Over 100 Students. Four Powerful Voices. One Pressing Issue.
On October 16, 2025, the Storer Ballroom at Shepherd University buzzed with energy and empathy as student leaders from seven high schools across the Eastern Panhandle came together for a day of listening, learning, and dialogue around one of the most urgent and complex topics of our time—immigration.
Now in its 37th year, the Rotary World Affairs Seminar has become a cornerstone event for youth civic engagement in our region. This year’s theme—“Understanding and Embracing Immigration Through Community Dialogue and Action”—challenged participants to move beyond headlines and assumptions, and into thoughtful consideration of immigration’s legal, humanitarian, economic, and personal dimensions.
Four extraordinary speakers offered compelling perspectives:
Judge Paul Grussendorf, a retired federal immigration judge and UN consultant, exposed the systemic flaws of U.S. asylum law and the global scope of the refugee crisis.
Katy Lewis, Senior Immigration Attorney at Mountain State Justice, explained the maze of rights, barriers, and policies affecting immigrants in West Virginia.
Pablo Blank, Director of Immigrant Integration at CASA, underscored the power of civic inclusion and economic empowerment through immigrant services.
José Romero, a local business owner, shared his moving personal journey from undocumented immigrant to U.S. citizen, tech worker, and entrepreneur.
Students participated in moderated breakout groups where they explored challenging questions:
What causes people to flee their countries?
How should the U.S. immigration system evolve?
What roles can young people and communities play in integrating new neighbors?
The resulting discussions were thoughtful, respectful, and filled with actionable ideas—from creating peer support systems and revising immigration laws, to organizing community forums and service projects. Getting humanity back in to the sytem and respecting “due process” where universal elements of the reporting from the breakout groups.
As one student shared in the closing session:
“It made me realize immigration isn’t just a policy issue—it’s about people, families, and stories like José’s that deserve to be heard and understood.”
The 2025 seminar not only achieved its objectives—it exceeded them. By fostering critical thinking, empathy, and civic responsibility, it honored Rotary’s mission to develop global citizens ready to make a difference.
Speaker presentations, bios, and discussion materials are now available at:
👉 https://shepherdstownrotary.org/2025-world-affairs-seminar/
We encourage participating schools to continue the conversation in classrooms, clubs, and communities. And we look forward to seeing how today’s insights inspire tomorrow’s action.
