Youthlinc at World Refugee Day - We are all connected

At the World Refugee Day (WRD) event on June 19th, 2026 at Big Cottonwood Park, there were performances, booths, activities, and a marketplace that showcased the diverse and beautiful cultures of the refugees at WRD. Salt Lake City hosts a World Refugee Day celebration in June every year to honor and celebrate the cultures and experiences of refugees in the state of Utah. There are more than 60,000 refugees in Utah who have come from all over the world. 

At this year’s event, there were booths to learn about Refugee Resettlement agencies, different regions of the world, community organizations, and to play drums. The market had jewelry, handmade dolls, foods, and other items made by local refugees. The food trucks had cuisines from different regions of the world and the interactive performances represented several refugee communities in Utah. After an international scout troop presented flags from around the world, dancers and singers performed pieces that displayed their unique traditions and were cheered on by an audience made up of every community represented that day (including local Utahns in Millcreek). 

Youthlinc’s Real Life program had a front-row seat to this amazing day. Youthlinc partnered with the Department of Workforce Services to help host this year’s celebration. We were able to provide a booth in the Kids’ Activities tent that was right next to the stage and audience. With the help of bioMérieux employees, we ran a craft where kids at WRD could color and take home masks of animals or super heroes. The bioMerieux Endowment Fund has made it possible for Real Life to expand its programming over the last three years to students ages 5-8. The bioMerieux employees who volunteered at World Refugee Day were integral to the success of the Kids’ Activities and we’re so grateful for their support.

BioMerieux employees also helped put together prize bags for kids who completed a Bingo card that encouraged them to get involved at the celebration.

The level of cross-cultural unity and respect that was evident all day was incredible to witness. Some of the performers invited audience members to join them in their dances and it was so joyful. It reminded me of what our Youthlinc t-shirts this Summer have been emphasizing on trips around the world: 

“We are all connected.”