Levy Park Hosts World Refugee Day Houston on Saturday, June 17

People of all ages and backgrounds invited to join in the celebration

Levy Park will host World Refugee Day Houston 2017 on June 17 to honor and celebrate the strength and perseverance of the many refugees who have rebuilt their lives in Houston and contributed to the city in multiple ways.

The event, presented by the Houston Refugee Consortium, is scheduled from 4 p.m. – 7 p.m. at Levy Park, 3801 Eastside St. in the Upper Kirby District.

The event will feature entertainment, including musicians, dancers and a resource/artisan fair.

Houstonians will also have the opportunity to enjoy delicious food from refugee and immigrant-owned restaurants, celebrating Houston’s culinary diversity.

The entire family is invited to this fun, free and educational event.

“Houston was recently cited as the most diverse city in the United States, which is something we can all be proud of,” says Doug Overman, Park Director of Levy Park Conservancy. “We have led the country in refugee re-settlement in the last few years, welcoming people with open arms, which we are happy to celebrate at Levy Park on June 17. Community members are invited to come out and embrace other cultures which contribute so much to the quality of life in Houston and to enjoy all that Levy Park has to offer.”

World Refugee Day was established in 2001 by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to honor the courage, strength and determination of women, men and children forced to flee their homes under the threat of persecution, conflict and violence.

Since 2003, the Houston Refugee Consortium has honored refugees at the annual World Refugee Day event which is hosted in partnership with the City of Houston, UNHCR and several community partners.

The Houston Refugee Consortium is a partnership of six organizations serving refugees in Houston; the Alliance for Multicultural Community Services, Bilingual Education Institute, Catholic Charities of Galveston-Houston, Interfaith Ministries, Refugee Services of Texas and YMCA International Services.

The mission of World Refugee Day Houston is three-pronged:

  1. Raise Awareness: World Refugee Day introduces the general public to the many contributions refugees make in Houston.
  2. Honor Refugees: World Refugee Day honors the courage, strength and determination of women, men and children who were forced to flee their homes and rebuild their lives.
  3. Show Gratitude: World Refugee Day thanks the many Houstonians who have welcomed refugees with open arms for more than 40 years.

Go to www.levyparkhouston.org to learn more. You can also follow Levy Park on social media, including Twitter @levyparkhouston, Facebook @levyparkhou and Instagram @levypark.

 

photos courtesy of dabphoto