The journey of immigrant children – a panel discussion at Loyola University

Media Advisory         October 17, 2019                   

Contact:         Rena Daly rdaly@cc-md.org                                       Catholic Charities 667.600-2007

Panel features young immigrants who made the trek alone, attorneys from Esperanza Center and Director of Jesuit Refugee Service / USA and President Emeritus of Georgetown University

WHAT: Catholic Charities and Loyola University of Maryland will host a panel discussion, The Journey of Immigrant Children, on Monday, Oct. 21, 2019, at 6:30 p.m., in McGuire Hall.
The panel discussion will focus on experiences, legal issues, and spiritual perspectives of Central American immigrant youth.

WHEN: Monday, Oct. 21, 2019, at 6:30 p.m.

WHERE: Loyola University of Maryland, McGuire Hall

WHO: Seven panelists, including two young adults who fled El Salvador as teenagers and were coauthors of the book, Blessed Are the Refugees: Beatitudes of Immigrant Children, which received an award by the Catholic Press Association.

Silvia Delgado, who fled El Salvador at the age of 19, will also sing songs at the event. Other panelists include Rev. Leo J. O’Donovan, S.J., director of mission of the Jesuit Refugee Service/USA and president emeritus of Georgetown University; Williams Guevara, who fled El Salvador at the age of 17; Mikhael Borgonos, J.D., managing attorney for the Esperanza Center; Andrea Naft, an Esperanza Center volunteer; Cary Plamondon, J.D., pro bono attorney for the Esperanza Center; and Val Twanmoh, J.D., director of the Esperanza Center.

The event will be moderated by Scott Rose, J.D., a deacon in the Baltimore Archdiocese and pro bono attorney for the Esperanza Center—a program of the Catholic Charities of Baltimore.

BACKGROUND:

Catholic Charities of Baltimore is Maryland’s largest private provider of human services, with 80 programs in 200 locations to serve children and families experiencing homelessness and poverty, individuals with intellectual disabilities, immigrants and seniors without regard to religion, race or other circumstances.

The panel discussion is free and open to the public. Registration is not required but encouraged, www.loyola.edu/journey. For more information contact Campus Ministry at 410-617-2222 or CampusMinistry@loyola.edu. A book signing will be held after the event in McGuire Hall. The book will be sold during the presentation and at the University bookstore. All proceeds will benefit the Jesuit Refugee Service and the Esperanza Center.

###