NIRV filmmakers Qin Li of China and Kebrewosen Densamo of Ethiopia represented CSFilm and New Immigrant and Refugee Visions at the Boston College School of Theology and Ministry on Wednesday, February 26, 2020.

Students, faculty and staff joined the two filmmakers in watching and discussing Campaign for a New American (Li) and Borrowing Fire (Densamo).

“I feel more connected to and empathic toward immigrants and refugees and less condescendingly sympathetic towards them,” remarked event host and Masters candidate Alex Gruber following the event.

“I was challenged to revise my assumptions of immigrants and refugees: these people certainly need help and protection from individuals, communities, and various levels of government, but they also do remarkable things in the current system, problematic as that system is.”

More selected comments:

• “We hear about immigrants struggling to survive in their new communities, but in [these films] we see the protagonists thriving and striving to make a difference in their new home.“
• “I feel motivated to continue learning about and advocating for immigrants and refugees in the United States and abroad…and it would be good to worship more with [them].”
• “The stories reminded me to have an appreciation for the richness that new cultures bring to America. All voices contribute in some way to the fabric of our country.”

Many thanks to BC School of Theology and Ministry, Alex Gruber and Marcia Ryan for organizing and hosting this event!

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