written by Lubna Zeidan, iACT for Refugees Program Coordinator

Over 2,800 people came to the Bullock Texas State History Museum on the World Refugee Day celebration on June 22nd , 2013. This included 28 former refugees and their families who were sworn in as naturalized citizens at noon that day. The museum was decked out in colorful flags from refugee countries . Visitors young and old experienced educational activities about the refugee journeys. Children’s arts and crafts, face painting, story-telling and games were available on the third floor, and a portrait photographer took family pictures of the refugee visitors to be sent to them later on. The program in the main room began at noon and included music, dancing and poetry from refugee and non-refugee performers. Many of the refugees wore costumes from their country or ethnic group – and the three floors of the museum were filled with excited conversation and laughter. The museum also opened all of its exhibits free on that day and many first timers to the museum took advantage of that opportunity.

Austin’s World Refugee Day Celebration is an annual event was the 9th Annual and the 5th at the history museum. It is a collaboration between the Austin Refugee Roundtable and the Bullock Texas State History Museum. The Refugee Roundtable is comprised of the agencies and groups that work with refugees in Austin and its mission is to make Austin a welcoming community for refugees.

To learn more about iACT for Refugees, click here.