The IRC in Charlottesville recently gathered community members together for its first in-person fundraising event in several years. The June 27th event, titled Refuge and Renewal: Stories of Hope, gave supporters the chance to hear powerful stories of struggle and triumph from community members with lived experience as refugees. In collaboration with longtime partner, WTJU, the University of Virginia’s community radio station, the fundraiser built upon previous collaborations including the 2024 short-form interview series, Resettled: Stories of Refugees Rebuilding Their Lives in Charlottesville. Former IRC clients were given a platform to share about their experiences to the audience through two moderated panel discussions. 

The first panel, On the Refugee Experience, featured four individuals from diverse cultural backgrounds who came to Charlottesville through the refugee resettlement process. The moderator inquired about their lives before and after becoming refugees, and the panelists offered insight into how their experiences impacted their sense of identity. Highlighting the resilience of refugees, panelists spoke on specific challenges and discussed how they have overcome barriers to build community in a new home. The discussion gave the audience a glimpse into the first-hand experiences of displaced individuals and provided an oft-ignored perspective on newcomer resettlement in the United States. 

Building upon the individual experience of resettlement, the second panel, On Storytelling and Representation, addressed the need to amplify those experiences accurately and ethically. Two individuals with lived experience as refugees were joined by two producers from WTJU who collaborated on the Resettled interview series. The panelists sat down to discuss how local media can work to ensure that the voices of refugees are best platformed. A recurring theme from the panel was the importance of giving as much say as possible to those whose stories are being highlighted. Through the intentional and collaborative distribution of these stories, media can play a critical role in shaping public opinion in a way that is reflective of authentic refugee experiences and contributions. 

In addition to amplifying the voices of refugees, this fundraising event exceeded our expectations and brought needed funds that will directly support programs and services for refugees, immigrants, and survivors of human trafficking in the Charlottesville community. This support is vital in allowing the IRC in Charlottesville to continue to provide critical resources to those who need it. 

We extend our gratitude to all who made the event possible and are very thankful to our event partners, WTJU and Lighthouse Studio at Vinegar Hill Theatre. With their support, we were able to build upon the Resettled series with a successful live event. We also are very grateful to our event sponsors, Alyson & John Ball, the Maleter family, Ragged Mountain Running & Walking Shop, Woodard Properties, Nick Duke Sr. & Gardy Bloemers, Jim Hart, and the Charlottesville Center for Peace & Justice. Their early financial contributions allowed us the freedom to scale up and create an event worthy of our panelists and their stories. Most importantly, we extend our utmost gratitude to each of our panelists for their strength, their resilience, and their willingness to be vulnerable in sharing their experiences. 

Finally, we’d like to thank each and every event attendee, who presence demonstrated the power of community involvement in support of refugee voices. That community support enables us to continue our work and contribute to a more inclusive and informed society. If you were unable to attend the event but would still like to contribute to its success, the Refuge and Renewal giving page remains active for new donations.