A Letter from our Executive Director
Dear Friends of Exodus,
Held annually on June 20th, World Refugee Day honors the courage and resilience of refugees across the globe and calls for us to stand, united, against persecution in all its forms. As we celebrate World Refugee Day 2020, we do so with an even greater sense of urgency and purpose with communities here and abroad still living under the strain of the coronavirus, and the Black Lives Matter movement calling us all to demand long overdue action in addressing centuries of ongoing oppression and racism in our country.
And it is during this pivotal moment that the need for refugee resettlement remains as important as ever. The number of displaced people has now reached 79.5 million (UNHCR) — that is one out of every hundred people on Earth. With the onset of the pandemic, the United States has paused nearly all refugee travel indefinitely. As a father of two children, I cannot imagine the fears and uncertainty that refugee parents are dealing with right now. They not only have to keep their families safe from an invisible virus, but also from the harsh conditions of life in a refugee camp while forcibly removed from their homelands.
This World Refugee Day also falls during a time to be grateful for all the fights that we have won together as a nation, including two Supreme Court victories this week: one protecting LGTBQ+ individuals from discrimination and another blocking President Trump’s cruel attempt to end DACA. These wins also serve as further reminders that the fight against injustice is a fight that happens every day and everywhere. We at Exodus are as committed as ever to resisting racism, xenophobia, and oppression in all of its forms to ensure that our communities are safe and inclusive for everyone.
Thank you for standing with us as we continue to ensure that every refugee we resettle in Indiana is welcomed, celebrated, and provided with essential services in order to thrive.
Read more about how you can show your support for refugees in Indiana on World Refugee Day and every day.
With gratitude,
Cole Varga | Executive Director
