By Michael Ganci, Local Media Editor, Syntax, for The Bronxville School

Feb. 10, 2016:  More than 20 prominent speakers, including a Syrian refugee and MSNBC Morning Joe hosts Mika Brzezinski and Joe Scarborough, participated in an event titled "Understanding the Syrian Refugee Crisis" with Bronxville High School students at the Student Faculty Legislature Day on January 29.

Members of the Student Faculty Legislature, which is run by high school students, choose the topic to explore each year. The student leaders, SFL advisor Dr. Victor Maxwell, Bronxville High School Principal Ann Meyer, and parent volunteers arranged for guest speakers and organized various workshops to provide the rest of the students with a better understanding of the topic and an opportunity to engage in a meaningful discussion. Each student was assigned to attend two breakout sessions during the day to learn about the problems facing the refugees.

"In order for Bronxville students to be leaders in making decisions on global issues, we need to be educated first," said Natalia Kaminski, president of the Student Faculty Legislature. "Everyone is participating in the classrooms, learning something completely new, something they've never heard of before, a perspective they've never taken into account before. It's really important to have that educated background before taking a stand in the Syrian refugee crisis issue."

The day began with opening remarks by United Nations Information Officer Mita Hosali and Bard College student Sana Mustafa, a Syrian refugee who is in asylum in the United States, before the high school students met in groups with the rest of the speakers. Following the workshops, the students gathered for a presentation by Brzezinski and Scarborough on the politics of the crisis. The day ended with a panel discussion with journalists, professors, and prominent humanitarian activists.

"We believe it was important for a non-diverse community like Bronxville to explore the problems that Syrian refugees face overseas and all of the hardships they endure to find peace and seek asylum," said Aidan Flannery, vice president of the Student Faculty Legislature. "There are so many different aspects to the crisis and there are so many moving parts in it that it is very difficult to help these people. But all these countries need to step forward and take initiative to help them."          

Student Faculty Legislature Day guests and speakers: 

Dr. Mustafa Y. Ali, Secretary General, Global Network for Religions for Children
Margi Bhatt, Education Officer, Concern Worldwide U.S.
Iman Boukadoum, Director of Community Partnerships, Interfaith Center of New York
Frank Brodhead, Founder, Concerned Families of Westchester
Abby Bruell, Humanitarian Program and Policy Officer, Concern Worldwide U.S.
Mika Brzezinski, Co-host, Morning Joe
Danielle Butin, Founder and Director, AFYA Foundation
Allison Casey, High School Program Engagement Fellow, the U.S. Fund for UNICEF
Andrew Courtney, Refugee Advocate, WESPAC Foundation
Willa Freij, Reporter, Huffington Post
Felice Gelman, Advocate, Refugees: Call to Action
Anju Gupta, Associate Professor of Law, Rutgers Law School
Will Haney, Associate Director for Ext. Relations, Church World Service
Mita Hosali, Deputy Director, United Nations News and Media Division
Kate Jordan-Farmer, Knowledge Manager, USA for UNHCR
Mahmoud Mahmoud, Director, Church World Service
Mary Marvin, Mayor, Village of Bronxville
Sana Mustafa, Syrian Activist
Antti Pentikainen, Executive Director, Religions for Peace
Bassam Rifai, Director of Government Relations, Syrian American Council, SCM Medical
Joe Scarborough, Co-host, Morning Joe
John Solecki, Senior Policy Advisor, UNHCR
Catherine Tinker, Adjunct Professor, Seton Hall, School of Diplomacy and International Relations
Sylvia Wong, Director of Public Engagement, Concern Worldwide U.S.

To watch a video about the Student Faculty Legislature Day, click here.  

Pictured Here:  Mika Brzezinski and Joe Scarborough discussing the Syrian refugee crisis at the annual Student Faculty Legislature Day on January 29.

Photo courtesy The Bronxville School