2025 DSM World Refugee Day!
2025 World Refugee Day
What is World Refugee Day?
June 20th is the internationally recognized date where the world recognizes refugees, the journeys they make to their new homes and all the contributions they bring with. This date was determined by the United Nations High Commission for Refugees, and we are honored to have organized our local events for the past 12 years.
How can I celebrate World Refugee Day?
Join us throughout the month of June for multiple community events and ways to engage, learn, and support newcomers in our state. Check out our monthlong community calendar or see below for more detailed descriptions of each individual event!
For other questions, please email us here.
2025 DSM World Refugee Day Events
Screening of “Resettled”
Join us for a screening of the documentary “Resettled” which provides a deeper look at the refugee resettlement programs taking place in Clarksville, Georgia and the impact newcomers have had on their community. The screening will be followed by a panel discussion with community leaders.
Panelists will include:
Dr. Dau Jok, Director of Culture and Access, West Des Moines Community Schools
Min Tun, Business Owner, Recipient of the Outstanding Immigrant Business Award
Ahmad Tamin Sahel, Business Owner, Founder of Afghan Community in Iowa
Moderated by Samantha Huynh, Executive Director of US Committee for Refugees and Immigrants, Des Moines
Attendees will also be able to sample food from many different refugee and immigrant owned restaurants in the central Iowa area including:
Bah Kunda Kitchen (Gambian/Western African Food)
Min Ga La Bar (Burmese)
Egg Rolls
Afghan appetizer selection
Mayalu Coffee - Iced Chai, Iced Tea, Iced Tumeric Chai
Thursday, June 26th, from 6:00pm - 8:00pm, at the Harkin Institute in Des Moines. Free parking available behind building.
Tickets are available on the Eventbrite registration page here: https://2025DSMWRDResettled.eventbrite.com
Restaurant Passport Challenge
Throughout the month of June, you can visit any participating restaurant and receive a special discount or free menu item by showing them your 2025 DSM WRD Passport!
Participants will also be able to vote for their favorite restaurants at the end of the month, as well as turn in their completed passports for chances to win restaurant gift certificates and “I Am Iowa” swag!
More information about how to participate in the month-long Restaurant Passport Challenge, including printable passports, the list of participating restaurants and discounts available can be found here. Be sure to check out how you can enter to win prizes for your participation and how to vote for your favorite restaurants!
2025 DSM WRD 5K
Free to participate, all are welcome to join us for the 2025 DSM WRD 5k! Located at Gray’s Lake, participants can run, walk, or bike around the 3 mile route while learning facts about the refugee resettlement program with the installation of the “Refugee Resettlement Fact Walk”, as well as try various foods and lemonade from refugee and immigrant owned business. Family and youth programs will also be on site to provide information and resources available to children throughout the central Iowa area!
Sunday, June 29th, from 9:00am - 12:00pm, at Gray’s Lake North Parking Lot/Concessions in Des Moines. Race starts at 9:30am!
Although free, advance registration for the race is preferred and can be completed using the link: https://runsignup.com/Race/IA/DesMoines/WorldRefugeeDay5kFunRunAndWalk.
Learn Through Reading
Learn more about refugee experiences and cultures outside of the United States with the reading list bookmarks available at the Franklin Avenue Library. Reading list bookmarks are available for both adults and children, and those books as well as others help bridge together cultures and humanity from around the world.
More information on the Franklin Library including hours or how to obtain a library card can be found on their website here.
Global Greens Farmers Markets
Come support local refugee and immigrant farmers at the Global Greens Farmers Market! Taking place every Saturday this summer, you can stock up on fresh naturally grown vegetables while supporting local farmers! Also available will be various food items, as well as community resource navigation tables for anyone with questions on local programs or resources helpful to newcomers in Iowa!
The Global Greens Farmers Market will take place every Saturday, located in the parking lot of the Polk County Health Department building at 1907 Carpenter Avenue in Des Moines.
More information about the market can be found on the website at https://lsiowa.org/ircs/market/.
Be sure to catch the following restaurants/food trucks each Saturday for some of the best food Des Moines has to offoer! We will have free samples or larger menu items for purchase!
June 7th: Najah Grocery and Deli
June 14th: Cuba on Wheels
June 21st: Karam’s Mediterranean Grill
June 28th: Venezuela 58
Other Community Events in June
Events are taking place throughout the month of June in central Iowa that help attendees learn more about different cultures and experiences from around the world to right here in the United States. Check out the community calendar above to see the upcoming exhibits at the Des Moines Art Center, the DSM Public Libraries, Iowa Juneteenth Observance, Capitol City Pride, the documentary screening of “Resettled”, the 2025 DSM WRD 5K, and more!
Thank you to our 2024 Sponsors!!
Platinum Sponsors:
The Bureau of Refugee Services
Krause Group/Pro Iowa
Nyemaster Goode P.C.
Gold Sponsors:
Broadlawns Medical Center
Des Moines Area Community College
Lutheran Services in Iowa
MercyOne
Michael Foods
Silver Sponsors:
Catholic Charities
Green State Credit Union
International Rescue Committee - DSM
Loffredo
Molina Healthcare
USCRI Des Moines
United Way of Central Iowa
WellPoint Healthcare
Bronze Sponsors:
EveryStep
If you or your organization are interested in either becoming a sponsor of the event or hosting a community partner booth, we would love to hear from you by emailing us here!!
2024 Featured Local Restaurants:
***Items listed below will be free samples available while supplies last. Some vendors may also be selling additional food items.***
Be sure to continue to support these amazing local businesses!!
58 Venezuelan - Empanadas and Arepas
Bah Kunda - Jollof Rice and Jollof Couscous
Karam’s Mediterranean - Falafel and Pita
Kathmandu - Chicken Tika Masala and Momo
Mayalu Coffee - Iced Coffees and Teas
MinGaLaBar - La Pa Thoke Salad
Musa’s Lemonade - Lemonade
Najah Grocery - Sambusas
Pho T - Spring Rolls, Egg Rolls, Fried Rice
Piece and Freedom - Ukrainian Pastries
Tito’s Lounge - Sirnica and Cevapi
Previous DSM World Refugee Day Events:
Resettlement 101 Fact Walk
Get outside, fresh air, and some great exercise while learning some of the history of the modern refugee resettlement program in Iowa!! You can find this exhibit at the Colby Park Outdoor Pavilion the entire month of June in Windsor Heights! Or check out events happening at the park: Family Movie Night with “The Lorax” on Friday, 6/3, (free pizza, popcorn and drinks!!) Family Storytime on the 10th or 17th, and Night In The Heights on Tuesday the 28th. More info here.
“Let Me Be Myself” Exhibit from Anne Frank Center
This exhibition connects Anne Frank’s life story and the fate of millions of victims of the persecution of the Jews during the Second World War to present day. Through the life and legacy of Anne Frank, visitors are encouraged to consider how prejudice leads to exclusion and discrimination in our world today. Guided small group tours available, registration required here. Self-guided tours are also available during library hours. More information about the Anne Frank House can be found here.
Global Greens Farmers Market Cultural Performances
Come shop for healthy naturally grown vegetables while supporting local former refugee famers at the Global Greens Farmers Market! Open every Saturday morning at Lutheran Services in Iowa at 3200 University Avenue in Des Moines, join us June 18th and June 25th 9-11am for live performing arts from Bhutanese Community in Iowa, Karen Association in Iowa, Lao American Community in Iowa, Maban Community in Iowa, NISAA African Family Services, Sudanese Girls Dance Group, and more!!
Screening of Film “Flee”
Join us on Thursday, June 2nd, at the Des Moines Art Center for a screening of the documentary “Flee”. Winner of many recent awards, this tells the story of Amin Nawabi as he grapples with a painful secret he has kept hidden for 20 years, one that threatens to derail the life he has built for himself and his soon to be husband. Recounted mostly through animation to director Jonas Poher. You can watch the trailer here.
“Open Book” Events at Juneteenth
In partnership with CultureALL and Juneteenth, come experience the “Open Book” event and hear stories of neighbors from around the world that now call central Iowa home. Happening at the Neighbor’s Day Celebration as part of the Iowa Juneteenth Observance on Saturday, June 18th, Stay tuned for more!
Support Your Local Restaurants and Grocery Stores!
Did you know that central Iowa is home to renowned food from around the world? Use our list of local restaurants and grocery stores to get out and try new food while supporting local businesses this June!
“Guess Who’s Coming To Dinner!”
In partnership with CultureALL, join us for 3 different opportunities to experience a few of the communities who have come to call central Iowa home through resettlement program. We will try new foods, hear stories from our neighbors, and experience music and other art forms from Vietnam, Bosnia, and Bhutan. Registration for all 3 events can be found here.
World Refugee Day Art Week Celebration
In partnership with Art Week, join us on Monday, June 20th, from 6-8pm at Perkins Elementary School for an outdoor festival celebrating World Refugee Day! There will be food trucks, music, family activities, and much more! Performances from Bhutanese Community in Iowa, Genesis Youth Foundation, Karen Association in Iowa, Lao American Association in Iowa, and NISAA African Family Services. Stay tuned for more!
Get New “I Am Iowa” Merchandise!
Help support our future World Refugee Day celebrations by purchasing “I Am Iowa” merchandise! Follow the link in the header at the top of this page, 100% of proceeds goes directly to World Refugee Day funds in the future. Thank you to our partners at Raygun!
From Last Year’s 2021 DSM World Refugee Day Celebration: Meet The Storytellers
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Merrie Awm
Merrie is currently serving as an Americorps VISTA volunteer at EMBARC in Des Moines.
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Dilip Bishwo
Dilip Bishwo is the Secretary General of the Advocacy for Bhutanese Community International - ABC International, a 501[c]3 registered with the state of Iowa. He is a trained teacher from Bhutan who has worked in the capacity of Acting Headmaster in a primary school in central Bhutan besides being a resource teacher. After being evicted with 100,000 others from their generations of homes in Bhutan, he landed in a refugee camp in Nepal in early 90s. As a refugee human rights activist, he was instrumental in advocating for the repatriation of the refugees and restoration of fundamental human rights in Bhutan. As an ardent speaker, Dilip contributed through his writing skills and lobbying for Bhutanese refugees in the diplomatic missions and international dignitaries. He raised the issue of Bhutanese refugees visiting different forums in Dhaka, Bangladesh, New Delhi and Bangalore in India, Kathmandu in Nepal and Durban in South Africa besides continuously striving as Secretaries in human rights organizations in exile in Nepal. He continues to write against the atrocities in Bhutan and he is the author of a page on Human Rights and Spirituality - The Bhutan Observer, regularly published on the Facebook. Dilip lives with his family including his wife Sabitra, two sons and a daughter-in-law who have recently moved to Reynoldsburg in the state of Ohio.
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Abwe Ekumange
Abwe Ekumange came to Iowa last year from Tanzania, where he lived as a refugee displaces from The Democratic Republic of Congo. Abwe is a long-time advocate for people with disabilities, and he is the founder of a new organization, Good People of the World. He lives in Des Moines with his wife and seven children, including a new baby.
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Tijana Kudumovic
Tijana Kudumovic shares her story. It provides insight into what it’s like to transition through turmoil, upheaval, loss, and new beginnings - through the eyes of a six-year-old. Tijana now works as a manager at John Deere Financial, she serves as a Board Member with CultureALL, and she is an inductee of Women Unlimited Inc.’s LEAD leadership program.
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Mohamad Sulaiman
Mohamed founded Syrian community groups in the US, Qatar, and Turkey aimed to build solidarity amongst refugees from Syria. He previously worked as an editor and translator for Qatar Petroleum and as a teacher for 30 years. He resettled in the US in 2019 and lives with his wife.
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Yabsira Tekle
Yabsira Tekle is an incoming Junior at the University of Iowa Majoring in Human Physiology. Was born in Ethiopia and has lived in the United States since 2017.