LEWISTON — The planning committee has announced the details of this year’s annual Lewiston Auburn World Refugee Day celebration. The event will take place from 5 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, June 29, at Simard Payne Memorial Park, 46 Beech St.

The L-A World Refugee Day is part of a global event celebrating and honoring the courage and struggles of the more than 15 million refugees worldwide displaced by war and persecution. Each year, Maine welcomes refugees and asylum seekers from countries around the world and helps them safely rebuild their lives. Lewiston Auburn has become home to refugees and asylum seekers from more than 12 countries, resulting in one of Maine’s most diverse communities.

In addition to food, performances, games, and music, this year’s LA World Refugee Day celebration will include a job and resource fair and “Far from Home – A Refugee Simulation.” The simulation, devised by Catholic Charities of Maine, will give participants an interactive and dramatic experience of a refugee’s path to resettlement in America.

Lewiston Auburn’s WRD Planning Committee is chaired by Fatuma Hussein, director of the Immigrant Resource Center of Maine, and Joel Furrow, director of the Root Cellar, Lewiston.

Committee members represent the city of Auburn, Auburn UU Theater, Bates College, Catholic Charities, Community Concepts, city of Lewiston, Health Affiliates, Immigrant Resource Center of Maine, the Root Cellar, Spurwink Services, L/A Arts and Lewiston public schools.

FMI, donate: laworldrefugeeday@gmail.com; gofundme.com/MEWRD2017.

Lewiston Auburn World Refugee Day celebration will take place June 29 at Simard Payne Memorial Park. Pictured are Mahasin Arbab, left, and Fatuma Hussein.