September 9, 2008

The theme for World Refugee Day this year in Chicago was protection for those who have been left behind—the more than 8 million men, women and children who have been living in refugee camps for five years or more. The dozen refugee teens who comprise Heartland Alliance's Youth Leadership Network honed their advocacy skills this year by helping plan and produce a rally at this year's World Refugee Day event held in downtown Chicago on June 20.

Building on the day's theme, the students worked throughout the spring to create a series of four tables, which allowed event participants to send a message via postcard to elected officials, help craft a mosaic artwork, record their own experiences as a refugee to be posted on the Web, and create poster-sized signs for the rally. Group members also joined the list of speakers and helped bolster attendance by reaching out to peers and other youth groups.

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