see how they must take on the ownership of making their communities better.” Ila Jarvis, who transferred from Rockdale County’s public school system to Freedom Middle School, said she’s ready for the new school year. “The principal [Marchell Boston] is absolutely wonderful. He has created a positive culture in this school. It has been wonderful. I’m overwhelmed in a good way. I often ask myself, ‘What took me so long to come to DeKalb?’ Jarvis said.
