Scalabrini International Migration Network Meets with Directors of Casas del Migrante and Community Centers

The Directors of the Casas del Migrantes and of the Community Centers of the two Scalabrinian Provinces of North America met from June 29 to July 1 in Staten Island, New York, for a three day workshop. The meeting was called by the Executive Director of the Scalabrini International Migration Network, Fr. Leonir Chiarello, and the two Provincial Superiors, Fr. Matthew Didone and Fr. Adilso Balen. The  purpose of the workshop was to begin a process of collaboration among the Scalabrinian institutions present in the North American Provinces. The guest speaker was David Perez Rulfo Torres, Executive Director of “Vivir para Compartir”, a Mexico based not-for-profit organization that develops professionalism in the third sector. In a two day seminar Mr. Rulfo presented the basic elements and principles for successful fundraising to better service migrants and refugees and  for team building among the Scalabrinian institutions.
The third day was dedicated to the presentation of Ambassador Johnny Young, Executive Director of Migration and Refugee Services (MRS) of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. The purpose of his presentation was to seek ways of collaboration between MRS and  SIMN.

The last part of the third day was dedicated to the development of a common strategy and the identification of projects for the Scalabrini International Migration Network in the Western Hemisphere.

Twenty-five  Scalabrinian fathers and brothers from Venezuela, Colombia, Guatemala, Mexico, USA and Canada were present at the meeting, the first of its kind. It was the beginning of a new journey for the two North America Scalabrinian provinces.