Each year on June 20th, the international community observes World Refugee Day. Its establishment was marked with the United Nations General Assembly’sadoption of Resolution 55/76 in 2000, whereby the UN decided that as from 2001, June 20th would be celebrated as World Refugee Day. Refugees continue to be one of the most vulnerable people in the world and this is a day dedicated to raising awareness to the protection of their fundamental human rights.
There will be many events across our local communities to commemorate World Refugee Day and the International Rescue Committee in Northern California invites you to join us for some of our scheduled events.
San Jose
IRC in San Jose, as a member of the Refugee & Immigrant Forum of Santa Clara County, will be holding the 20th Annual World Refugee Day on Friday, June 15, 2012, 4:30-7pm at the Campbell Community Center-Orchard City Banquet Hall, 1 W. Campbell Ave., Campbell, CA 95008. The event will include presentations, food, entertainment, children’s activities, community resources and raffle prizes. For more information, please call 408 357 7452.
Additionally, IRC San Jose Site Supervisor Marija Kevesevic will be presenting a speech about refugees during a naturalization oath ceremony celebrating World Refugee Day and U.S. Flag Day on Wednesday, June 20, 2012, 10:30am at the U.S. Citizen and Immigration Services San Jose Field Office, 1887 Monterey Road, San Jose, CA 95112.
Turlock
IRC in Turlock is co-hosting with World Relief’s Modesto office the World Refugee Day picnic on Saturday, June 23, 2012, 11am-2pm at the Monte Vista Chapel, 1619 E. Monte Vista Ave., Turlock, CA 95382. It will be an opportunity to experience different cultures and to meet refugees who now live in the local community. If you plan to attend, please bring lunch for you and your family as drinks and dessert will be provided at the event. Please RSVP by Friday, June 22, 2012 to Brittney Boone at 209 491 2712 x103 or via an email at bboone@wr.org.
Oakland
Our colleagues at the East Bay Refugee Forum are holding a World Refugee Day event on Friday, June 22, 2012, 12pm-3pm at San Antonio Park, 1701 E. 19th St., Oakland, CA 94606. The event will honor, appreciate and raise awareness for refugees around the world and for those that are now living in the local community. It will be an opportunity to experience diverse cultures and to hear from inspiring speakers. For more information, please contact Blythe Raphael at 510 717 3100 or via an email at eastbayrefugeeforum@gmail.com.
We hope to see you at these events!
