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New ACRL ESS Webinar on April 28: African refugees and other refugees of Color from the War in Ukraine: at the Polish Border and in Poland (Status Report as of April 2022)

  • 1.  New ACRL ESS Webinar on April 28: African refugees and other refugees of Color from the War in Ukraine: at the Polish Border and in Poland (Status Report as of April 2022)

    Posted Apr 14, 2022 10:16 AM
    Edited by System Sep 01, 2022 01:49 PM

    Refugees of Color from the War in Ukraine: at the Polish Border and in Poland

    Date: Thursday, April 28th, 2022 at 9am PT/6pm CET

    Register in advance for this webinar:
    https://stanford.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_ugsh4f7DTWqsIPnHJewXKg

    Europe is in the middle of a large-scale humanitarian crisis with millions of refugees fleeing the war in Ukraine, with no organized governmental support plans in place to deal with these overwhelming numbers. Non-Ukrainian citizens, particularly those of color, face additional discrimination and racism as they navigate available assistance and attempt to cross national borders to seek refuge. Having experienced several levels of discrimination whilst crossing the borders between Ukraine and Poland, these non-Ukrainian people of color have not received substantial assistance in terms of their livelihood, including their education. Beyond their unsavory experiences whilst fleeing the war, the practical issues of where to live, access to healthcare, and the continuation of their studies remained serious concerns for almost all students of color currently sojourning in Poland. Whilst there has been progress in securing temporary food supplies, residence permits, and shelter for these people, many are shocked and distressed about recent events and many are experiencing financial difficulties as a direct result of the war. 

    Margaret Amaka Ohia-Nowak, a Polish-Nigerian woman academic, human rights activist and cross-cultural training facilitator, will be speaking to us about the situation in Poland and at the Polish border for people of color in Ukraine. Since the first day of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, she has been partnering with local grassroots organizations, academic networks, NGOs, the African diaspora network, and individual volunteers to support Black people and other non-Ukrainian people of color fleeing Ukraine and to find shelter for them in Poland or elsewhere in Europe. She is a co-founder and Collaboration Lead at the Alliance of Black Justice in Poland, a group of organizations based in Poland and created by Poles of African descent and their allies, to provide immediate relief for Black and Brown people fleeing the war in Ukraine, help them rebuild life in Poland in the long-term, and advocate for racial equity. 



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    Hélène Huet
    Chair of ACRL ESS
    European Studies Librarian
    The University of Florida
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