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World Refugee Day 2022

Join us on June 20, 2022, 4pm-8pm in Schenley Plaza for the return of Pittsburgh’s in person World Refugee Day and Immigrant Heritage Month Celebration!

Support local refugee and immigrant owned restaurants and artisans. Watch and listen to performances and speakers from around the world. Engage with community members and organizations to learn about services in our city. We’re excited to celebrate our city’s diverse culture and history together again this year!

We can’t wait for you to join us!

This year’s event is generously sponsored by Duolingo, Highmark Wholecare, The Leveler Foundation, Global Wordsmiths, and Signature Financial Planner, with additional support provided by the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy. 

 

Established in 2001

WORLD REFUGEE DAY

Established by the United Nations and first celebrated in 2001, World Refugee Day is held every year on June 20, commemorated by communities and organizations across the globe.  On this day, people around the world take time to recognize and applaud the contribution of forcibly displaced people throughout the world.

Locally in Pittsburgh, we combine celebrations with Immigrant Heritage Month to celebrate and recognize the thousands of refugees and immigrants that call our city home, showcasing the vibrance and value they contribute to our region. We love our refugee & immigrant neighbors, friends, and family!

Global Table

The Food Blog!

One of our favorite ways to celebrate and support our refugee and immigrant neighbors is through their food. Now, we’re bringing the recipes to you! Learn how to make amazing food from around the world and read the stories of the immigrants who shared the recipe.

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! 

EAT local

Support Local Restaurants!

Every year, people have the opportunity to get lunch from several refugee and immigrant-owned restaurants at our World Refugee Day event in Market Square. This year, since we’re virtual, we’ve created a list of places offering delivery and takeout. Consider getting your lunch from one of these amazing global restaurants!

Turkish catering company making food at a table

Join us on June 20 in Schenley Plaza

SEE ALL THE WAYS YOU CAN JOIN IN THE CELEBRATION!

Performances and Speakers

On June 20, listen to speakers and watch performances as local refugees and immigrants share their stories and culture with us under the big tent!

Activities for Everyone!

Community organizations and partners will provide resources, information, and fun activities and crafts for everyone to participate in.

Food from Around the World

Check out recipes from around the world as refugees & immigrants share breakfast cuisine, as well as their stories. Make your own and share a photo with us!

Support Local Artisans

Buy from refugee and immigrant owned arts and crafts businesses! Check out our craft vendors and see their beautiful artwork, pottery, jewelry, and more.

Celebrating Pittsburgh’s Refugees

Listen as community leaders share about the value that refugees and immigrants bring to our city. Hear more stories from refugee & immigrant neighbors, and learn about their journeys and experiences.

Watch a Film

Join us at 8pm in Frick Fine Arts Building for a showing of Peace by Chocolate, a film about Syrian refugees who found a home in Canada and restarted their chocolate business.

Bhutanese Nepali dancers at World Refugee Day

Photos from Past Years

teens holding sign: Welcome to World Refugee Day

Join us this year!

Check out the map of tents and vendors and this year’s schedule of peformances & speakers.

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) Acculturation for Justice, Access, and Peace Outreach (AJAPO), Bethany Christian Services, and Hello Neighbor, the city has been celebrating this event for many years. JFCS, AJAPO, Bethany Christian services, and Hello Neighbor are joined by AHN Center for Inclusion Health, ARYSE, Bhutanese Community Association of Pittsburgh (BCAP), Global Wordsmiths, Literacy Pittsburgh, Red Cross of Greater Pennsylvania, Somali Bantu Community Association of Pittsburgh, South Hills Interfaith Movement (SHIM), United Somali Bantu of Greater Pittsburgh, and World Affairs Council 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

Bethany Christian Services

Bethany has been providing family support for foster and adoptive families in the Pittsburgh region, and now is working to support refugees, immigrants, and unaccompanied children in the city. During their first six months in the U.S., we provide refugee families with a vast array of support. Our goal is to provide a safe new community where refugees can thrive. bethany.org

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

AHN Center for Inclusion Health

Through our Center for Inclusion Health, we aim to provide outstanding health care to everyone by focusing on three key areas: Increasing access, Training and education, and Program effectiveness. Our programs address the obstacles that make it hard for people to access care, helping to improve people’s health while reducing costs. ahn.org

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
BCAP

Bhutanese Community Association of Pittsburgh (BCAP) is a non-profit organization working for the benefit of Bhutanese resettled in Pittsburgh since 2008. BCAP works to ensure a high quality of life for all members of the Bhutanese community in Pittsburgh. bcap.org

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.

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

Somali Bantu Community Association of Pittsburgh

The Somali Bantu Community Association of Pittsburgh’s mission is to inspire, enable hope through advocacy, contribute to the health and well-being of our community by providing exceptional social and economy based service to every member of our community. Learn more

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

United Somali Bantu of Greater Pittsburgh

United Somali Bantu of Greater Pittsburgh is building community among the Somali Bantu residents of the Pittsburgh region through enabling individuals and families to successfully acclimate and transition to self-sufficient life in American society, particularly from a socio-economic and civic perspective, by both providing direct practical assistance and connecting people to other resources and opportunities. unitedsomalibantu.org

World Affairs Council Pittsburgh
The World Affairs Council of Pittsburgh is an independent, non-partisan, non-profit organization dedicated to promoting a deeper understanding of key contemporary international issues throughout Western Pennsylvania. The Council is committed to informing opinion leaders and decision-makers about developments around the world as they unfold – and to educating them about the relevance of such developments to the region. worldpittsburgh.org
i

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.

countries celebrating worldwide

Immigrant Entrepreneurs in PGH

refugees resettled over 10 years in PGH

years of Global World Refugee Day

Join us on June 20!

Location: Schenley Plaza, 4100 Forbes Ave, Pittsburgh, PA

Event Hours:  4pm-8pm; Film showing at 8:00pm in Frick Fine Arts Building.

SPONSORED BY

 PLATINUM

Thank you to Duolingo for your Platinum level sponsorship.

GOLD

Thank you to Highmark Wholecare for your Gold level sponsorship.

SILVER

upmc logo

Thank you to The Leveler Foundation & UPMC for your Silver level sponsorship.

BRONZE

     

Thank you to the Global Wordsmiths, Signature Financial Planning, Goodwill of Southwestern PA, Rotery District 7305, and Highmark Health for your Bronze level sponsorship.

A special thank you to Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy for your partnership in this event.

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.

Find out more about services offered to refugees and immigrants in Allegheny County

Immigrant Services & Connections (ISAC)