Northern Michigan University will host a public panel presentation titled “Refugee Voices of Resilience” on Thursday, Nov. 7. Former refugees and migrants who now serve in government, humanitarian and educational roles will share their journeys to where they are today, highlighting their work in supporting vulnerable communities and giving back.
The event is scheduled from 6-7:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 7, in the Seaborg Center Auditorium (room 2701 of The Science Building). Panelists include Dilli Gautam, who works with the Office of Global Michigan, contributing to statewide initiatives that support immigrant and refugee communities; Anna Kovalenko and Shukurani Nsengiyumva, who each play an active role in addressing community needs and fostering support networks; and Mlado Ivanovic, an NMU philosophy professor whose dramatic experience as a 13-year-old refugee during the Bosnian war heavily influenced his career path and involvement in humanitarian projects.
“This event demonstrates how the journey from vulnerability to empowerment is not only possible, but also essential to strengthening our communities,” Ivanovic said. “Our hope is that these stories inspire dialogue, understanding, and perhaps even a commitment to advocacy among those who attend, showing how personal transformation can spark wider social change."
Three of the panelists—Gautam, Kovalenko and Ivanovic—serve as commissioners in the Michigan Immigrant and Refugee Council (MIARC), a state body dedicated to bridging the gap between legislators and immigrant and refugee communities. They will highlight government efforts to unite diverse communities, which "is especially significant in a region like Marquette, which is somewhat removed from Michigan's primary migratory and resettlement patterns," Ivanovic said.
The event will also provide NMU students with meaningful engagement opportunities. The NMU chapter of Refugee Outreach Collective: Humanitas is actively facilitating the panel.
"As the NMU branch of the non-governmental organization (NGO) I direct, this student-led chapter allows students not only to gain valuable experience in organizing and facilitating events, but also to immerse themselves in the storytelling process and interact firsthand with our panelists," Ivanovic added. "This experience will extend beyond the event itself, as the storytelling session will be followed by an exhibit that highlights the experiences of displaced people, offering students and attendees further insights into these powerful narratives.”
Read an October 2021 feature story on Ivanovic's path from Bosnia to NMU here.