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Grantee: Refugee and Immigrant Connection Spokane (RICS)

Project Title: World Refugee Day (WRD) 2025
Year awarded: 2025, Round 1

Refugee and Immigrant Connection Spokane (RICS) is proud to present World Refugee Day (WRD) 2025 on Saturday, June 14th—an immersive community celebration featuring cultural performances, artisan showcases, and an expanded Cultural Marketplace. With support from SAGA, RICS will be able to fully fund the planning, labor, and stipends that make this event possible, spotlighting dozens of refugee artists, musicians, and small business owners who bring Spokane to life with their creative expressions. From traditional crafts and henna to dance, music, and food from around the world, WRD invites over 1,000 attendees each year to engage with and celebrate the diverse talents and stories of Spokane’s refugee neighbors.

More than just a festival, WRD is a living embodiment of RICS’s mission to support and empower refugee and immigrant communities through connection, education, and opportunity. Leading up to the event, participants receive training and guidance in business development, licensing, and community engagement, helping them transform their talents into thriving micro-enterprises. The day itself includes speeches by former refugees, performances that span continents, food prepared by chefs from Feast World Kitchen, and a moving citizenship swearing-in ceremony. It’s a joyful, collaborative event that fosters lasting connections and uplifts the strength, beauty, and dynamism of Spokane’s growing refugee community.