Contact: Ashley Bustos, Executive Assistant, 315-738-1083 or ashleyb@mvrcr.org
Utica, New York- The Mohawk Valley Resource Center for Refugees invites the public to the
7th annual UNSPOKEN Human Rights Film Festival Thursday, October 19th & Friday, October
20th, 2017. Utica serves as a home to over 16,000 refugees who have experienced and fled
human rights violations and persecution to start a new life in the United States. Utica has been
deemed “The City that Loves Refugees” by the United Nations High Commissioner for
Refugees. The rich history of immigration in Utica and the Mohawk Valley provides an excellent
home for UNSPOKEN.
The year the festival is composed of a Provider Training – Refugee Health: Strategies for
Trauma Healing & Wellness at the Radisson Hotel Utica Centre on Thursday, October 19th
from 8:00 am -12:00 pm. Tickets are $15 per participant. There will also be a Firefly Storytelling
Session at the Tramontane Cafe from 7:00-9:00 pm on Thursday, October 19th that provides the
opportunity for community members and guest speakers to share their stories and experiences.
On Friday, October 20th, there will be a Festival Reception and Silent Auction that will be held
at Munson-Williams-Proctor Arts Institute- Fountain Elms beginning at 5:00 pm followed by a
screening of the feature film “Lost in Lebanon”. Tickets are $30 per attendee and includes
admittance to the film, hors d’oeuvre and beer/wine/soda.
The UNSPOKEN Human Rights Film Festival was founded by Michael Patrei, Peter Vogelaar,
and Rick Short in 2011 in order to bring light to culture and human rights issues from around the
world to Utica. The film festival provides an opportunity to see these films locally in Utica. It aims
to create a space where different voices are heard and to promote understanding of people’s
different backgrounds and experiences.
This year’s UNSPOKEN Human Rights Festival is produced by the Mohawk Valley Resource
Center for Refugees and brought to you in part by Bank of Utica, MVP Health Care, and CNY
Arts. Utica’s Mohawk Valley Resource Center for Refugees is a non-profit organization,
established in 1981, that provides services to refugees, immigrants, and Limited English
Proficient (LEP) individuals. MVRCR’s goal is to help individuals and families achieve
independence and self-sufficiency by providing services that allow us to build community with
many cultures.
Schedule of Events
Thursday, October 19th:
8 a.m.- 12 p.m. Provider Training- Refugee Health: Strategies for Trauma Healing & Wellness
Radisson Hotel.
Fee – $15. Registration and continental breakfast begin at 8:00am.
Presentations will begin at 9:00am.
Registration: https://tinyurl.com/Provider-Training-2017
7:00 p.m. Firefly Storytelling Session at the Tramontane Cafe
Friday, October 20th:
5:00 p.m. Festival Reception & Silent Auction to be followed by a showing of “Lost in Lebanon”
Fountain Elms at Munson-Williams-Proctor Arts Institute.
Tickets $30 Registration: https://tinyurl.com/Reception-Registration-2017
7:30pm Film “Lost in Lebanon” Munson-Williams-Proctor Arts Institute.
Film Trailer: https://vimeo.com/201892180
For more information, visit: https://www.iamunspoken.com/
For press inquires contact Ashley Bustos at 315-738-1083 or via email at ashleyb@mvrcr.org
