Our Story

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One Journey’s grassroots movement began in September 2017. With hundreds of volunteers, sponsors, and partners, our team of community organizers has hosted close to 100 refugee awareness-raising and celebratory events.

 

Our signature event is the annual One Journey Festival held on the grounds of the Washington National Cathedral and drawing thousands of participants. Raising awareness worldwide, One Journey’s message of “many paths, one journey” reached more than 275,000 people globally. Highlights included a cooking show with Chef José Andrés, a live interactive experience with refugees in Iraq, Rwanda and Mexico, and appearances by the Pichintu Girls Chorus and UN Goodwill Ambassadors.

 

Other events included film showings, panel discussions, community soccer days, employment workshops, and a growing national presence with events at multiple cities along the East Coast and San Francisco. Plus, the Kennedy Center selected One Journey for its Culture Caucus of community arts organizations in residence at its new REACH facility in 2020-22.

 

THE JOURNEY CONTINUES

As the end of the pandemic unfolds, One Journey is moving in exciting directions.

 

 

Growing the National Celebration

The One Journey Festival returns on June 24, 2023, with even larger participation and visibility worldwide. Our dream is for the Festival to become an enduring global event that showcases the courage and contributions of refugees.

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Engaging Allies, Motivating Action

By bringing people together and creating connections, we motivate new allies to take action locally, nationally, and globally. Working with 140+ partners, One Journey is expanding its role as a resource for community engagement.

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Expanding Our Focus on Advocacy

Storytelling is at the core of our mission. Planning is underway to leverage the stories and talents of refugees to change public opinion, advocate for refugee, and shape public policy. Taking the Movement to the Nation and the World. One Journey is expanding across the United States and is laying the foundations to go global.