World Refugee Day Events Across the Country
World Refugee Day Events Across the Country
June is a month of celebration, commemoration and advocacy. In honor of World Refugee Day, Refugee Congress and other advocates across the country join together to organize events throughout the month.
Some events are listed on the Refugee Congress Calendar. For other events, see We Are All America’s World Refugee Day Calendar of Events.
Here is a sampling of events organized by Refugee Congress Delegates and others. With so much happening, there’s an event for everyone!
Upcoming Events
June 17-19, evenings (In-person) - UNHCR World Refugee Day Events
UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, invites you to a live outdoor event at The Reach at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC, with concerts in the evenings (June 18-19), surrounded by a film screening, arts market and dance and yoga workshops with One Journey (June 17-19). See here and here for more information.
June 18, 7pm Eastern (Virtual)- Refugee Matters Series
This special “Restoring Refuge” series leading up to World Refugee Day features refugee and asylee leaders sharing the history and lived experiences of some of the most underrepresented refugee groups. See below for past episodes. The final upcoming episode is Spotlight on Stateless People. More here.
June 19, 2pm Eastern (Virtual) - World Refugee Day: Celebrate the Journey
Join Bridge Refugee Services and Refugee Congress Board Member Drocella Mugorewera for a virtual World Refugee Day celebration from Tennessee. Watch on YouTube or Facebook Live.
June 20, 3pm Central (In-person) - World Refugee Day with LORI
The Louisiana Organization for Refugees & Immigrants (LORI) and Refugee Congress Board Member Dauda Sesay are organizing an educational and fun-filled event celebrating the journey of refugees. Learn more.
June 21, 12pm Eastern (Virtual) - USA for UNHCR: Instagram Live
USA for UNHCR will be hosting an Instagram Live conversation about the refugee experience. The event will be streamed live from the @USAforUNHCR Instagram handle.
June 22, 12-4:30pm Eastern (Virtual) - Ready to Welcome: States Lay the Foundation
At a critical moment of rebuilding for the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP), the IRC and the Refugee Advocacy Lab are bringing together refugee voices, state officials and technical experts to celebrate their efforts to create more welcoming communities for refugees. This Virtual Summit will include a series of panel conversations between policymakers and will elevate refugee leaders. Register here.
June 23, 1pm Eastern (Virtual) - World Refugee Day: The Power of Inclusion
Join the United Nations Association of the United States in collaboration with UNHCR for this event featuring Refugee Congress Delegate Nga Vương-Sandoval and UNHCR Senior External Relations Advisor Jana Mason as speakers, with moderator Micah Spangler. Bear witness to the trials and triumphs of refugees, hear first-hand accounts of the state of the global refugee crisis and UNHCR’s life-saving work and be inspired on how to support resettled refugees in your own community. Register here.
June 26, 3-6pm Central (In-person) - World Refugee Day in Lincoln
Join Refugee Congress Delegate Khamisa Abdalla and others for a World Refugee Day celebration in Lincoln, Nebraska. Contact info@refugeecongress.org for details.
Past Events
Just because you missed these live doesn’t mean you can’t still appreciate them! Recordings of most are available online.
Press Conference: Restoring Welcome - World Refugee Day 2021
Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service (LIRS) organized a press conference in honor of World Refugee Day, featuring President and CEO of LIRS Krish O’Mara Vignarajah, Representative Ilhan Omar, Senator Ron Wyden, Pastor and Former Refugee Emmanuel Jackson, and Refugee Congress Delegate Dr. Lubab Al-Quraishi (New Jersey). Watch here.
New American Speakers Program Storytelling Night
WeaveTales featured a Storytelling Night with speakers from the New American Speakers Program, including Refugee Congress Delegates Jessi Calzado-Esponda (District of Columbia), Norah Bagirinka (Ohio), Tshishku Henry (Washington) and Honorary Delegate Jihan Daman. Honorary Delegate Basma Alawee is WeaveTales Executive Director and Co-Founder. Watch here.
World Refugee Day: Celebrating Refugees’ Impacts in our Communities
In honor of World Refugee Day, HIAS celebrated the impact of three former refugees who have become leaders in their fields: author, poet, and former HIAS client Roya Hakakian; mental health and trauma recovery specialist Jihan Daman (Refugee Congress Honorary Delegate); and refugee resettlement expert Thakur Mishra. HIAS President and CEO Mark Hetfield will offer opening remarks.
Welcoming Our Newest Neighbors
Board Member Drocella Mugorewera (Tennessee) spoke on a panel organized by Episcopal Migration Ministries and The Episcopal Church’s Office of Government Relations in honor of the 41st anniversary of the 1980 Refugee Act, which established the U.S. Refugee Admission Program.
Refugee Matters Series
This special “Restoring Refuge” series leading up to World Refugee Day features refugee and asylee leaders sharing the history and lived experiences of some of the most underrepresented refugee groups. Watch these powerful events:
Spotlight on Unaccompanied Minors, featuring Refugee Congress Delegates Edwin Rigoberto Hernández-Ventura and Jessi Calzado-Esponda. Watch here.
Spotlight on LGBTQIA+ Refugees. Watch here.
Asylees & Asylum-Seekers Highlight, featuring Refugee Congress Delegate Camila Rojas and others. Watch here.
Spotlight on AAPI Refugees, featuring Refugee Congress Delegates Nga Vương-Sandoval (Colorado) and Myra Dahgaypaw (Virginia). Watch here.
Spotlight on Black Refugees (June 16, 7pm Eastern), featuring Refugee Congress Delegates Norah Bagirinka (Ohio) and Khamisa Abdalla (Nebraska) and others. Watch here.
Understanding Burma: World Refugee Day Panel 2021
Colorado Refugee Connect organized an amazing panel of Burma experts to discuss current events in Burma, as well as global and local community response. Refugee Congress Delegate Myra Dahgaypaw (Virginia) was a featured speaker, and Refugee Congress Delegate Nga Vương-Sandoval was moderator. More here.
World Refugee Day Proclamations
Many officials proclaimed World Refugee Day this month! Locations ranged across the country, including Sioux Falls, SD; Takoma Park, MD; Clarkston, GA; Harrisonburg, VA; and many other cities and states.
Other Opportunities
Refugee Congress World Refugee Day Giving Campaign
Please help support Refugee Congress for World Refugee Day by donating here.
Refugee Congress Shop
We launched our new Refugee Congress Shop this month! Visit the shop to show your support for refugee resettlement and Refugee Congress!
