As co-presenters, Sister Aurora and Ethan will discuss their topic within the context of Hawaii.  They will present a summary of their work as staff with an immigration legal service provider, with a brief background on the context of Hawaii as a state and how immigration has played a role in its existing make-up.  Their talk will highlight the types of clients that they serve and the reasons they migrated.  They will also address systems in place that determine immigration to the state. They will offer insights into their personal philosophy of why they do the work and why they believe it is important for integration, welcoming and providing people with the same chance they have had. Furthermore, they will also discuss their challenges in empowering a client to have a sense of belonging.

Catholic Charities of Hawaii supports a philosophy of belonging through legal support, case management, empowerment services and others. The session will close by identifying the takeaways or action steps that participants can take to support immigrants in integrating/starting their lives in a foreign place.