We are excited to announce that the fourth annual Every Campus A Refuge (ECAR) Gathering will take place in Pennsylvania’s Lehigh Valley at Lafayette College in Easton, Pa. on September 12 and 13, 2025. The Gathering will bring together over 120 participants from across the United States to collaborate, innovate, and exchange insights, meeting this pivotal moment with a shared commitment to transforming higher education communities into spaces of welcome and profound belonging.
This upcoming year’s Gathering comes at a time when the national conversation around immigration, inclusion, and belonging will arrive at a critical juncture. At this moment, higher education institutions have an opportunity—and a responsibility—to lead the way in creating spaces of welcome and support for newcomers.
This year’s Gathering will begin as an invitation-based event, with free attendance for invitees who confirm by April 15. After this date, the event will open for public registration at a nominal fee. This fee will be designed to cover the costs of attendance that go beyond what our generous contributors will have already supported, ensuring the event remains accessible while supporting our mission to serve our stakeholders effectively.
The two-day event will feature workshops, speakers, and activities designed to foster dialogue, build community, and equip participants with the tools to transform their campuses into beacons of hospitality and hope. By focusing on collaboration and innovation, the Gathering seeks to empower attendees to respond thoughtfully and effectively to the challenges and opportunities of our time.
The 2025 ECAR Gathering at Lafayette College is a result of a collaborative initiative by the Lafayette Refugee Action Club (RefAct) in partnership with the Office of Religious and Spiritual Life, the Office of the President, and the dedicated team at ECAR’s non-profit.
Please consider sponsoring or supporting the Gathering. Kindly visit this [insert link] to view our sponsorship information package.
To gain further insight into the ECAR Gathering, visit our website at gathering.everycampusarefuge.
About Every Campus A Refuge (ECAR):
In response to Pope Francis’ call on every European parish to host one refugee family, ECAR was founded at Guilford College by Dr. Diya Abdo in September of 2015 and incorporated into a nonprofit in 2017. ECAR calls on every college and university to steward resources and partnerships in support of refugee resettlement and newcomers as they begin their lives in their new homes. Since ECAR’s inception, Chapters have supported the resettlement of hundreds of new arrivals on college campuses across the United States.
ECAR at Lafayette College:
The ECAR chapter at Lafayette College is part of the Lafayette Refugee Action, a student organization at the College that strives to raise awareness of and improve the lives of refugees from a variety of backgrounds in the Lehigh Valley and beyond. Advised by Rev. Dr. Alexandra M. Hendrickson, the organization consists of about 40 student members but enjoys a partnership with the Bethany Christian Services resettlement agency in sharing a passion for service, human rights, and peer education. Refugee Action is led entirely by Allentown, Pennsylvania.