FREE
We will be running a free shuttle bus starting at 10:30 am between the Park & Ride, which is to the west of the Brown Deer exit of I-43, and the sculpture garden. The final shuttle of the day will depart Lynden at 4 pm.
The HOME Refugee Steering Committee at the Lynden Sculpture Garden invites you to observe World Refugee Day in a series of outdoor events and programs that celebrate Milwaukee’s refugee communities through art, food, fashion, and performance. Our theme for 2025 is Walking Together, Weaving the World.
World Refugee Day at Lynden, co-sponsored by the Wisconsin Department of Children and Families – Bureau of Refugee Programs, is organized as both a resource fair and a celebration of many cultures. In addition to making art, tasting food, and listening to stories, poems, and music and dance, visitors will be able to gather information on local services for refugees. Under our resource tent, you’ll find new and existing partners including refugee-serving agencies and community-based organizations.
Sponsoring agencies and participating community organizations include: Wisconsin Department of Children and Families–Bureau of Refugee Programs; Community Center for Immigrants; International Institute of Wisconsin; Hanan Refugees Relief Group; Engauge Workforce Solutions and Rely; Medical College of Wisconsin Office of Global Health, Our City of Nations Conference; Wisconsin Muslim Civic Alliance; Institute of World Affairs-UWM Center for International Education; Prime Financial Credit Union; Wisconsin Ukrainians, Inc.; League of Women Voters; United Nations Association of Greater Milwaukee, and more.
Special thanks to our event host and master of ceremonies, Zarifa Saadat.
Schedule
| Time |
Event |
| 11–11:30 am |
Interfaith prayers & blessings, with the Rev. JC Mitchell from the Interfaith Conference of Greater Milwaukee, the Rev. Gwen Sutton from the HOME Refugee Steering Committee, and friends. |
| 11:30 am |
Speeches and announcements from sponsors and partners |
| 12 pm and as long as supplies last |
Afghan, Burmese, and Indonesian food. $10 suggested donation per plate, vegetarian options available (in sunroom). |
| 12–1:30 pm |
Dance Performances (all dance performances include an opportunity to learn dances) |
| 12:00 pm |
Modern dance performance by Fizal (Rohingya) |
| 12:15 pm |
LIVIA (diverse and modern K-pop dance group) |
| 12:30 pm |
Dian Novita (traditional Indonesian) |
| 12:45 pm |
Dance performance by South Division High School (Hmong) |
| 1:00 pm |
Al Muharebeen Dabke dance group (Palestinian) |
| 1:15 pm |
Golden Melody Music Band U.S.A (Burmese) |
| 1–3 pm |
Multilingual Story Time with Lynden’s Claudia Orjuela and the Milwaukee Public Library, joined by community members reading in Arabic, French, Hmong, and Spanish |
| 1:30–3 pm |
Multilingual Poetry Reading and Walk with Antonio Vargas-Nieto and friends (assemble on the patio). |
About HOME
HOME is the theme of our work with refugee community leaders, community members, Call & Response artists, and allies. The HOME Refugee Steering Committee is building a space of leading, coming together, and celebrating refugees. For all HOME 2025 programming, click here.
World Refugee Day 2025 celebrations continue with two additional HOME “days” featuring music, dance, food, fashion, and craft. For all HOME 2025 programming,click here.
