Year in Review 2024: Building bridges for more compassionate communities

When resettled refugees arrive in the United States, it can be difficult to build community when they are navigating a new language, culture and customs. But in 2024, resettled refugees found creative ways to bridge the gap between themselves and members of their new communities. From art to music to food, refugees in the United States brought communities together around our shared interests. 

Take a look back at some of the inspiring refugees and refugee allies that we met in 2024.

Juan & Kyle: Juan and Kyle met in Minneapolis through a mutual friend, and quickly bonded over their shared interests. Juan is a resettled refugee from Venezuela, and Kyle works at ORAM, an organization that supports LGBTQIA+ refugees. Through their friendship, they have found ways to learn from each other and grow together in their shared passion for supporting refugees and their LGBTQIA+ community. 

Project Feast: Based in Kent, Washington, Project Feast is an organization that aims to support refugee and immigrant women who have recently arrived in the United States. The program leverages women’s passion and knowledge of cooking to help them find jobs in the culinary field. Project Feast offers women technical culinary training and entrepreneurial support, as well as a community of compassion and support. Zohal, a graduate of the Project Feast program, found both a career and lasting friendships through Project Feast. 

Tacoma Refugee Choir: Bridging communities and bringing people together is at the heart of Tacoma Refugee Choir’s mission. The choir in Tacoma, Washington brings together resettled refugees, immigrants and members of the local community to share in their love of music and performance. The group also works together to write songs based on their experiences, and to raise awareness about refugee experiences with local communities. Lucia, a resettled refugee and member of Tacoma Refugee Choir, has found love, support and family with the choir. 

Refugee Artisan Initiative: Refugee Artisan Initiative is an organization founded by Ming-Ming Tung-Edelman in Seattle, Washington. The organization provides sewing skills training to refugee women to help them rebuild their lives. In addition to training, the organization also works with women to meet them where they are and begin building livelihoods around the other challenges they are facing, such as offering work from home options for mothers and helping women practice their English language skills. 

1951 Coffee Company: Doug Hewitt co-founded 1951 Coffee Company in Berkeley, California after working with refugees and witnessing the challenges that they faced when trying to find careers. The coffee shop offers barista and entrepreneurship training that give resettled refugees the opportunity to pursue careers or open their own businesses. A refugee from Eritrea, Milli is among the more than 375 graduates of the barista training program. 

Sara Wahedi: Sara Wahedi is a former refugee from Afghanistan who founded Ehtesab, a mobile app that crowdsources information about emergency events in Afghanistan. This information is verified and then sent to Afghans in the area, alerting them to potential dangers. Sara’s work aims to ensure that everyone has access to fast, safe and reliable information. 

Lucky Karim: Lucky Karim was USA for UNHCR’s eatured storyteller on World Refugee Day recognizing her work in uplifting the stories and experiences of Rohingya refugees. Using her own experience as a resettled refugee, Lucky has spoken in front of Congress and in other public platforms to raise awareness about the plight of Rohingya refugees. She hopes that her continued work in storytelling and advocacy will create effective change for refugees in the United States and around the world. 

Artolution: Artolution, a non-profit organization that trains local artists and empowers youth through art, undertook a mural project in Seattle, Washington that celebrates welcoming and inclusion of refugees. Artolution teamed up with Urban Artwork, a local arts non-profit, local artists and members of the community to create the mural. The mural sits under the West Seattle bridge at SW Avalon Way. 

How you can help… 

UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, supports the full journey of refugees who have been forced to flee violence, war and persecution. Our donors help refugees in their greatest time of need with shelter, food, water and medical care, and their support builds awareness for resettled refugees living in the U.S. With your help, more refugees will have the opportunity to build peaceful lives and give their families a bright future.