Migrant Care
Breakout Session 2024
Create a sustainable action plan to provide comprehensive support for migrants to ensure their successful integration and well-being, fostering a more inclusive and thriving Boston community.
Meet the Speakers!
Dr. Geralde Gabeau
Executive Director of the Immigrant Family Services Institute (IFSI-USA)
Dr. Geralde Gabeau is a well-respected Haitian leader in Massachusetts. With over 20 years of experience working with the Boston immigrant community, Dr. Gabeau has worked on numerous public health initiatives that help bridge care to women and children.
As the Founder and Executive Director of the Immigrant Families Services Institute (IFSI-USA) Dr. Gabeau has focused on immigrant Integration by building & implementing programs & services that directly serve and empower Haitian immigrants. The Immigrant Families Services Institute (IFSI-USA) mission is to center the voices of Haitian migrants and expedite their successful integration into the social and economic fabric of the United States with justice and dignity. Her talent for team-building helps to bring people together to address the needs of Haitian migrants & refugees and build safer & thriving communities for them all.
Rev. Melinda Priest
Lead Pastor at Awaken City Church
Rev. Melinda Priest serves as the Lead Pastor at Awaken City Church in the Jamaica Plain neighborhood of Boston. Melinda has been a music teacher, song writer, conference speaker/teacher, and a worship and care pastor. She is also an ordained Wesleyan pastor and has a Master of Divinity from Wesley Seminary with a specialty in Multiplication. She also organizes Conversational English and Citizenship classes with her Immigrant Connection Site.
Rev. Kelly Fassett
Executive Director of UniteBoston
Kelly has served as the Executive Director for UniteBoston since 2012 and has been the catalyst for UniteBoston’s bridge-building work throughout Christians in the region. She has a certificate in Christian Foundations from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. She also graduated with her Masters of Divinity in Global and Community Engagement at Boston University in 2019, with certificates in Religion and Conflict Transformation as well as International Mission and Ecumenism. She also serves on Neighborhood Church of Dorchester's Neighborhood Support Team that cares for refugee families. UniteBoston provides resources and opportunities for people to care for migrants, including their Migrant Sunday campaign. Kelly and her husband Andrew are both ordained ministers with the American Baptist Churches of Massachusetts and live in an intentional Christian community in the Dorchester area. They have two daughters named Abigail and Elyse enjoy spending time outdoors.
More Coming Soon!