World Refugee Day is celebrated every year on June 20. Join the Catholic Community Services and Refugee & Immigrant Services Program (RISP) in welcoming some of our newest neighbors! This free family-friendly event kicks off at 4pm, June 20th, at First United Methodist Church in Eugene (1376 Olive St) with music, exhibits, speakers and multicultural activities. Our community has recently welcomed refugees from Myanmar, Guatemala, Venezuela, Democratic Republic of Congo, Afghanistan, Haiti, and Ukraine. Come, experience, and learn!

Featuring a speaker panel, Q&A session; slide presentation by world renowned photojournalist Paul Jeffrey; testimony of a refugee; display tables representing multiple countries; Mimi Nolledo’s photographic portraits of Lane County immigrants, and a showing of the 2023 documentary by Nasrat Ibrahimi, A Day in the Life of an Afghan Refugee in Lane County.

Afghan-Uzbek food will be available for purchase from Manti, a new business launched by refugees. Joy Emotion Agency, a restarted Ukrainian business will be on hand with their photo booth.

Activities will include a quiz game, henna hand painting, a children's art table, a world map locator, and an interactive kit building table. International music, dance, and entertainment will continue until closing at 8pm.

Hear about volunteer opportunities with RISP and the Refugee Resettlement Coalition of Lane County.

“Most people may have no reason to connect tragic world events to our communities here in Lane County. But the truth is that Lane County is a safe and wonderful destination for fleeing refugees and other immigrants” said Lorri Perreault, Executive Director of Catholic Community Services. “The work that Catholic Community Services does through our Refugee and Immigrant Services Program and our collaborating volunteers at Refugee Resettlement Coalition of Lane County is the bridge that creates successful transitions and resettlements. We hope that celebrating World Refugee Day with our stories will shine a light on the plight of refugees everywhere, but more specifically here in Lane County.”