DePaul Migration Collaborative

Join us for a virtual talk with Monica Reyes sharing research conducted in partnership with Nuevos Vecinos, a Chicago-based organization supporting new arrivals. This conversation highlights how migrants navigate the challenges of displacement and the shelter system while building community, dignity, and support networks.
The research traces a powerful shift from hardship to leadership, as individuals who initially received support from Nuevos Vecinos often became active volunteers serving others. Through this process, communities form what many describe as a “chosen family,” creating spaces of trust, shared knowledge, and resilience.
Registration Link in bio
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[migrant communities, community research, Chicago migrants, mutual aid, community resilience, migration studies, DePaul events]

The symposium concludes with a powerful reflection on the role of higher education in shaping inclusive and resilient communities. Delivered by GianMario Besana, Associate Provost for Global Engagement and Online Learning at DePaul University, this closing address centers on how institutions can respond to displacement through both values and action.

Grounded in DePaul’s Vincentian tradition, the remarks will highlight the importance of welcoming displaced students not as an act of charity alone, but as a commitment to justice, accompaniment, and long-term community building. Drawing from DePaul’s initiatives and broader research, this session underscores how access to education can transform lives while strengthening the communities we share.
To register: check out the link in our bio
[migration and education, refugee students, higher education access, global engagement, community building, human rights symposium, DePaul initiatives]

Refugee resettlement ecosystems are undergoing significant strain, with declining admissions and evolving policy debates reshaping traditional frameworks. This session brings together advocates to examine the pressures facing the resettlement ecosystem and the implications for organizations, practitioners, and communities. Moderated by Dina Birman, with speakers Betsy Fisher, Rachel Peric, and Emma Yaaka the panel will explore how institutions are adapting to maintain expertise while responding to ongoing challenges.

The discussion will also highlight emerging alternative pathways and community-based approaches—including rural welcoming initiatives—that are expanding access to protection and redefining how resettlement can function in the future. Participants will gain insight into how these layered strategies can sustain and strengthen refugee support systems moving forward
To register: check out the link in our bio
[refugee resettlement, migration policy, alternative pathways, community sponsorship, rural welcoming, refugee protection, human rights symposium]