Community Connection Event Brings World Refugee Day to Brattleboro

Just a week before World Refugee Day (June 20), nearly 100 New Vermonters and supporting community members attended a Community Connection event to foster solidarity, integration, and social cohesion amongst refugees and the Brattleboro community. As the New Vermonter population grows in Southern Vermont, the impact our new community members has on the cultural landscape downtown grows as well, highlighted by this summer’s event.

Bibimba Mufaume, of the Democratic Republic of Congo, designed and coordinated the event, which featured traditional food and music from Eritrea, Rwanda, Democratic Republic of Congo, and Afghanistan. An experienced community leader who arrived in Brattleboro this past year, Bibimba has been working closely with partners at the Root Social Justice Center, BDCC, and the SoVT Working Communities team to support, empower, and celebrate Brattleboro’s growing immigrant and refugee population.

A musical group comprised entirely of New Vermonters from across Africa performed traditional music alongside classic party staples like “No Woman No Cry” and original pieces written by the band. Long-time and newly arrived community members took the dance floor to celebrate together, with a mixture of English language learning teachers, staff from organizations supporting New Vermonters, and volunteers attending.

Bibimba has additional events planned for this summer, with the next offering focusing on how sports and athletics bridges cultures to foster teamwork, solidarity, and connection.

To learn more about this work and events, you can visit welcomingcommunitiesvt.com.