The Department of Ethnic Studies, School of Cultural and Critical Studies, is organizing a symposium  The symposium is scheduled for Nov 19, 2015, and runs from 9.30-4.30 am. It will be held in the Multicultural Room (228) of the Bowen Thompson Student Union, The symposium commemorates the 50th anniversary of the passage of the Immigration and Naturalization Act of 1965, a landmark act that transformed the immigration policy; this still guides US immigration. The symposium highlights migration to Ohio. Throughout the day various panels will provide insights into different aspects of migration to Ohio. In addition, panels will also focus on new initiatives by major cities in Ohio, such as Welcome Toledo-Lucas County, to attract new immigrants in order to stimulate economic growth. Ohio, is the only state in the nation where all major cities have an initiative to encourage immigrants to settle in their cities.

The symposium will commence at 9.00 am with coffee and opening remarks from President Mazey, followed by the first panel at 9.30 am. The panels are:
1. Immigrant Ohio: Past and Present: Representatives of the US Citizenship and Immigration Services will give details of the history of immigration to Ohio as well as provide insights into present day immigrant issues; representative of International Institute will provide northwest Ohio perspective on immigration.

2. Refugees in Ohio: The panel is led by representative of US Together, the major organization that resettles refugees in Ohio, and will provide insights into the ways refugees have reshaped economy in Columbus, OH, as well as highlight the new refugee center in Toledo (settling Syrian refugees). In addition, a visual ethnographer, who document the lives of Somali, Nepali and Bhutanese refugees in Columbus will present his work.

3. Migrants in the Shadows: Service providers who work with migrant farm labor in northwest Ohio will provide insights into various aspects of migration to northwest Ohio and the issues facing the migrant worker population.

4. Welcome Toledo-Lucas County: Immigration and Local Economies highlights the new directions in Ohio where cities are welcoming new immigrants for economic growth. Represetatives from Toledo-Lucas County will provide rational for starting this initiative.

5. Migrants Perspectives: Life in northwest Ohio
Migrants who have lived in northwest Ohio will talk about their life in northwest Ohio.

Details of the panels can be found at the website: bgsu.edu/immigrationevent.