World Refugee Day: Celebrating Resilience and Community
by catholic social services
To celebrate the many contributions that refugees bring to our community, Catholic Social Services hosts World Refugee Day each June.
In the last year, Catholic Social Services’ Refugee Assistance & Immigration Services (RAIS) helped resettle and welcome over 500 refugees and new arrivals from countries around the globe, including Bhutan, Ukraine, Somalia, Afghanistan, the Democratic Republic of The Congo, and many more. These individuals join the thousands of refugees who already call Alaska home, bringing diverse skills and cultures to our community.
Catholic Social Services’ RAIS works closely with each new arrival, providing the tools to build the new skills required for success in the United States and creating a bridge for refugees to apply their unique talents to life in Alaska. RAIS extends support to new arrivals with a focus on establishing economic self-sufficiency. Through language classes, job training programs, and cultural orientation sessions, RAIS empowers refugees to navigate their new environment confidently.
As entrepreneurs, mothers, bakers, singers, students, truck drivers, and more, every new arrival strengthens the community with their unique talents and experiences. To celebrate the many contributions that refugees bring to our community, Catholic Social Services hosts World Refugee Day each June.
Officially, World Refugee Day is recognized by the United Nations on June 20th. This day was designated in 2001, to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the 1951 Refugee Convention and coincide with the existing regional celebration: Africa Refugee Day.
In Anchorage, Catholic Social Services’ annual event has commemorated World Refugee Day for more than a decade. For the last five years, this celebration has taken place at Grow North Farm, Anchorage’s largest urban garden and a space for refugee entrepreneurs. This year, you are invited to join us at Grow North Farm on Thursday, June 27th from 4:00 p.m.-7:30 p.m. to celebrate with our newest neighbors.
The event is a joyous evening full of the diverse voices and talents that make up our community. Attendees enjoy global food from our local refugee communities and watch cultural performances by local artists that range from a Persian dance group to a Ukrainian pianist. Activity tables hosted by community partners offer a variety of games, crafts, bubbles, and more for kids and their guardians to enjoy alike.
World Refugee Day brings together community members from various cultural backgrounds, resettlement partners, and residents from across Anchorage and Alaska. As Alaska continues to resettle an increasing number of new arrivals, Catholic Social Services’ annual World Refugee Day remains a time to honor the resilience of new arrivals and celebrate as a community.
