Celebration Recap: World Refugee Day

On June 20, individuals, families, and communities around the globe came together to honor the resiliency of refugees, and those still waiting for a place to call home.

Catholic Charities hosted two celebrations.

The celebrations first kicked off in Fort Wayne during lunch. Partnering with the Allen County Public Library, the event began with remarks from the ACPL, Catholic Charities CEO, Dan Florin, and a City of Fort Wayne Proclamation. The event continued with client testimonials. Former clients set up vendor spaces at the event, selling homemade goods. After lunch, the event moved to the ACPL Theatre for international dancing, songs and performances.

Later in the evening, the South Bend event began. Hosted at the St. Joseph County Public Library, four area organizations came together to plan the event: Catholic Charities, URC, La Casa de Amistad, and Neighbor to Neighbor. With international food to enjoy, guests ate while viewing the Blurred Lives art exhibit. The event also showcased a former refugee panel and a showing of the movie, The Staging Post.