World Refugee Day celebration is Saturday

The Coalition of Refugee Service Agencies will host a World Refugee Day Celebration at Refuge Coffee Co., 4170 E Ponce de Leon Ave NE, Clarkston, according to a press release. The event will celebrate and honor the vast contributions that refugees make to communities and to urge elected leaders to protect the U.S. refugee resettlement program.

The entire United States is on track to resettle just 20,000 refugees this fiscal year—less than half of the all-time-low ceiling of 45,000 set by the Administration last September. Over 300 people will gather in Clarkston from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, June 23 to show support for their refugee neighbors and speak out against historically low arrivals numbers at this time of unprecedented global need.

The event will feature guest speakers—including Congressman Hank Johnson and Emory cardiologist Dr. Heval Kelli, a refugee from Syria —as well as music and dance performances from diverse community groups. Attendees will have the opportunity to shop from our inaugural Vendors Market, where refugee business owners offer homemade food, clothing, and accessories.

Following the event, guests will be encouraged to have lunch in Clarkston to explore the diverse cuisine the city has to offer, while supporting local refugee and immigrant owned businesses. Restaurant information and maps will be provided.

The Coalition of Refugee Service Agencies is a coalition of eighteen local refugee and immigrant service organizations. Our mission is: “To engage a broad coalition to highlight the cultural, social and economic contributions of refugees and immigrants in Georgia.”

Upcoming

Life Skills Workshops for Teens. 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursdays, starting today, except 1-5 p.m. July 12. Free. Clarkston Library, 951 N. Indian Creek Drive, Clarkston. Open to teens, ages 14 to 17, these workshops are presented by New American Pathways on Self-Confidence 101: Breaking Down Self-Confidence. Teens can improve their self-esteem, cultivate crucial leadership skills and learn how these two factors work hand-in-hand. Register: 404-5087175, DeKalbLibrary.org

■Today / Module 1: What is my sense of “self ”? What is confidence? And why are they both important?

■June 28 / Module 2: Ourselves Online - How the internet and social media affect our self-confidence

■July 5 / Module 3: Self-Confidence and Leadership

■July 12 / Module 4: Leading myself towards success

Stingray Science. 2-3 p.m. Friday. Free. Embry Hills Library, 3733 Chamblee-Tucker Road, Chamblee. Learn about different animals in this interactive hands-on presentation. Funding is provided by the Friends of the Embry Hills Library. 770-2708230, DeKalbLibrary.org

Anime Days. 2-3:30 p.m. Fridays. Free. Northlake-Barbara Loar Library, 3772 LaVista Road, Tucker. Teens 11 to 17 are invited on Fridays for Japanese snacks, crafts and anime. Register: 404679-4408. DeKalbLibrary.org