Last month, 27 refugees from 18 different countries became U.S. citizens at World Refugee Day, an event that honors and celebrates the courageous people who have fled conflict and persecution in their home countries and have begun new lives here in Texas.

Austin’s celebration of World Refugee Day takes place in June each year at the Bullock Texas State History Museum and is coordinated by the member organizations of the Austin Refugee Roundtable.

For the day, the museum’s Spirit Theater was converted into an official courtroom where these individuals were granted their long-awaited U.S. citizenship in a moving naturalization ceremony.

In addition to the ceremony, the event celebrated the lives of all refugees living in Texas with music and dance performances, interactive educational exhibits, and delicious food. There was also an opportunity for participants to have professional family portraits taken.

World Refugee Day culminated with an energizing performance by X8 Interactive Drumming, and everyone in the museum’s large event room played a drum, shook a shaker, or let the beat move their feet.

The event’s several hundred attendees included many recently resettled refugees as well as museum visitors and other interested members of the community.

The dedicated work of the Austin Refugee Roundtable member organizations and the generous time volunteers donated made this event a success. Thanks to everyone who participated!