Albany Mayor Kathy Sheehan and Police Chief Eric Hawkins Visit Frank Wiley’s Class to Speak about the Migrant Crisis
ALBANY, N.Y. (Sept. 1, 2023)- Last week, Albany Mayor Kathy Sheehan and Albany Police Chief Eric Hawkins visited Frank Wiley's 410 Capstone Course to speak about the migrant crisis.
Wiley's 410 course offers the opportunity for students to react to situations that impact the Capital Region and build a response plan to share with local leaders.
This fall, students have been split into six groups where they will research immigration and the important resources the migrants will need upon their arrival to Albany. Students are learning how they can create a plan for the migrants coming to Albany and will be in contact with the Mayor's office during the semester.
The first day of the class offered an introduction to the partnership the University at Albany has with the city of Albany. Students were able to ask Mayor Sheehan and Police Chief Hawkins questions about the migrant crisis.
"We are grateful that Mayor Sheehan has confidence in the class, our college, and the University to be a resource for the city," said Wiley, who was previously chief of the University Police Department before becoming a lecturer at the College of Emergency Preparedness, Homeland Security and Cybersecurity.
"This project will be difficult, but we have officials on our side for questions and support to create an environment that is welcoming to immigrants and refugees, as well as creating a unity within our city, said Sarah Golden, an emergency preparedness, homeland security and cybersecurity major.
"This showed how we as a class must help these officials and people coming into our country, as well as our state and city. We need to create an equal and diverse environment for assimilation and equality within our city."