Migrant Care & Solidarity
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.
What to Expect:
This is the second year where Migrant Care and Solidarity is a focus at Boston Flourish: We will celebrate what has happened since last year and communicate the urgency of the ever-evolving situation today. We will provide practical onroads for leaders to accompany our new arrivals, and participants will have the opportunity to collaborate on a potential dashboard to better connect resources and needs. An afternoon panel discussion will highlight various congregational leaders that are using their buildings to shelter and serve our immigrant and refugee neighbors.
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.
Monique Tú Nguyen
Executive Director for the Mayor's Office for Immigrant Advancement – Boston (MOIA)
Monique Tú Nguyen is the Executive Director of the Mayor's Office for Immigrant Advancement and leads the department to advance stability, economic empowerment, civic ownership, and social integration for immigrants in Boston. She is committed to advocating for immigrants in Boston and building community to further equity and belonging. Director Nguyen has extensive experience in community-driven leadership and economic and racial justice. Prior to this appointment, she served as Executive Director of Matahari Women Workers’ Center for 10 years, advancing the rights and protections for domestic workers, women, immigrants, and their families. She’s also been recognized for her leadership of the MassUndocuFund, a million dollar COVID-19 cash relief fund for immigrant workers, and for spearheading the successful passage of the Massachusetts Domestic Workers Bill of Rights in 2014. Director Nguyen is from Vancouver, Canada, and a proud daughter of Vietnam War refugees. She speaks English, Vietnamese, and is learning Spanish. She loves to cook, dance, hike, and dream and scheme about community building.
Manny Daphnis
Manny Daphnis is a dynamic voice for this generation whose work transcends domains and genres. Through his candid presentation of truth via his work as a pastor, counselor, professor, author and consultant Manny has impacted countless lives across various ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds with a message of hope, encouragement, restoration & empowerment. Manny’s passion is to help people see themselves as God has made them and live out their potential in spite of what they may have endured. It is in this pursuit that Manny published Work God’s Way, a book that empowers individuals to discover their true identities as they discover their God ordained work. Over the years Manny has served in teaching, counseling, mentoring, research and coaching settings with individuals of all ages. Additionally Manny has served on a number of boards and currently serves as a board member of the Brockton Interfaith Community; New Heights Charter School of Brockton; Operation Make A Difference, Inc. a parachurch youth ministry in Boston; the Evangelical Christian Mission of Chambelan, Haiti as well as the Brockton Interfaith Coalition. Manny holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Brandeis University as well as a Master’s degree in Public Health from Tufts University. Pastor Manny also completed his theological training at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary where he earned a Master’s degree in Divinity. Manny currently pastors Restoration Community Church located in Brockton, MA. He and his wife Fredlyne have been married since 2003 and have three children- Hakeem, Hadassah, and Shiloh. They currently live just outside of Boston, MA.
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