Since 1975, Idaho’s resettlement program has welcomed refugees from Southeast Asia after the Vietnam War. This year, on June 20th, the state will come together to honor and celebrate these refugees globally during World Refugee Day. The events are free and open to the public, featuring food, live music, vendor booths, and performances by community members from refugee backgrounds.
In Boise, the celebrations will take place at The Grove Plaza from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., with support from the Capital City Public Market. The event will include a citizenship ceremony for former refugees becoming U.S. citizens at 11 a.m., organized by the Idaho Office for Refugees in partnership with the Agency for New Americans, the International Rescue Committee in Boise, and the Ukrainian Welcome Center.
In Twin Falls, Magic Valley Refugee Day will be held at Downtown City Park on Friday at 6 p.m., hosted by the U.S. Center for Refugees and Immigrants with community support. The day is designated by the United Nations to celebrate the lives of refugees and highlight efforts made on their behalf globally. Joel Ntando, coordinator of the Refugee Speakers Bureau at the Idaho Office for Refugees emphasized
