"Voices of Student Refugees" Discussion Panel Event at The Grauer School - November 30

Throughout its 25 year history, The Grauer School has presented "Great Conversations" events to engage in a dialogue with the community about some of our society's most critical educational issues. To continue this important dialogue, Grauer’s Girl Rising Club will present a panel discussion, “Student Refugees Tell Their Stories: The Long Journey to the United States.” The community is invited to attend this free event, which will be held on Wednesday, November 30, at 3:15 p.m. in Meyer Hall on The Grauer School campus, located at 1500 South El Camino Real in Encinitas.

A panel of student refugees will share their experiences of emigrating to the San Diego area from their home countries and refugee camps, as well as their experiences of living in the United States. A representative from the International Rescue Committee (IRC) will also speak about issues facing refugee women and girls, how the IRC addresses San Diego's refugee needs, and ways to help. The IRC responds to the world's worst humanitarian crises, helping to restore health, safety, education, economic wellbeing and power to people devastated by conflict and disaster. According to the California Department of Social Services Refugee Programs Bureau statistics, San Diego County took in 1,873 refugees from January through August 2016, the most of any county in California.

Dr. Stuart Grauer, Founder and Head of The Grauer School, said, “This is a phenomenal opportunity for Grauer students to learn not just history and geography, but empathy and big mindedness as well. We could not possibly be more grateful to the young refugee speakers who are visiting and sharing their courage and their journey with us.” Grauer’s Girl Rising Club was inspired by the 2013 documentary, “Girl Rising,” which showed the transformative power of girls’ education. Krystyanna Goode Melson, Grauer Senior and Girl Rising Club leader, remarked, “All girls are looking for an evolutionary body of unity in a world where they have equal rights and opportunities.” The club’s goal is to help provide education for girls around the world, and to explore and discuss challenges girls face abroad and at home. Through this event, Grauer’s Girl Rising Club hopes to bring the community together to raise global awareness about the plight of refugees.

About The Grauer School

The Grauer School, founded in 1991, is a grades 7-12 private, college preparatory school located in Encinitas, California. The school is accredited by WASC, a member of NAIS, and serves as a successful educational model for hundreds of private schools around the world through the Small Schools Coalition (SSC), established by Dr. Stuart Grauer in 2011. To learn more about The Grauer School, visit www.grauerschool.com or call 760/944-6777.