International employment, relationships focus of dinner

Event offers a venue for people of different faiths, cultures to mingle

After living in Ireland — his wife’s homeland — for a couple of years in the early ’80s, John Dennis found that it was difficult to find employment abroad.

“Back in those days, there were a lot of restrictions on getting a visa,” he said.

So Dennis knows the value of supporting local laws that ease the path for international residents to live and find employment abroad. For his keynote speech at this year’s Dialogue and Friendship Dinner on April 11, the West Lafayette Mayor will discuss work visas and local employment opportunities.

This is the ninth annual dinner hosted by the Niagara Foundation, a diversity advocacy nonprofit based in Chicago.

“The focus is celebrating diversity, tolerance and respect for other cultures,” Dennis said.

Outreach coordinator for the group’s Greater Lafayette branch, said the foundation is hosting the dinner to provide a place for people of diverse cultures, backgrounds and faiths to socialize.

“We believe that when people know each other, the less people fear each other,” he said.

The Niagara Foundation hosts the dialogue dinners annually in various cities throughout the Midwest, he added.

Lafayette Mayor Tony Roswarski also will be a keynote speaker this year. He said he’ll talk about the importance of building global relationships.

“People around the world want the same things,” he said. “They want peace, a good job, and access to health care. These relationships are good for the community and the world.”

Published on JC Online, 03 April 2013, Wednesday