Utah Refugee Connection

The Utah Refugee Coalition helps refugees through the integration process and to create self-sufficiency and empowerment within the refugee communities. The Utah Refugee Coalition is currently running three programs which focus on these efforts:

- Global Artisans is a partners with local refugees to earn supplemental income and preserving their cultural and traditional talents by selling their artistic products. We feel Global Artisan products are a powerful, yet practical tool for telling the refugee story while providing supplemental income to the artisans. It provides awareness, education, and empathy to our community. And with awareness, comes resources, networks, and opportunities for refugees to become self-reliant and contributing members of our community.

The Utah Refugee All-Stars is a soccer team made up of young refugee men ages 18 to approximately 30. These young men are one of the most vulnerable groups of refugees due to the age at which they first arrived. Utah Refugee All-Stars has become an extremely successful way to support these youth and provide an alternative to gangs, violence, drugs, and other destructive behavior in addition to becoming a high ranked competitive team.

- The Utah Refugee Community Center is a project currently in the development phase, but has been the dream of refugees and organizations alike for years. It will ease much of the stress and anxiety felt by refugees when they first enter the country by providing a one-stop service venue as well as a location for refugee community meetings and celebrations. The building will also be host to educational facilities, after school clubs, and a health clinic specifically for refugees.