Director of the Michigan Office of New Americans Bing Goei presents “Migration in Michigan” on Feb. 9 at Montcalm Community College.
Bing Goei, director of the Michigan Office of New Americans, presents “Migration in Michigan” on Feb. 9 at noon in rooms D303-305 in the Beatrice E. Doser Building on Montcalm Community College’s Sidney campus.
Michigan is the third largest state of residence for refugees coming to the United States. Goei will discuss what immigrants need and what they have to offer the state.
“One of the crucial issues today is the Syrian refugee crisis, and the question of how and when Michigan can safely welcome those fleeing from civil war in their Middle Eastern homeland,” said MCC Dean of Instruction & Student Development Gary Hauck. “Critical concerns have surfaced since the recent attacks in Paris, which were carried out by a terrorist embedded within the Syrian immigrants. Gov. Snyder is hoping to find a way to reach out to deserving Syrian immigrants while at the same time providing the necessary safeguards against any threat of terrorism.”
“As the director of the Michigan Office of New Americans, Goei is best suited to discuss the critical challenges and questions facing Michigan today as we determine how to appropriately accept and assimilate today’s immigrants from around the world,” Hauck added.
Goei immigrated to Michigan from Indonesia with his family in 1960. In 2001, he purchased Eastern Floral out of bankruptcy and rebuilt the Eastern Floral Company, which has become a Top 50 Teleflora florist with six West Michigan locations in Holland, Grand Haven and Grand Rapids. His passion for entrepreneurship and diversity led him to create the International Center for Entrepreneurial Excellence, a business incubator offering low-cost space to young, minority and female entrepreneurs in Grand Rapids. Gov. Rick Snyder named Goei the first director of the Michigan Office for New Americans because of his experiences as an immigrant and a job creator.
”Migration in Michigan” is the first of three presentations in the 2016 Stanley and Blanche Ash Lectureship Series, which aims to increase awareness of key issues of global and domestic importance, in partnership with the World Affairs Council.
Other lectures in the series include:
April 21: Brian Stout, author of the book “Trees of Life,” presents “Preserving Michigan’s Forests” from noon to 1 p.m. in rooms D303-305 in the Beatrice E. Doser Building on MCC’s Sidney campus and again from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. in the Stanley and Blanche Ash Technology and Learning Center (Ash TLC) on MCC’s Greenville campus.
Oct. 11: Dr. Leela Fernandes, Glenda Dickerson Collegiate Professor of Women’s Studies and Political Science at the University of Michigan, presents “India’s Political and Cultural Climate Today” from noon to 1 p.m. in rooms D303-305 in the Beatrice E. Doser Building on MCC’s Sidney campus and again from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. in the Ash TLC on MCC’s Greenville campus.
Lunch or dinner is free for students with a current MCC student ID and is $2 for all others.
