Philadelphia Celebrates a Virtual Immigrant Heritage Month

PHILADELPHIA — Every June, Philadelphia joins cities and states across the country to celebrate Immigrant Heritage Month (IHM), now in its seventh year as a national effort and the fourth in Philadelphia. 

The 2020 IHM honors immigrants, especially those who are working on the frontlines of this pandemic in industries such as health care, hospitality, food supply, and sanitation. Millions of individuals with immigrant backgrounds in the United States are working to keep their communities healthy and safe. Thus, the role of immigrants is crucial in the recovery process from the impact of the coronavirus crisis. The fact that immigrants comprise a large portion of COVID-19 front line workers is reflective of the contributions they bring—and will continue to bring—to Philadelphia before and after the COVID pandemic.

“Philadelphia is a Welcoming City that embraces immigrants and includes them in the civic, economic, and cultural life of the city,” said Mayor Jim Kenney. “Immigrants have chosen Philadelphia to start a new life—leaving everything behind to find a better future for themselves and their families and achieve the American Dream. We celebrate their courage, determination, and countless contributions to the wellbeing of our city; they keep our businesses running, our neighborhoods booming, and our culture thriving.” 

The Office of Immigrant Affairs (OIA) works closely with FWD.us, a bipartisan political organization, on Philadelphia’s celebrations each year. Since in-person events of any size are still not recommended, IHM 2020 will uplift immigrant stories virtually. This year, the OIA is partnering with the Free Library of Philadelphia and Philly Counts to elevate immigrant stories and highlight the importance of counting every person in Philadelphia through a digital storytelling campaign.

“The Office of Immigrant Affairs celebrates immigrants all year long. However, this year’s IHM falls in the middle of this unprecedented public health, economic and social crisis. Now, more than ever, we need to showcase the stories of those who are helping to build a healthier and more equitable country for us all,” said Amy Eusebio, Executive Director of the Office of Immigrant Affairs. “A creative storytelling campaign will highlight the diversity of immigrant experiences and show our connection to the idea that #IStandWithPhillyImmigrants, #IAmAnImmigrant, or #CelebrateImmigrants.” 

Members of the public can find more information about OIA’s Immigrant Heritage Month Social Media Campaign here.

In Philadelphia, Immigrant Heritage Month provides an opportunity to explore and celebrate our shared diversity. Throughout the month, local organizations will offer virtual events and activities to showcase this diversity and celebrate all residents, including foreign-born Philadelphians. Digital events scheduled for Immigrant Heritage Month 2020 include:

Odunde Virtual Festival – 45th Anniversary  | June 7-14, 2020

The Annual Odunde Festival of Philadelphia has historically attracted up to 500,000 people annually and is the largest African American street festival held in the country. The Odunde Festival, whose concept originates from the Yoruba people of Nigeria, West Africa, celebrates the coming of another year for African Americans and Africanized people around the world. This year’s event will be the 45th anniversary of this festival and will feature a series of virtual events celebrating the diaspora including head wrapping, fitness, and cooking demonstrations. It will also feature a virtual African Business Roundtable and Caribbean Business Forum. 

Philly Counts Virtual Immigrant Summit  | June 12, 2020 | 10:00 a.m. 

Leaders in the Philly immigrant community have worked non-stop to support and elevate census work over the past year. The Census 2.0 Virtual Summit, taking place Friday, June 12 at 10 a.m., will once again bring immigrant-serving leaders from the Complete Count Committee together to collaborate on turning the Census 2.0 plan into action. The summit is centered on providing support for leaders who are already organizing their communities in a targeted way to boost self-response rates in the immigrant community. Ready to join the census movement? Register here for the summit.

National Caribbean Heritage Month  | June 2020

This is a national month that promotes the rich culture and heritage of the Caribbean American community and their contributions to this country. This year’s virtual celebration features activities brought by The Caribbean Community of Philadelphia. Click here to see a list of virtual events. 

The Free Library of Philadelphia IHM Digital Celebration | June 2020

World Refugee Day | June 15-20, 2020

Now entering its 19th year, World Refugee Day is an international event started by the United Nations. It highlights the lives and experiences of more than 70 million displaced people around the world. More than 100,000 refugees have made  Philadelphia their homes since the 1970s. Philadelphia World Refugee Day has celebrated their strength, courage, and resilience for more than a decade. More details of the digital celebration can be found on the Philadelphia World Refugee Day Facebook page.

To learn more about Immigrant Heritage Month and view a full list of events, visit this blog post.

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