By Morgan Greenseth

To commemorate World Refugee Day, the International Rescue Committee (IRC) of Seattle will present it’s third annual Refugee ARTVocacy on Friday, June 20. The Center House at the Seattle Center will host this cultural extravaganza, featuring the creations and performances of those who have sought refuge in the U.S. and now reside in King County.

Since its introduction in 1976, the IRC in Seattle has helped to resettle 18,000 refugees from 30 countries, and currently assists 450 individuals every year. Through ArtVocacy, the IRC hopes to provide an avenue for fellow refugees to connect, to share their talents with each other and the community, and to raise awareness of refugee issues that are still occurring today.

ARTVocacy is not a fundraising event; rather, it is a venue for art and community support. Throughout the evening ARTVocacy will showcase works of visual art and live performances, including dance troupes from Tibet and Cambodia, the Hosana Burudian Choir, and two Sudanese hip-hop acts: Jay One and Black Hospitality. All participants and artists are first- or second-generation refugees, some of whom have recently arrived in the Puget Sound region, and others who have lived here for years.

“ARTVocacy is an educational event that introduces all types of art from refugees worldwide and will help shatter society’s image of what a refugee is,” stated Sayeeda Afreen, the Community Relations Coordinator of the IRC in Seattle.

The IRC states that they hope that this showcase will open avenues and educate the community about refugee culture and about the individual experiences that bring people to the Puget Sound area.

In addition to resettlement aid, the IRC offers social services, furnished apartments, assistance with job placement and immigration, and an introduction to the community and education systems. Their objective is to help these individuals and families achieve self-sufficiency as they rebuild their lives in the United States.

The ARTVocacy will be held in the Center House at the Seattle Center on Friday, June 20 from 7 to 9:30 p.m. This event is free to the community. To learn more about the ARTVocacy or about Puget Sound refugee issues, visit the IRC in Seattle’s website.

Photo credit: Erika Berg