Speakers

For the past 15 years, Chris George has been the Executive Director of IRIS, Integrated Refugee & Immigrant Services, Connecticut's largest refugee resettlement agency.  Based in New Haven but working with community groups all over the state, IRIS has welcomed more than 1,300 refugees to Connecticut in just the last three years.  Chris has spent most of his professional life living in, or working on, the Middle East.  He spent a total of 12 years in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.  Chris was Executive Director of Human Rights Watch – Middle East for two years.  He worked nine years with Save the Children (mostly in the Middle East) and three years with American Friends Service Committee.  Chris began his international career in 1977 as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Muscat, Oman. He speaks Arabic.

IRIS is a statewide non-profit, based in New Haven, providing services to immigrants and refugees as they seek to restart their lives in the safety and peace of Connecticut. Over the years, our organization has presented at hundreds of libraries, schools, faith communities, corporations, and civic organizations that are interested in learning more about the refugee crisis, immigration, or the noble tradition of welcoming persecuted people from around the world.