FREE
Starting at 10:30 am, we will be running a free shuttle bus between the Congregation Emanu-El B'ne Jeshurun parking lot (directly across Brown Deer Road) and Lynden. Please park on the west side of their parking lot and wait for the free shuttle to pick you up. Do not attempt to cross Brown Deer Road on your own—it is extremely dangerous. 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 join us for a series of free, family-friendly events that celebrate Milwaukee's refugee communities through art, food, poetry, and performance. Our theme for World Refugee Day 2026, selected by Lynden's HOME Refugee Steering Committee, is We Belong/You Belong: Joy and Unity Against the Odds.
World Refugee Day is an international day designated by the United Nations to honor refugees around the globe. It falls each year on June 20 and celebrates the strength and courage of people who have been forced to flee their home country to escape conflict or persecution. This June 20, join the Wisconsin Department of Children and Families – Bureau of Refugee Programs and Lynden's HOME Refugee Steering Committee to celebrate World Refugee Day, and our refugee communities, at the Lynden Sculpture Garden.
Bring a picnic and a blanket to enjoy the outdoors with friends, family, and community. Or bring along cash to "taste the world": you'll be able to purchase a full meal from chefs from local refugee communities. Vegetarian and halal options provided. A full menu will be displayed.
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.
Sponsors include: Wisconsin Department of Children and Families–Bureau of Refugee Programs; Hanan Relief Group; Medical College of Wisconsin Office of Global Health, Our City of Nations Conference; Muslim Women's Coalition; Palestinian Student Scholarship Fund; Wisconsin Muslim Civic Alliance; Wisconsin Conservation Voters; Wisconsin Ukrainians; and United Nations Association of Greater Milwaukee.
Participating schools, across events, include: Hmong American Peace Academy; International Newcomer Center (INC) at Milwaukee Academy of Chinese Language (MACL); Milwaukee High School of the Arts; Pulaski High School; South Division High School; Clement J. Zablocki School; and Milwaukee Area Technical College (MATC).
Participating community organizations, businesses, and government programs include: Isa's Ice Cream; Birrieria La Tia Juana; 4C For Children; Community Center for Immigrants; Hunger Task Force; Milwaukee County Children, Youth, and Family Services (CYFS) - Children's Disabilities Services Program; Molina Healthcare; Social Security Administration; Somali Resource Center of Milwaukee; Milwaukee Public Library; Milwaukee Consortium for Hmong Health; Milwaukee County Aging and Disability Services; League of Women Voters; Catholic Charities; Lutheran Social Services of Wisconsin and Upper Michigan Inc (LSSWI); International Institute of Wisconsin (IIW), and more.
Special thanks to our event hosts and co-masters of ceremonies, Maggie Bushiri (Congolese) and Lydia Gebrekidan (Eritrean).
Schedule
| Time |
Event |
| 11 am–4 pm |
Resource tent. Gather information on local services for refugees from refugee-serving agencies and community-based organizations. Resource tent. |
| 11 am–4 pm |
Craft Market. Hmodern Made by Ashley Xiong (Hmong), Mchete African Treasures by Monica Ashery (Tanzanian), and Zohra's Handmade Knits by Zohra Hashemi (Afghan). Bring cash! Multiple locations. |
| 11 am–4 pm |
On view. Warren King: Homecoming. Gallery. |
| 11 am–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. Main tent. |
| 11:30 am–12 pm |
World Refugee Day Welcome and 2026 Reflections; Speeches from agencies, representatives, and sponsors, including Tom Hushek, Ambassador (Retired), speaking on behalf of the United Nations Association's Greater Milwaukee Chapter; Wisconsin Department of Children and Families – Bureau of Refugee Programs; Hanan Relief Group; and Wisconsin Ukrainians. Main tent. |
| 12 pm |
Lunch. Afghan, Rohingya, and Somali food prepared by refugee chefs (Somali food co-organized with the Somali Resource Center). $15 suggested donation per plate. Vegetarian options available. Bring cash! Food will be available as long as supplies last. Sunroom. |
| 12 pm–4 pm |
Isa's Ice Cream truck. Small-batch, artisan made, Mexican inspired ice-cream. Near the parking lot. |
| 12 pm–1 pm |
Poetry Walk featuring local poets, led by Khatera Nazari. Gather on the patio. |
| 12 pm–3 pm |
Multilingual Story Time with Lynden's Claudia Orjuela and the Milwaukee Public Library, joined by community members reading in Arabic, French, Spanish, and Ukrainian. Upstairs studio. |
| 12:30–1:30 pm |
Dance Performances. Main tent. |
| 12:30 pm |
Dian Novita (traditional Indonesian dance) |
| 12:50 pm |
Tin Tin (traditional Burmese dance) |
| 1:10 pm |
Dabke workshop led by Amelia Bader from Banat Al-Huriyah Girls Dabke Group (traditional Levantine dance) |
| 1:30–3:15 pm |
Music Performances. Main tent. |
| 1:30–2:15 pm |
Golden Melody Music Band U.S.A (Burmese) |
| 2:30–3:15 pm |
Congo Gospel Music Group (Congolese) |
| 3:15–4:00 pm |
Visit craft vendors, eat ice-cream, wander the grounds, view the exhibition. |
SUPPORT HOME WORLD REFUGEE DAY
To sponsor 2026 HOME World Refugee Day events, please click here.
To make an individual donation to support our HOME refugee programs, click here.
To volunteer, click here.
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 2026 programming, click here.
World Refugee Day 2026 celebrations continue with a celebration at Milwaukee City Hall and two additional HOME "days" at Lynden featuring music, dance, food, poetry, and craft. For all HOME 2026 programming, click here.
HOME 2026 is sponsored in part by the Wisconsin Department of Children and Families, Refugee Programs.
