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From YouTube: World Refugee Day Reception
Description
On World Refugee Day, Boston City Hall puts "The Faces of Syrian Refugees" photo exhibit on display to spread awareness of the Syrian refugee crisis. The exhibit profiles 20 Syrians who fled their war-torn homeland and have resettled in new countries in Europe and North America. Amira Alamry, one of the 20 refugees featured in the exhibit, tells her story. The exhibit is on display in the 3rd floor mezzanine at Boston City Hall.
A
Good
afternoon
everyone
how's
everybody
doing
awesome
yay.
My
name
is
Agnes
Chang
and
I
work
at
the
mayor's
office
for
immigrants,
advancement,
voya
mo
aya,
on
behalf
of
my
director,
alejandro
simeon,
and
my
colleagues
and
Moya.
Welcome,
and
thank
you
so
much
for
joining
us
here
to
commemorate
World
Refugee
day.
A
A
Voya
is
also
very
delighted
to
partner
with
the
mayor's
office
of
arts
and
culture.
To
co-sponsor
this
event,
Thank
You,
chief
burrows,
just
to
not
particularly
time
from
music
and
enjoyed,
exhibit
enjoy
some
lunch
without
further
ado
I'm
going
to
introduce
the
person
behind
our
work.
He
is
to
rock
off
our
missions,
always
encouraging
Moya,
to
serve
to
engage
and
to
advocate
for
our
immigrant
and
refugee
community.
A
B
If
I
miss
you
I'm,
sorry
with
the
rest
of
the
team,
you
guys
are
all
real
rock
stars
and
I'm
I'm
lucky
to
pretend
that
I
have
some
role
in
the
work
that
you
do.
My
name
is
territorial.
As
I
said,
I
have
the
real
honor
of
be
able
to
say
that
I
serve
as
the
chief
of
health
and
services
here
in
the
city
on
the
mayor,
Walsh
and.
B
B
Think
out
of
that
crisis
creates
opportunity
and
in
our
national
conversation,
I
think
it's
mystic.
So
we
are
the
great
benefits
in
this
country
to
have
a
place
where
folks,
who
find
themselves
in
that
circumstance,
decide
that
America
is
one
of
the
countries
they
want
to
come
to,
and
then
we
get
to
benefit
from
them
being
here
right
and
out
of
that
crisis
creates
a
real
opportunity
for
us
as
Americans
and
for
this
country.
B
The
first
World
Refugee
Day
was
celebrated
in
2001
and
they
commemorated
the
passing
of
the
1951
Refugee
Convention
Treaty
of
the
UN.
So
today
we
celebrate
the
66th
anniversary
of
the
Convention.
We
reaffirm
our
commitment
to
the
principles
of
international
peace
and
justice
for
everyone,
and
especially
those
forcibly
displaced
from
their
homes
in
their
home
countries.
B
You
know
I
suspect,
if
you
hear
you're,
also
not
somehow
ignorant
the
national
discourse
and
conversation
around
immigration,
refugees
and
I
could
safely
say
that
that
the
loudest
voice
right
now
in
Washington
DC
around
immigrants
and
refugees,
is
not
in
any
way
reflective
of
the
people
who
live
in
this
city.
I'm
completely
confident
I
am
NOT.
B
Talking
Republican
and
Democratic
politics
I'm
talking
about
the
values
of
the
city,
whether
you're
a
Republican,
a
Democrat,
are
just
unenrolled
or
have
different
ideas
is
not
being
reflected
with
a
lot
of
voices,
I'm
proud
to
work
for
a
mayor
who
has
made
it
very
clear
that
those
who
live
in
our
city,
no
matter
who
they
are
no
matter
when
they
got
here,
I,
don't
know
which
status
they
are
living
here.
They
should
proudly
consider
themselves
Bostonians.
B
They
should
know
that
we
work
for
them
and
that
we
will
do
everything
we
can
to
protect
them,
because
their
hopes
and
dreams
are
in
fact
completely
aligned
and
related
to
our
ability
to
succeed
on
the
city
and
the
state
and
as
a
country.
Every
time
we
support
the
hopes
and
dreams
of
those
who
live
here.
You
are
not
just
doing
something
that
selfless
by
supporting
another
person,
you're
actually
behaving
very
selfish,
because
when
they
succeed
as
a
city,
we
succeeded
and
it's
why
I'm
grateful
to
say
that
we
have
this
included
here
today.
B
Is
why
I'm
grateful
I
work
for
the
mayor
that
I
work
for
that
Moyer
is
part
of
our
cabinet
and
I
hope
that
all
of
you
and
I'm
speaking
to
the
choir
I
hope
that
all
of
you,
when
you
leave
here
we
move
places.
You
bring
that
message
that
true
message
that
real
truth
about
what
this
country
is
not
in
the
talking
points
are
under
with
this
before
introduce
Julie.
B
There
are
really
two
things
that
make
America
unique
when
you
compare
it
to
every
other
country,
one
we
freely
elect
our
leaders,
we're
not
the
only
country
that
that
does
that,
but
we
do
know
there
are
many
countries
who
cannot
have
that
right
and
privilege.
The
other
one
is
that
the
vast
majority
will
come
from
someplace
else
and
we're
not
the
only
country
that
immigrants
code-
you
put
those
two
together
where
the
vast
majority
of
come
from
someplace
else,
and
we
freely
elect
our
leaders.
That
is
actually
what
makes
us
unique.
B
So
when
we're
waving
the
American
flag
and
we're
talking
about
Great
America,
is
you
can't
do
that
without
recognizing
the
two
things
that
make
us
unique
in
this
world?
And
you
most
certainly
cannot
forget
that
reality
and
that's?
Why
I'm
just
proud
to
have
this
here
and
to
have
the
very
many
immigrants
and
refugees
who
are
work,
requests
every
day
and
everything
that
they
add
to
this
city,
which
is
very
grateful
here
in
Boston?
So
on
behalf
of
the
mayor,
I
want
all
who
hear
there's
my
voice
and
all
we
don't
to
know.
B
You
are
safe
here.
We
believe
in
you
and
we
know
that
our
skin
is
better
because
you
exist
and
we're
grateful.
You
chose
Boston
as
a
city
to
work
and
live
with
that
I
get
to
introduce
a
woman
who
is
a
first
when
I
mer
was
elected.
One
of
the
promises
that
he
made
was
that
he
was
going
to
hold
arts
and
culture
to
highest
field
right
and
that
when
there
are
many
things
that
make
a
city
a
city
sold
is
reflected
in
its
heart
in
its
culture.
B
And
to
that
end,
you
needed
to
have
someone
with
a
real
voice,
and
what
does
that
mean
in
the
hierarchy
of
government
right?
It
means
just
sitting
on
the
cabinet
as
an
equal
with
the
other
cabinet
chiefs,
and
so
the
first
time
this
year.
Boston
our
mayor
created
position.
I
was
the
chief
of
Arts
and
Culture,
which
is
a
cabinet
position
that
turned
out
to
be
the
easy
part.
Our
part
is
to
find
the
right
person
to
be
the
first
right.
B
That's
a
that's,
a
very
difficult
task,
both
for
the
person
who
created
that
position
before
the
person
who
takes
it
and
I
think
the
man
nailed
it
hit
a
home
run.
He
had
to
go
to
Chicago.
We
could
give
him
to
leave
in
the
city
on
this
one.
He
had
to
go
to
Chicago
but,
like
I
just
said
all
the
immigrants
and
welcome,
including
those
from
Chicago
and
so
I.
What
I
welcome
my
friend
and
our
first
sequence
of
arts
and
culture
to
the
world.
C
Thank
you
so
much
cheaper
oil
and
I'm
also
the
daughter
of
an
immigrant
and
come
from
a
long
line
of
people
who
emigrated
from
country
after
country
after
country
after
country
over
the
past
several
hundred
years.
Seeking
freedom
and
seeking
liberty
and
landed
in
the
u.s.
I
wanted
to
offer
a
special
thanks
to
Michael
Cullen
for
bringing
this
wonderful
show
to
City.
Hall
and
he'll
speak
right
after
me,
and
also
to
Alejandra
the
director
of
the
office
of
immigrant
advancement
for
being
such
great
partners
within
City
Hall
and
in
the
community.
C
We
are
so
thrilled
to
have
this
show
here
in
City
Hall,
where
both
workers
and
visitors,
this
incredible
building,
to
see
these
portraits
and
read
these
stories
and
put
a
real
face
on
the
refugee
crisis
as
chief
of
Arts
and
Culture
I've
had
the
honor
of
overseeing
the
creation
of
another
first
for
Boston
and
that's
a
plan
to
support
arts
and
culture
called
Boston
create.
And
this
plan
is
a
manifestation
of
the
people
of
Boston's.
Deeply
held
belief
in
the
power
of
the
Arts
to
transform
lives
among
its
goals.
C
Often
creates
really
looks
to
elevate
how
the
arts
can
facilitate
learning
opportunities
among
diverse
cultures,
and
this
example
is
great-
and
this
exhibit
is
a
great
example
of
that
in
action
really
demonstrating
the
power
of
the
arts
to
teach
create
dialogue
and
help
us
with
one
another.
We
know
that,
since
its
earliest
days,
the
city
of
Boston
has
been
home
to
people
of
all
cultural
backgrounds.
C
I
hope
that
this
exhibit
inspires
you
to
go
a
little
deeper,
get
to
know
a
little
bit
more
about
the
refugee
crisis
and
explore
how
you
can
help
be
part
of
the
solution
with
that
I
will
introduce
Michael
Cohen,
who
brought
this
exhibit
to
City
Hall
and
those
whom
we
are
eternally
grateful.
Thank
you.
C
D
There
is
a
message
in
these
images
and
after
we're
done
here
and
as
you
walk
around
the
perimeter
of
this
mezzanine
and
also
continuing
upstairs
right
over
to
where
the
mayor
lives,
you'll
be
looking
at
the
faces
and
reading
the
interviews.
The
message
will
become
clear
but
I'm
going
to
give
you
a
head
start
at
the
end
of
each
interview,
Aimee
frakkin,
who
is
sitting
right
there,
who
is
a
sensational
journalism,
part
of
our
team
as
she
concluded
each
one.
She
asked
a
final
question
to
each
of
the
people
that
you'll
meet
today.
D
She
said
what
message
would
you
like
to
give
to
the
Americans
who
come
to
see
this
exhibit?
And
while
there
are
numerous
answers
on
these
panels,
I'll
read
you
the
first
one.
Now
it's
from
a
young
man
named
Ali
the
left
Syria
in
2014,
and
when
asked
what
he'd
like
to
say
to
the
people
who
come
to
this
exhibit,
he
says
simply
I
would
like
to
say
you
did
the
right
thing,
because
you
have
to
break
the
ice
between
us.
D
He's
right
and
I
want
to
thank
mayor
Walsh
for
giving
you
the
opportunity
to
come
close.
My
hometown,
the
city
of
Boston,
has
welcomed
this
exhibit
as
it
welcomes
refugees
from
all
over.
As
your
hurt
feelings
talking
about.
I
also
want
to
thank
sitting
right
here
in
the
front
dr.
Donna
John
Beck
of
LaSalle
College,
whose
research
focuses
on
Syrian
refugees
and
who
worked
and
worked
to
help
us
find
participants
for
this
project.
D
Now
after
this
exhibit
leaves
Boston
in
ten
days
it
will
begin
a
nationwide
tour
to
educate
and
inform
others,
and
I
want
to
ask
you
all,
because
we
have
slots
on
our
schedule.
If
you
have
a
connection
in
another
city
that
you
think
might
want,
this
exhibit
come
see
me
today,
you'll
have
a
chance
to
spend
a
few
minutes
with
20
Syrian
men
and
women
who
left
Syria,
not
because
they
wanted
to,
but
because
they
had
to
make
a
choice
to
live
or
to
die.
D
D
Individuals
and
families
that
are
ripped
from
the
life
that
they
know
without
notice,
often
without
resources
and
thrust
into
a
situation
that
they
never
asked
for
and
wish
had
never
happened
here
in
Boston
and
across
this
great
country.
The
immigrants,
the
refugee
is
an
important
part
of
our
American
culture
and
our
society
in
Syria,
the
war
that
has
killed
over
400,000
people
has
also
created
over
5
million
refugees
that
have
left
their
country.
D
D
I
felt
I
had
to
do
something
because
the
majority
of
Americans
simply
are
not
in
favor
of
Syrian
refugee
resettlement
in
the
United
States.
Why?
Well?
There
is
many
reasons,
as
there
are
people
to
give,
but
one
thing
is
for
certain:
as
ali
said,
you
have
to
come
close
to
people
to
see
them,
otherwise
it
is
propagating
stereotypes.
D
What
we
have
learned
is
that
when
Syrian
refugees
are
welcomed
into
a
new
area,
they
and
the
communities
that
have
welcomed
them
thrive,
there
is
so
much
that
Diana
and
Amy
and
I
want
to
share
with
you
about
our
experiences
and
after
we're
done
talking
we'll
be
in
the
hall
and
having
a
bite
to
eat.
Please
feel
free
to
come
up
and
introduce
yourself
to
any
of
the
three
of
us.
We'd.
D
Also
like
you
to
share
your
experiences
with
the
faces
of
Syrian
refugees
and
we've
created
a
way
for
you
to
talk
directly
to
the
men
and
women
that
you're
going
to
meet
today.
So
using
your
smartphone,
everybody
got
one
I
want
you
to
take
a
selfie
with
one
of
our
stereos
and
post
it
with
this
hashtag.
D
D
When
you
do
that,
with
that
hashtag
we'll
be
following
that
hashtag
and
so
will
the
people
that
you're
going
to
meet
today.
If
you
add
a
comment
to
the
post,
they'll
be
able
to
receive
it,
you
know
they
don't
have
the
chance
to
be
with
us
in
person
live
today
and
I
know
that
they'd
love
to
hear
from
you
and
hear
what
you
think
and
you
can
talk
directly
to
the
room
and
before
touring
the
exhibit
and
meeting
some
of
our
new
friends
there's
one
in
particular.
D
E
Thank
you
all
for
welcoming
me
in
your
countries
and
my
country
now
all
over
the
words
when
you
near
Syria.
If
war
is
devastation,
it's
refugees
and
it
disasters,
but
when
but
before
2011,
it
was
nothing
like
that
before
2011
Syria
was
peaceful
and
terrific
countries
visited
by
millions
each
year,
Syria's
will
know
to
be
the
cradle
of
civilization,
the
land
of
Christianity
and
Islam,
and
even
had
a
whole
street
that
contains
a
lot
of
Jewish.
In
my
area
the
nondenomination
did
not
matter
at
all.
E
People
were
living
a
simple
and
modest
site
and
most
Syrians
had
houses.
We
did
not
use
back
home
to
violence.
We
just
bought
them
cash.
We
had
very
successful
businesses
that
worth
millions
of
dollars
and
we
used
to
celebrate
all
occasions.
Birthdays
weddings
gather
at
this
Friday.
It
was
really
nice
and
just
one
day
everything
is
gone.
E
We
took
everything
for
granted.
Just
like
me,
I
thought
what
I
had
will
be
mine
forever,
but
in
2011
I
looked
at
all
in
2011.
The
first
thing
that
I
thought
is
the
main
source
of
our
income.
My
husband
owned
a
travel
agency.
So,
of
course,
the
fates.
The
first
thing
that
went
down
was
the
travel
business.
E
E
E
It
was
no
water
for
many
hours.
During
the
day,
no
electricity
I'd
lived
in
the
50s.
For
so
imagine,
going
up
and
down
the
stairs
to
go
to
work
every
day
with
two
kids
and
headed
full
back,
my
neighbors
got
killed.
We
got
sucked
away
from
our
house
because
the
gutter
streets
were
not
facing
us.
We
had
to
stay
in
a
hotel
for
many
nights
because
we
couldn't
go
back
home,
but
then
we
did
not
decide
to
leave.
E
We
had
some
hopes
and
dreams
that
our
life
will
be
back
to
normal
one
day
and
everything
is
just
a
bad
dream
again
hoping,
but
still
things
kept
getting
worse
and
worse,
my
physical
fire
papers
bomb.
They
came
expert
actually
knowing
what
for
this
weapon
is
being
used.
Is
it
far
enough
for
making
just
continue
eating
or
doing
whatever
they're
doing
for
it's
very
slow
that
they
needed
to
hide
under
the
bed
or
in
the
hallway
and
say
2013?
E
Maybe
early
2013,
we
decided
we
had
received
so
many
personal
threats
and
especially
Michael,
so
we
decided
to
move
to
Lebanon
when
we
moved
to
Lebanon,
we
open
the
business.
We
start
there.
Alright,
we're
ready
to
start
a
new
life
here,
but
we
face
the
worst
wrigley
fact
that
ever
any
person
in
faith
before
two
times
two
occasions
were
threatening
to
kill
us
in
the
street
and
who
were
driving
in
the
car
in
another
car
just
tries
to
push
us
down
a
cliff
with
the
kids
in
the
car
gonna.
E
So
we
applied
for
a
visa
in
2013.
We
got
it,
but
still
we
were
not
sure.
Is
this
the
right
time
to
music,
or
we
should
still
wait?
Hopefully,
things
get
better,
but
things
kept
getting
worse
and
worse
and
the
sense
of
coming
so
we
decided
to
take
advantage
of
the
visa
and
came
into
that
March
2014
we
came
here
in
Massachusetts.
We
look
at,
we
relocated
from
Watertown
we
applied
for
asylum
and
still
we're
still
pending.
E
We
have
a
work
permit,
but
we're
still
pending
no
interview
yet,
but
at
least
were
working
now
in
Syria,
Syrian,
elementary
school
teachers
and
now
I
work
as
an
inclusion
aide
in
a
public
school.
My
husband
also
is
working
in
a
travel
agency
and
hoping
one
day
to
open
his
own
charge
of
agency.
Again
here
soon,
my
kids.
Now
they
are
7
and
11.
E
My
daughter
is
a
Bluebell
and
she
just
is
a
memorial
decorated
in
Watertown,
and
my
son
loves
music
in
doing
music
production
at
YMCA,
so
went
of
a
town
welcomes
refugees,
the
refugees
will
live
off
the
taxpayer
or
they
will
take
advantage
of
the
benefits
of
this
that
they
have
been
offered
as
I
taught
two
resources
as
they
saw
Englishmen
and
offered
resources
and
everything
they
needed
to
know.
They
will
do
so
well
in
their
community
experience
all
refugees
and
Syrians
in
particular
love
working.
E
They
cannot
just
say
they
would
like
to
be
successful,
Syrian
kids
in
school.
They
came
here
with
no
English
and
they're
very
successful.
Now
Syrians
they
open
businesses,
so
they
are
open.
They
created
new
jobs,
they
did
not
take
other
people
jobs
and
even
if
they
are
taking
other
people's
out,
they
are
being
successful
and
they're
working,
really
hard
and
they're
being
they
are
offering
a
lot
of
help
and
being
doing
a
lot
of
volunteering
in
their
communities.
I
would
really
know
that
all
communities
around
this
country
are
the
same
as
a
family.
E
E
One
more
thing
I
would
like
to
add
is,
if
you
don't
know
what
to
do,
for
Refugees
or
for
any
immigrants.
The
first
thing
to
do
is
just
like
Michael
said
when
Alec
said
is
just
try
to
know
them,
try
to
invite
them
and
open
your
doors
and
mind
to
them,
so
you
get
to
know
them
better.
If
some
people
think
that
serious
Syrian
refugees
and
movement
in
particular
are
Isis
or
not
Isis
or
far
away
from
them,
we're
not
here
to
do
any
terrorist
attack,
we're
just
we
have
to
leave
for
our
tip
safety.