Between Louisville and Lexington, our small part of the world has become one of the biggest U.S. rehoming sites for refugees from across the globe. To celebrate that, Kentucky Refugee Ministries will host a festival on Tuesday, June 16. Refugees from all over Louisville will join together in a celebraton of food, dance and music from countries all over the world.
World Refugee Day, officially June 20, is a day set aside by the United Nations to raise awareness for the millions of people in the world who have been forced from their home countries by civil unrest, war and persecution. The day is celebrated in more than 100 countries and is annually celebrated by government officials, humanitarian aid workers and celebrities.
Louisville’s celebration will take place in Tyler Park (in the case of rain, the fest will be moved to KRM’s offices at 969B Cherokee Rd.), from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. KRM clients from all over the city will be in attendance to share with Louisville the food, music and dance of their cultures.The kid-friendly event will also include a number of games and children's activities.
Not only does this celebration mark World Refugee Day, it’s also part of KRM’s 25th anniversary. During its time in Louisville and Lexington, the organization has helped over 10,000 refugees from 45 countries to make new lives in a safe space. KRM’s services extend beyond helping families find a place to live -- the center has an ESL program, an employment program, counseling services, financial literacy classes, immigration help, cultural orientation classes and much more.
Bring your family to celebrate Louisville’s diversity and learn a little something about the cultures that have carved out their places in the city. Find more information here.
Photo courtesy of kyrm.com
