A celebration of diversity will unfold at Officer Jeremy Henwood Memorial Park this weekend. To mark World Refugee Day — which falls on June 20 — a San Diego Refugee Forum event will include performances, local artists, community resources and activities for kids.
The region has a long history of welcoming refugees and KPBS has documented it over the years.
Want to learn more about the resettlement process and the refugee experience? Keep reading below for a collection of our in-depth reports.
How The Fall Of Saigon Made San Diego A Refugee Hub
Some 50,000 Vietnamese refugees passed through Camp Pendleton in the months following the fall of Saigon in 1975.
After Settling In San Diego, Struggle Doesn’t End For Some Syrian Refugees
Many refugee families are worried about making ends meet after they have resettled in San Diego.
Burmese Refugees Making San Diego Home
As the U.S. ended refugee status for Burma, San Diego artists and musicians stepped in to help local refugees from the country.
San Diego Volunteers Help Haitians Survive In Mexico
Although this story does not take place in San Diego, hundreds of Haitians showed up to the border expecting to seek asylum in our region. Many were struggling to eat and find work in Tijuana after their harrowing journey through Latin America ended with the surprising twist.
San Diego Groups Bridge Divides By Breaking Bread With Syrian Refugees
Thanksgiving is a celebration of different cultures dining together in gratitude. Some San Diegans followed that tradition this past fall by welcoming Syrian refugees with a hearty meal.
Women Suffering Complications From Genital Mutilation Years Later
Thousands of refugees and immigrants were genitally mutilated as young girls in their home countries. Years later, they can suffer life-threatening medical complications.
First Person: Syrian Sisters Dedicated To Music
Before it was put on hold by the courts, President Trump's travel ban temporarily blocked Syrian refugees from entering the U.S. for 120 days. We talked to two teenage sisters who fled Syria in 2012 about why studying music in San Diego has meant so much to them.
Bonus stories:
Skateboards For Syrians: Students Help Classmate Make Good On Decade-Old Promise
Israeli Artist, Syrian Refugee Make Art Not War In San Diego
