Providence Swedish Caregivers and Chief Mission Officer, Barry Stueve, joined Providence Institute for a Healthier Community (PIHC) as volunteers at the World Refugee Day celebration sponsored by Refugee and Immigrant Services Northwest at the Washington State University – Everett Campus on Friday, June 13th . Many community organizations, including those from the community-based Equity Partnership Resource Network, hosted by Providence Institute for a Healthier Community, were present to join in the celebration and provide information on local resources from food banks offering food, and medical care providers offering free vaccines and masks, to housing resources, education, and local government.
Since 2001, World Refugee Day has been observed annually on June 20th to celebrate and honor refugees from around the world. It is meant to draw the public’s attention to the millions of refugees and internally displaced person’s worldwide who have been forced to flee their homes due to war, conflict, and persecution due to race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion.
Festivities included performers and speakers in addition to foods from diverse nationalities and cultures. Performances included singing, dancing, and even a fashion show! Speakers represented members of local and state government, educational institutions, and a reflection from a student at Everett Community College who arrived in Everett from Afghanistan just 6 months earlier. The food served represented cuisines from Mexico, Afghanistan, Ukraine, China, Vietnam, Micronesia, Persia, Southeast Asian, and Cambodian.
Overall, the event was a huge success! It was well attended and nurtured a sense of community and camaraderie in a time of fear and uncertainty for many.
Why we do this work: Programs like these are part of North Puget Sound’s Community Health Investment (CHI) efforts in service to our Mission and commitment to community health. Our CHI programs partner with local organizations, bridge the gaps in care and connect with our community. Learn more about our CHI efforts in NPS in our latest Community Benefit Report and our Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA)andCommunity Health Improvement Plan (CHIP).
Have questions about NPS CHI or Community Benefit? Reach out to Anne Alkema at [email protected].
