Cynthia Shabb joins Immigrant and Refugee Panel Discussion

Cynthia Shabb, executive director of the Global Friends Coalition will join the panel discussion “The Immigrant and Refugee Experience” on Thursday, November 8, at the Empire Arts Center during the 2018 The North Dakota Human Rights Film Festival. In the midst of racial tensions in Grand Forks, North Dakota, the panel discussion will focus on dispelling the myths around immigration processes and services, and identify ways the Grand Forks community can become a welcoming community for all who call it home. The discussion will take place after the North Dakota premiere of the feature-length documentary, “This is Home”.

The Global Friends Coalition is a nonprofit with the mission of fostering refugee integration in the Greater Grand Forks Community. Global Friends works with over 260 volunteers a year, serving 230+ New Americans. 

Shabb earned a B.S. degree in English education from the University of Minnesota, a master’s in Library Science from Vanderbilt University, and a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership from the University of North Dakota. She has served as an administrator at UND in several roles including director of the Teaching and Learning doctoral program, assistant dean of the Graduate School, and head of collection development and library advancement at the Chester Fritz Library. Shabb currently serves on the board of the North Dakota Association of Nonprofit Organizations, the Grand Forks Public Schools, and New Flavors. Cynthia and her husband, John are proud of their two adult children, Benjamin and Carolyn Shabb.

Pre-sale tickets for the 2018 North Dakota Human Rights Film Festival are currently available. Tickets for individual screenings are $12 in advance and $15 at the door, and $2 for Seniors and Students. A Festival Pass to all screenings in Bismarck, Fargo and Grand Forks is available for $40. Follow the following links to get your tickets today: Grand Forks, Bismarck or Fargo.

The mission of the North Dakota Human Rights Film and Arts Festival is to educate, engage, and facilitate discussion around local and world-wide human rights topics through the work of filmmakers and artist. 2018 is the second year for both the film and art festivals.

The 2018 North Dakota Human Rights Film and Arts Festival is made possible through the generosity of the City of Fargo’s Human Relations Commission, the City of Fargo’s Native American Commission, The Arts Partnership and the Awesome Foundation: Cass Clay, and through partnerships with Lutheran Social Services of North Dakota, the NDSU Memorial Gallery, the North Dakota Human Rights Coalition.

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