PhotoVoice

via Pixabay

There seems to be a concentrated interest—from rhetoric in blockbuster movies to the President and everything in between—in the depiction of refugees as flat, generic characters. They are supposed to represent either a threat or a charity case, and both of those ideas piss half the country off. The reality, of course, is that refugees are people just like any of us, only they have been forced into situations more unfortunate and more dangerous than any one of us will ever confront. This Friday, July 28, 40 refugee students will be sharing their lives and experiences with the public in the form of a participatory photography presentation called PhotoVoice. The key to a harmonious country and world will be appreciation and understanding of the similarities and differences between neighbors and strangers alike. No matter what side of the ideological aisle you stand on, shed your preconceptions and appreciate the struggles, successes and stories of these 40 brave students hailing from throughout Africa and the Middle East. Following this totally free presentation at Highland High School Auditorium, running from 10am until noon, will be a reception catered by Talking Drums African and Caribbean Grill. (Adam Wood)