• Past Refugee Awareness Celebration with local refugees showcasing poetry and other talents.

LANSING - Lansing is getting ready to celebrate World Refugee Awareness Week!

The United Nations began celebrating World Refugee Awareness Day on June 20, 2001, but Lansing joined and extended the celebration in 2011 for an entire week.

“It all started with us, as the only agency in Mid-Michigan that resettles refugees,” said Refugee Outreach Coordinator for St. Vincent Catholic Charities, Veronika Parsamova. “We’re a nonprofit, but we have the contract with the government for providing services for the refugees.”

Beginning on June 14, many local business have partnered with St. Vincent Catholic Charities, to create a calendar of both in-person and virtual events celebrating refugees joining the Lansing community and its surrounding areas.

“We work with lots of organizations with lots of volunteer groups, lots of student groups that help us to support and welcome refugees in Lansing,” said Parsamova. “We understand it’s a team effort.”

Some events will be hosted by community partners including the Refugee Development Center and the Salvation Army.

“You cannot find another city as welcoming to refugees, immigrant, newcomers, as Lansing,” said, Parsamova.

Throughout the week, three local refugee owned business will be highlighted on St. Vincent Catholic Charities website and social media.

For people wanting to take part in the celebrations, the calendar of events can be found starting Monday on St Vincent Catholic Charities social media or at their website, stvcc.org.