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State and county governmental entities remain pro-refugee with programs, funds and fun

Aug 19, 2019 12:36PM ● By Jennifer J Johnson

Utah Governor Gary Herbert has been solid in supporting the rights of Utah’s refugees. (Governor Gary Herbert)


By Jennifer J. Johnson | [email protected]

It is a charged time for refugees in America.

In July, the House of Representatives passed a resolution condemning President Trump’s statements to four new Congressional representatives, telling them to “go back” to other countries, even though three of the women were born in America, the other coming from Somalia.

However, only one in four Republican Congressional representatives voted with the majority, and only 37% of Republicans across the country found Trump’s tweets offensive, according to a USA Today poll.

The state of refugees in Utah

But here in Utah, while Utah Gov. Gary Herbert has not explicitly condemned the president’s tweet, he has, historically, enabled sophisticated refugee-support networks—some initiated in former Gov. Jon Huntsman’s administration—and continues to curry the welcoming theme for refugees.

Refugees and refugee-support organizations alike credit the Republican governor, in true Utah spirit, for maintaining a sense of independence to do what is right for the state.

Thousands of refugees have fled war-torn countries, the atrocities of war and repression, and other dire circumstances and have successfully migrated to Utah. These refugees include people from Afghanistan, Bhutan, Bosnia, Burma, Chad, the Congo, Cuba, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Liberia, Nigeria, Senegal, Serbia, Somalia, the former Soviet Union, Sudan, Togo, and Vietnam.

Herbert’s right-hand, Lt. Gov. Spencer Cox, also sidestepped speaking out on the president’s tweets, instead literally putting others money where his mouth would otherwise go.
Last month, Cox held a physical and virtual birthday party for his 44
th, raising $10,000 for Utah’s refugees.

World Refugee Day in Utah

A much broader celebration for Utah’s refugees was the month prior in June.

The state’s partnership with Workforce Services (dating back to the Huntsman era) was a joyous one, with Utah refugees celebrating—and being celebrated through—Utah’s expression of World Refugee Day.  

The United Nations has claimed June 20 to be World Refugee Day. The World Refugee Day is an annual commemoration to celebrate the strength and resilience of the world’s various refugee communities, recognizing their unique and intense struggles, and, in so doing, raising awareness about refugee issues.

Alexx Goeller, refugee program specialist for Workforce Services, has worked with the state’s refugees for six years now, and this year marks the second year she has headed up Utah’s World Refugee Day events.

Although it seems a bold move—to square off the same weekend as the Utah Arts Festival, the largest multidisciplinary art festival in the state—that is exactly what Goeller’s team did for this year, the 15
th annual Utah World Refugee celebration.

Goeller also turned the celebration into a two-day event, with activities both Friday and Saturday at Cottonwood Regional Park. The free activities made the event a viable option for those on budgets or not wanting to spend money at the Arts Festival.

The welcoming accolades get richer–‘I am thrilled to see Salt Lake County being recognized on a national level’

In 2018, Salt Lake County received national recognition passing a rigorous certification program to become an official welcoming area for refugees. The achievement was so important to incoming mayor Jenny Wilson that she touted it as a crowning achievement of the county in her State of the County address, shortly upon entering office last spring.

From the county perspective, Salt Lake County recently received national recognition for its Refugee Assistance Program for Older Adults. The National Association of Counties honored the county’s offering “innovative, effective” programs that “strengthen services for residents.”

The Refugee Assistance Program for Older Adults gives hope to participants by providing access to advocacy, resources and social engagement. Older refugees are exposed to programs through Aging and Adult Services that connect them with Medicare specialists and help them navigate the benefits process.

Gardens for older adult refugees are being developed in Salt Lake County to provide places of refuge and social connection. Salt Lake County senior centers are also expanding to provide activities for refugees that target their unique interests including English classes and social activities designed to help participants make friends.


Of the county’s receiving the award, Wilson noted, “I am thrilled to see Salt Lake County being recognized on a national level.”