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

Advocate for Refugees and Immigrants

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...

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Oydinoy’s Story (Uzbekistan)

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...

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A Story of Three Sisters – You Can Call Me YOKO

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...

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Alex and Htwe’s Story – Phoza Handmade

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...

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Mina Aldoori’s Story – Mina Aldoori Arts

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...

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The Story Behind Kardelens Fiber Arts

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...

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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! 

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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: 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...

EGYPT: Basbousa (Egyptian Semolina Cake)

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

          upmc logo

Thank you to the Leveler Foundation and UPMC for your Gold level sponsorship.

SILVER

highmark AHN logo

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.

staff from organizing partners
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
The All for All Coalition is an immigrant inclusion initiative powered by The Global Switchboard. They aim to connect people, organizations, and communities to actions that build a welcoming and inclusive region for all. Driven by collaboration with community and cross-sector partners, we aim to advance economic opportunity, break down barriers, and further immigrant inclusion across the Pittsburgh region. The All for All Coalition is guided by the Immigrant Community Blueprint, a comprehensive community-designed plan for Allegheny County. All For All
ARYSE
ARYSE supports immigrant and refugee youth to become prepared, engaged, and confident members of the Greater Pittsburgh community. The signature program of ARYSE is Pittsburgh Refugee Youth Summer Enrichment (PRYSE) Academy, a three-week summer program led by high school and college students for refugee and immigrant youth that combines academic classes, creative expression workshops, and civic engagement. arysepgh.org
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
Literacy Pittsburgh creates better lives through learning. Recognized as a national leader in adult and family literacy, Literacy Pittsburgh is the largest provider of adult basic education in Allegheny County. Last year, Literacy Pittsburgh helped 5,100 individuals acquire reading, writing, math, English language, digital literacy and workforce skills so they may reach their fullest potential in life and participate productively in their communities. literacypittsburgh.org
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