ORAM event in Minnesota featured a special guest
Pictured: A group at A Celebration of Courage fundraiser in Minneapolis!
Last Thursday, ORAM hosted a fundraiser in Minneapolis. The fundraiser was ORAM’s first in-person event in Minneapolis in nearly three years and was hosted by Steven Walker, a generous ORAM supporter and friend, at his home in Minneapolis. A Celebration of Courage was a two-hour cocktail reception where ORAM had the opportunity to connect with our community in Minnesota and allow our community to support ORAM’s work of empowering LGBTIQ refugees around the world.
We were honored to have a very special guest and former ORAM client, Madrine Nanyonjo (she/they), attend the fundraiser and share her inspiring and personal story. , Madrine is a queer refugee from Uganda who met ORAM in Nairobi, Kenya. ORAM worked with Madrine through its support of community-based organizations (CBOs) with whom Madrine was a member.
Picture: (Left) Steve Roth giving opening remarks, welcoming guests to the event. (Center) Madrine Nanyonjo shares her experience as a queer refugee. (Right) Guests listening to the speakers.
During the event, ORAM Executive Director Steve Roth provided remarks to all the guests and introduced Madrine, who shared her story and experience as a queer refugee. Madrine told guests how she learned about ORAM and some of the economic empowerment opportunities ORAM supported that she participated in. At the end of their remarks, Madrine shared about the current state of queer refugees in Kenya and called on the guests to support LGBTIQ refugees everywhere.
Not only was the evening fun, powerful, and moving, but it also raised needed funds to support and empower LGBTIQ refugees around the world.
This event and the money raised wouldn’t have been possible without the help of some very generous and dedicated friends of ORAM. Thank you to our Host Committee Annie Nolte-Henning, Ari Weinstein, Jody Cole, Nick Alm, Perry and Cindy Witkin, Rajiv Desai, Rich and Lynn Voelbel, Selisse Berry, Steve Roth, and Steven Walker, for supporting this event! Thank you to ORAM's Communications and Development Coordinator, Kyle Kvamme, for his work organizing the event and our dedicated volunteers who helped staff it. And we cannot thank Madrine enough for attending the event and sharing her lived experience as a queer refugee in a powerful and moving speech.
The entire ORAM team also wants to thank everyone who donated and supported this special event. These funds will support LGBTIQ refugees towards a better future.
If you want to help empower LGBTIQ refugees like Madrine, please donate here.