The Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization (IRCO) held two community events last month that packed its community room with people eager to learn more about family safety issues.

For the first event, the IRCO Refugee and Immigrant Family Strengthening program presents "Unmask the Silence."  Held in recognition of National Domestic Awareness Month, the presentations were geared toward educating people about and raising awareness of domestic violence, which crosses all ethnic and socio-economic lines.

Judge Keith Meisenheimer of the Multnomah County Family Law Court and Mary Li, program manager for the Multnomah County School and Community Partnerships program, were keynote speakers, addressing how the community can support victims of sexual and family violence.

Another speaker - a survivor of domestic violence whose name was withheld for safety reasons - spoke about her experiences with a process that eventually took her to a place of relative safety in the hope that her story would help others who need to make difficult decisions to protect themselves.

The following day, the IRCO gym was again filled with families, this time for the free Lead-Safe Kids fair.  A collaborative event of IRCO and the Josiah Hill III Clinic, the fair was designed to educate parents about lead poisoning and provide free blood tests for pregnant women and children between six months and six years old.

Workshops were presented and translated into several languages.  In addition, each family who had a child tested received a free lead-safe toy and a free dust kit to test for lead in the home.  The Josiah Hill III Clinic provided a free lunch to participants.

A total of 59 children and pregnant women were tested by the clinic for lead poisoning.  Of those, two returned with positive readings, both young children.  The parents were counselled on the next steps in the process.

To learn more about IRCO and future programs, call (503) 234-1541 or visit .

The Asian Reporter

November 18, 2008

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