Akron, June 14, 2024- Immigration Network Akron (IN-Akron), Refugee Health Task Force, Asian Services in Action’s International Community Health Center (ASIA-ICHC), and North Hill Community Development Corporation (NHCDC) are partnering to host Summit County’s World Refugee Day Celebration in Akron, OH. The event will take place on Saturday, June 22nd from 11AM-3PM.
IN-Akron hosted World Refugee Day in Summit County since 2022. This year marks the first time it is co-hosted by several partnered organizations to celebrate Akron’s multicultural refugee community and highlight the resources that are available to support them. It will take place in the North Hill neighborhood in Water’s Park, 140 Olive St, Akron, OH 44310.
"NHCDC is thrilled to announce its renewed commitment to supporting and enhancing the local community,” said Justin Chenault, the executive director of NHCDC and one of the co-hosts of the event. “This exciting initiative will celebrate and connect new residents to the neighborhood, while activating an underutilized gem, Water’s Park. As part of this initiative, NHCDC is proud to co-host a special event in honor of World Refugee Day, celebrating the resilience and contributions of refugees in our community.”
Akron is home to over 6,000 refugees of multiple ethnicities, including Bhutanese-Nepali, Afghan, Ka’Ren, Congolese, among others. More than twenty different languages are spoken at home within Akron, reflecting the city’s growing multiculturalism since the early 2000s when the increased flows of refugees in the Akron area began. The four entities co-hosting World Refugee Day Celebration each have missions dedicated to uplifting refugee communities and addressing their unique circumstances in education, health, family, and home.
"We know we are going into a very important election season and we always want to unify our community and highlight how diversely rich our Akron neighborhoods are becoming, not only in terms of cultures but in the local economy," said Kelly Le, Manager of Volunteers and Special Projects at ASIA.
World Refugee Day Celebration of 2024 will include community partner resources, children’s activities, a fundraising dunk tank, and free books for students thanks to the partnership and sponsorship of multiple community organizations. Portage Path Behavioral Health will also bring their Mobile Therapy Unit to make mental and behavioral health services accessible to attendees.
“World Refugee Day continues to grow each year to welcome new arrivals and to honor the integration of our existing neighbors in North Hill.” said Ms. Le. “I'm most looking forward to the dunk tank, though."
For more information about the festival, contact Kelly Le, Manager of Volunteers and Special Projects, at kle@asiaohio.org.
ASIA is the largest health and human services agency that serves, supports, and advocates for the Asian American/Pacific Islander (AAPI) community of Northeast Ohio. ASIA focuses on providing linguistically and culturally centered services for immigrants and refugees.
MEDIA CONTACT: Anna Chen
EMAIL: achen@asiaohio.org
PHONE: (330) 459-1173