HOME’s World Refugee Day 2024 celebrates Milwaukee’s rich refugee community

Photos by Kamal Moon

Saw Nay Tha Win organized the Karen drum group that performed at Lynden’s World Refugee Day.

Youth leaders from Milwaukee’s refugee community took center stage Thursday at Milwaukee’s World Refugee Day kick-off at City Hall.

The United Nations designated June 20 as World Refugee Day to honor people forced to flee their native lands. Celebrated for more than two decades, it recognizes refugees’ strength and courage, while also aiming to “build support for their economic and social inclusion, and advocate for solutions to their plight,” the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNCHR) website says.

Suan, from the Chin community, takes part in the Burmese traditional song and dance performance at the Milwaukee City Hall.

Biak Tha Hlawn, a Chin refugee from Myanmar, and Khatera Nazari, a Hazara refugee from Afghanistan, emceed the midday program that included a proclamation from the Mayor Cavalier Johnson, presented by the City’s Chief Equity Officer Bernadette Karanja, and a welcome from Wisconsin State Refugee Coordinator Bojana Zorić Martinez.

Both young women are members of some of the most persecuted groups in their native lands.

Khatera Nazari, Hazara, (middle) and Hlawn Hlawn, Chin, (right) were co-emcees at the Milwaukee City Hall. Derrick Cainion (left) was there as the lead ASL interpreter.

“A statistic about refugees that stands out is that globally less than 1% of refugees ever settle in a third country, like those who are here in Milwaukee. That’s because the capacity to place people does not keep up with the need to help people going through persecution,” said Kim Khaira, Lynden Sculpture Garden community engagement specialist who coordinates the HOME program, Lynden Sculpture Garden’s collaboration with Milwaukee’s refugee communities. “That doesn’t mean they are ‘the lucky ones.’ The people you meet here in Milwaukee have gone through the most heightened vulnerability risks, whether in their wider communities or directly in their families.”

But they are not chosen to lead the ceremony because they are symbolic of the plight of refugees, she added. Through their participation in the collaborative effort at HOME, their skills shine, as natural speakers and organizers. “I’m happy to always be supportive of people who are interested in engaging with us.”

Milwaukee celebrated World Refugee Day 2024 with two events last week—the kick-off at City Hall and a festival Saturday at the Lynden Sculpture Garden, 2145 W. Brown Deer Rd., Milwaukee.

Two additional HOME events to celebrate Milwaukee’s refugee community will be held this summer at the Lynden Sculpture Garden:

Threads of Power: A HOME Fashion Showcase at 3 p.m., Sat., July 13
Community, Culture & Citizenship Celebration from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., Sat., Aug. 17

Anwar Sallumi, (left) a DCF staff specialist and Paul Trebian, president & CEO of the International Institute of Wisconsin

Kick-off at City Hall

The World Refugee Day celebration Thursday at Milwaukee’s City Hall was a collaboration between HOME and the Wisconsin Department of Children and Families’ Refugee Resettlement Program.

“For the official World Refugee Day event on June 20, one of our major sponsors and host, the Wisconsin Department of Children and Families, and Lynden come together with Milwaukee to commemorate the official United Nations declared World Refugee Day,” Khaira said. “Every year we do something official and formal to recognize the plight of refugees and those refugees who now call Milwaukee their home.”

“Gathering at City Hall is very important,” she added. “It involves DCF, sponsors and other partners.”

This year’s program at City Hall included Mayor Cavalier Johnson’s proclamation, read by Milwaukee Chief Equity Officer Bernadette Karanja, as well as welcomes from Wisconsin State Refugee Coordinator Bojana Zorić Martinez of Wisconsin DCF. Other speakers included: Jon Ward, a board member of the United Nations Association of Greater Milwaukee; Chris Her-Xiong, the founder and chief executive officer of the Hmong American Peace Academy; and representatives from refugee resettlement agencies.

After their opening speeches, Nadya Pérez-Reyes (left), assistant secretary of DCF’s Secretary’s Office, Wisconsin Department of Children and Families, hold the official print of the Milwaukee Mayor’s Office’s World Refugee Day proclamation, with Bojana Zorić Martinez (right), director, Bureau of Refugee Programs, Wisconsin State Refugee Coordinator.

Speeches were followed by readings and performances by members of local refugee communities, including the South Division Multicultural Club and the Ukrainian Dance Ensemble. An art activity table displayed work organized by Lynden’s HOME Be the Change! 2023-2024 art and leadership cohort of young women and girls from Milwaukee’s refugee communities.

An annual exhibition of work by local refugee children was also displayed in the City Hall Rotunda before it moved to the Lynden Sculpture Garden for its Saturday festival.

Food trucks at the City Hall event included Amir’s Roti, which features Rohingya food and Isa’s Ice Cream, a Mexican vendor.

Ukrainian Dance Ensemble – Kalyna’s performance was organized by choreographer Iryna Levit.

World Refugee Day festival at Lynden Sculpture Garden

The World Refugee Day festival at Lynden Sculpture Garden has developed into an annual event that features art, music and storytelling from Milwaukee’s rich, diverse refugee community.

“For some, it has become an annual reunion,” said Khaira. “People reconnect with others from different groups they only see at that event.”

For others, it becomes a moment that sparks collaborations that grow throughout the year.

Emcee of Lynden’s World Refugee Day, Duaa Mohamed (left), HOME coordinator, Kim Khaira (middle) and event coordinator, Hasina Ahmed (right) were part of the team that made it all come together.

“Most people see the big events for World Refugee Day. We are known for our public events that take place in the summer,” she said. “What many people don’t know is that Home is a full-fledged, year-long program that goes from January to December.

Lynden Sculpture Garden’s engagement with Milwaukee’s refugee communities began in 2016. HOME formally launched in 2019 and created a celebration for World Refugee Day. Additional public events were dispersed through the summer of 2021. Now programming runs throughout the year.

Dancers from the Karen community performed with modern and traditional drums and percussion.

“As an organization, we operate as a laboratory for artists, educators, community members and HOME contacts with refugee community leaders and participants at the intersection of art, nature and culture. As people make connections and come together, evolution is always happening.”

Duaa Mohamed, (left) with friends from the Sudanese community including Mohamed Hommeida, a representative from the Sudanese American Physicians Association and a medical student at MCW, with his wife Marwa and their two children.

Member from the Myanmar community with a bowl of ono kau seuh (coconut noodle soup) at Lynden.

Karina Tweedell, board member of the Wisconsin Ukrainians, enjoyed the day with her two children.

Hasina Ahmed, Rohingya, (third from the left), busy serving Rohingya food to a crowd.

Bah Paw, from the Karen community (left), next to her friend selling traditional clothes and crafts.

Children from the Afghan community with fun face paint applied by participants from HOME Be the Change! arts and leadership group for refugee women and girls.

HOME Be the Change! participant from the Congolese community, Catherine Kimbakimba’s sold her paintings.

Aung Hasan from the Burmese Muslim community performing in style.

American Red Cross was one of many sponsors, of the HOME World Refugee Day events in Milwaukee.

A father and a son by the pond.

Congo Gospel Music Group posing with their front man, Bodack Mondembe, (third from right), from the Congolese community.

Ethiopian Frey Faris, selling crafts and traditional clothes.

Hunger Task Force is a HOME partner and supporter.

Hanan Refugee Relief Group, a major HOME World Refugee Day sponsor, since 2019 had a informational table inside the World Refugee Day resource tent.

Enas Alwedyan, (far right) of Royal Beauty, brought her organic homemade products to sell.

The event’s poets, organized by Chuck Stebelton and friends, are seated at the Lynden gallery, surrounded by artworks with the UN World Refugee Day theme, Hope Away from Home.

Dancers from the Burmese community

Lovely Kimbakimba serving up Congolese food.

Ian Schmitt-Ernst representing of the Wisconsin Conservation Voters Southeast Organizer, was one of World Refugee Day’s community sponsors.

Hope Away From Home artworks on display in the gallery.

Staff members from the Milwaukee Public Library under the World Refugee Day resource tent.

Member of the Rohingya community and his son holding the symbolic American flag.

Community members having Afghan food.

Members of the community enjoying the day together.

Karen performer, Saw Nay Tha Win, singing.

Burmese musicians performing as part of Spring Star Music Band’s lineup.

Burmese musicians performing as part of Spring Star Music Band’s lineup, with an additional Karen dancer (far right), and Moe Aung, Burmese democracy organizer (second from right).

Ameena Yusuf, youth program director, and (not shown) Ridwana Shamsul, receptionist represented Milwaukee Muslim Women’s Coalition, a World Refugee Day’s sponsors.