The Middle East member-led forum presents a distinguished panel, including: Hassan El-Masri, a Palestinian who volunteers to help refugee artists throughout the world; Karaman Mamand, a Kurdish Iraqi educator and human rights activist; Karen Ferguson, executive director of the northern California branch of the International Rescue Committee, which provides comprehensive services for refugees whose lives are shattered by conflict and disaster; and Aisha Wahab, who was recently elected to the Hayward City Council and is one of the first Afghan-American officials elected in the United States. The panel will discuss how we can help refugees and welcome the stranger in the face of war, strife, indifference and travel bans.
MLF Organizer Name: Celia Menczel
Notes: MLF: Middle East
Hassan El-Masri
Volunteer, Filmmaker
Karaman Mamand
Doctor of Juridical Science in International Legal Systems
Karen Ferguson, Ph.D.
Clinical Psychologist; Executive Director, the International Rescue Committee
Aisha Wahab
Afghan-American Human Rights Activist, Hayward City Councilmember
Michael Pappas
Executive Director, SF Interfaith Council—Moderator