An Update from MO-ORA

WORLD REFUGEE DAY 2023

From June 17 to June 24, we witnessed several World Refugee Day celebrations and events across the state.

We were humbled to see such an outpouring of support from communities eager to welcome newcomers and honor the resilience of refugees in Missouri and around the world.

Below are photos from a few of those events, but you can find more in our World Refugee Day 2023 recap blog post here!

Local news spotlights:

World Refugee Day celebrates culture and shares resources - Northeast News
World Refugee Day Draws Diverse Mix of People and Businesses - flatlandkc.org
City Foundry STL, the International Institute of St. Louis to host World Refugee Day Celebration - KSDK
City of Refuge and Catholic Charities hosts World Refugee Day celebration - KOMU

At IISTL's World Refugee Day celebration at City Foundry in St. Louis on June 17.

From the family-friendly celebration in Columbia on June 24. Photo courtesy of CCCNMO's Facebook.

Local Springfield Board members, the mayor, Rotary Club officials, and IISMO’s own Hamid Safi celebrated the Rotary Peace Pole and Garden unveiling at Nathanael Green/Close Memorial Park on June 20.

Courtesy of IISMO’s Facebook page.

At Kansas City's community-wide event at the North-East Public Library on June 17. Photo courtesy of Della Lamb's Facebook.

EMBRACING NEWCOMERS

We also hosted a panel discussion on World Refugee Day!

We were excited to partner with some of the people working to support immigrants and refugees in St. Louis: Alla Gonzalez Del Castillo, Ph.D., with St. Louis Public Schools, Betsy Cohen with the St. Louis Mosaic Project, Karin Johnes with KW Law, and Sahar Hussaini, an intern Afghan Community Center, who also shared her story and perspective as a refugee.

With food from Sameem shared around the bar at T-REX, it was a delightful event!

RESOURCES

So many great resources were shared on and leading up to World Refugee Day that we just had to collect some of them!

In a new report from the American Immigration Council, “Starting Anew: The Economic Impact of Refugees in America,” they analyze how a pool of over 2 million recent refugees are contributing to the U.S. economy.

On World Refugee Day, visualising the flow of 35 million refugees: This collection of stories and infographics depicts the journeys of refugees all over the world.

How will climate change force us to rethink attitudes to mass migration? As the climate crisis renders tracts of lands uninhabitable, even more people will be forced to find new homes.

Q&A: What does World Refugee Day mean to refugees? Around the world, refugees are calling to have a greater voice in defining the stories that are told about their experiences, and in shaping the policies that affect their lives.

What does welcoming look like? Welcome Corps is proud to introduce you to Shadi, who comes from Syria, and Brendan Work, his friend and supporter: a newcomer and a Welcomer sharing their story of welcome.

COMING UP

Festival of Nations to return to this August: Coming up on August 26-27, more than 75 countries will be represented by food and retail vendors, and live entertainment from all over the world will be showcased.

Welcoming Week 2023: Join organizations across the state as they prepare to celebrate Welcoming Week September 8-17. Stay tuned for more news about upcoming events!

Springfield CultureFest: You can witness the rich ethnic heritage and legacy of Springfield at this celebration coming up on September 30.

Little Amal walks across America and stops in St. Louis: Little Amal, the internationally celebrated 12-foot-tall puppet of a 10-year-old Syrian refugee girl, will continue her trek across the globe and stop in St. Louis in October!