The public is invited to learn more about refugee resettlement in Bennington in a free event, "Welcoming Refugees to Bennington," on Sunday, January 26 at 1:30 p.m. at the Bennington Free Library, 101 Silver Street.
The event is co-presented by the Bennington Branch of the American Association of University Women (AAUW) and the Ethiopian Community Development Council (ECDC), Bennington's refugee resettlement agency.
Bennington was designated as an official refugee resettlement site in October 2022, and the following year, the Bennington County Multicultural Community Center was opened in the heart of downtown. More than 100 refugees have come to Bennington, where they have found employment at more than two dozen local businesses, as well as at several non-profit organizations.
The presentation will offer updates on local resettlement efforts, provide information about how interested community members can get involved, and discuss projects and programs the Multicultural Community Center has launched in the last year. Attendees will have a chance to hear from refugees who have arrived in Bennington, staff of ECDC, and volunteers. Light refreshments, prepared by members of Bennington's refugee community who are starting food businesses, will be provided.
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