2020 Celebration
Enjoy last year’s celebration as you watch videos with stories, performances, speakers, cooking, artwork, and more! Scroll down for all the content from our 2020 World Refugee Day Celebration.

WRD: 8:00 AM Kick Off












WRD: 10:00 AM Sharing Stories













WRD: 12:00 PM Global Lunch








WRD: 1:00 PM Get Creative










WRD: 3:00 PM Celebrating Pittsburgh’s Refugees












WRD: 6:00 PM Celebration Wrap Up









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
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...
SPAIN: Cod “Ajoarriero” Style
Spain: Cod "Ajoarriero" StyleServings 5-6Ready In: 30 minutes + soaking time Good For: DinnerIntroduction About this RecipeBy: Sergio Fandos (via Literacy Pittsburgh) Ajoarriero means mule drivers garlic, and was historically eaten in eateries and inns. Mule drivers...
SPONSORED BY
GOLD
Thank you to the Leveler Foundation, Highmark/AHN, and UPMC for your Gold level sponsorship.
SILVER
Thank you to the Red Cross of Greater Pennsylvania for your Silver level sponsorship.
BRONZE
Thank you to Dollar Bank and Midnight Blue Technology Services for your Bronze level sponsorship.
Contact Us
For more information about World Refugee Day or ways to get involved in supporting your local refugee and immigrant neighbors, contact us here.