Pittsburgh’s World Refugee Day 2021 Celebration
This year is the 20th anniversary of World Refugee Day being celebrated around the world! Here in Pittsburgh, we’re celebrating virtually on June 18, highlighting stories from our local refugee and immigrant neighbors.
We’ll also have lots of ways for you to engage through recipes, a marketplace of local artisans, kids’ activities, and ways to take action. We hope that you’ll find ways to support refugees and immigrants in our community and help make Pittsburgh a place where we all can belong!
PITTSBURGH WORLD REFUGEE DAY 2021
This year is the 20th anniversary of World Refugee Day being celebrated around the world! Here in Pittsburgh, we’re celebrating virtually on June 18, highlighting stories from our local refugee and immigrant neighbors.
We’ll also have lots of ways for you to engage through recipes, a marketplace of local artisans, kids’ activities, and ways to take action. We hope that you’ll find ways to support refugees and immigrants in our community and help make Pittsburgh a place where we all can belong!
Stories From Our Neighbors & Ways to Take Action
Support Local Organizations Working with Refugees & Immigrants
We're sharing some ways that you can support local organizations that work with refugees and immigrants in our region. Jewish Family and Community Services (JFCS) JFCS is one of the two refugee resettlement agencies in Pittsburgh. Through our national partner, HIAS,...
Advocate for Refugees and Immigrants
We're sharing some ways you can advocate for refugee and immigrants in honor of World Refugee Day and Immigrant Heritage Month. Asylum Title 42 allows government officials to immediately expel migrants seeking asylum in the US. Although individuals have a legal right...
Oydinoy’s Story (Uzbekistan)
Nestled between South Asia, the Middle East and Eastern Russia lies the country of Uzbekistan, the home country of one of JFCS’s employees, Oydinoy Nazarova. After her husband was selected for the Diversity Visa Program (commonly known as the green card lottery) in...
Special Messages for World Refugee Day Pittsburgh 2021
World Refugee Day Pittsburgh 2021 Kickoff! JFCS's Leslie Aizenman & AJAPO's Yinka Aganga-Williams Welcome to Pittsburgh's 2021 World Refugee Day celebration! This year we're sharing stories of local...
A Story of Three Sisters – You Can Call Me YOKO
Learn more about the three sisters who are behind the artisan craft business You Can Call Me YOKO. Find them in our marketplace and see their work in the gallery below! What do you make? We sell handmade jewelry, made in Pittsburgh by Venezuelan hands 🙂 Story: After...
Alex and Htwe’s Story – Phoza Handmade
Learn about business owners Thripho Za Htwe and Alex William, who run and make items for Phoza Handmade. Find them on our marketplace and see some examples of their products below! What do you make? We make jewelry with thread and small beads (me) and with cord/twine...
Mina Aldoori’s Story – Mina Aldoori Arts
Learn a little bit about Mina Aldoori, artist from Iraq. Check out her work in our marketplace and see some examples in the gallery below! Hi everyone, my name is Mina Aldoori. I was born and raised in Iraq, I moved to the United States in 2010. Art has been part of...
The Story Behind Kardelens Fiber Arts
Learn about Kardelens Fiber Arts story. Check out their products through our marketplace! See examples of their work in the gallery below. Tell us about what you sell: We sell handmade embroidered jewelry ,marble art fans and pottery.Our designs are generally flowers...
Marleni Gutierrez’s story – Hippie’s Urban Art
Marleni Gutierrez, artist behind Hippie's Urban Art, shares her story. See her products in our marketplace! Scroll down to see some of her work. What do you sell? I sell handmade jewelry and religious wood paintings. I make the jewelry by utilizing a variety of...
MARKETPLACe
Arts, Crafts, & More!
Check out jewelry, crafts, art, leather goods, clothing, and more from local immigrant-owned businesses. These sellers from around the global make items inspired by their experiences, cultures, and traditions. Shop local to support these creative artisans and crafters!
The Food Blog
Amazing recipes from all over the world
Check out these delicious recipes from refugees and immigrants as they share their cultures, stories, and food.
AFGHANISTAN: Aushak
AFGHANISTAN: AushakServings 24 dumplingsReady In: 2hGood For: Side Dish or Main DishIntroduction About this RecipeBy: Sameera Ibrahimi Aushak are dumplings filled with gandana, which is a kind of leek grown in Afghanistan. It can be hard to find in the US, but you can...
Suzy Nava’s Story – Baking Cakes (Mexico)
Hi, my name is Susana. I am from Guerrero, Mexico. I have lived here in Pittsburgh P.A for 19 years with my husband Marcelino. I have 3 daughters, Hayley, Kally and Kristin. I live in the neighborhood of Brookline. It is nice and also quiet. I started making bread and...
EGYPT: Basbousa (Egyptian Semolina Cake)
EGYPT: Basbousa (Egyptian Semolina Cake)Servings 10-12Ready In: 1hGood For: DessertIntroduction About this RecipeBy: Yesmina Salib Basbousa is a very popular Egyptian dessert, a traditional Middle Eastern sweet cake. The cake is often cut into diamond or rectangle...
International Restaurants & Markets in Pittsburgh
SPONSORED BY
GOLD
Thank you to the Leveler Foundation and UPMC for your Gold level sponsorship.
SILVER
Thank you to Highmark / Allegheny Health Network for your Silver level sponsorship.
BRONZE
Thank you to the American Red Cross of Greater Pennsylvania and Dollar Bank for your Bronze level sponsorship.
Thank you to Giant Eagle for your contribution.
Pittsburgh Loves refugees
Organizing Partners
World Refugee Day Pittsburgh is a joint effort of several organizations throughout the city. Led by Pittsburgh’s resettlement agencies, Jewish Family and Community Services (JFCS) and Acculturation for Justice, Access, and Peace Outreach (AJAPO), the city has been celebrating this event for many years. JFCS and AJAPO are joined by All for All, ARYSE, Center for Hearing & Deaf Services – PLAN, Hello Neighbor, Global Wordsmiths, Literacy Pittsburgh, Red Cross Greater Pennsylvania, and South Hills Interfaith Movement (SHIM) in planning, organizing, and putting on the event.
JFCS
JFCS serves the Greater Pittsburgh community supporting people through all of life’s changes and challenges. In addition to hosting Pittsburgh’s largest refugee resettlement program helping refugees settle in their new homes, services offered help families overcome food insecurity, professionals find new jobs, immigrants become citizens, vulnerable adults live fulfilling lives, seniors stay independent and community members find healing from trauma and bereavement. Learn more at jfcspgh.org.
AJAPO
AJAPO’s aims to build–together with consumers–an amazing and self-sufficient refugee/immigrant community that contributes economically, socially, and spiritually to the civic life of Greater Pittsburgh and Allegheny County, while sustaining those aspects of their own traditional values and culture that strengthen families. ajapopittsburgh.org
All for All
ARYSE
Center for Hearing & Deaf Services - PLAN
HDS’s Pittsburgh Language Access Network (PLAN) provides spoken language interpreting services to organizations and companies throughout the Greater Pittsburgh region. PLAN
Global Wordsmiths
Global Wordsmiths is a full-service language translation and interpretation services in the Greater Pittsburgh Area with a social mission to improve language access by donating profits and training volunteers. globalwordsmiths.com
Hello Neighbor
Hello Neighbor works to improve the lives of refugees and immigrants by matching them with dedicated neighbors to guide and support them in their new lives. helloneighbor.io
Literacy Pittsburgh
Red Cross of Greater Pennsylvania
The Southwestern Pennsylvania Chapter serves Allegheny, Beaver, Butler, Greene, Lawrence and Washington counties. counties, and also functions as the headquarters of the 61-county Greater Pennsylvania Region. Their services include disaster relief, service to armed forces, biomedical donations, training programs, and international services. redcross.org
SHIM
SHIM has been providing food, clothing and services to people in need in Pittsburgh’s southern suburban neighborhoods for around 50 years. Faced with unprecedented new levels of suburban poverty, SHIM is expanding its work to include more neighbors helping more neighbors in need. Together, with teams of dedicated volunteers, donors and partners, we’re working to reduce the devastating effects of suburban poverty among the working poor, unemployed, families, single parents, senior citizens, women, and the high concentration of refugee families in our service area. shimcares.org