Gallery: Race for Refugees

By Sophia Donis

On April 21, MO-ORA team members laced up their running shoes and attended the 2024 Race for Refugees. Established in 2017, the race brings together community members to celebrate multiculturalism and raise funds to support services for refugees and immigrants.

About 300 people flocked to Tower Grove Park to participate in the 5k or one-mile race, including members of the Youth Mentoring program at the International Institute of St. Louis (IISTL). Upon registration, individuals could choose to sponsor a refugee in the program so they could participate free of charge.

Staff from IISTL’s Latino Outreach Program, Festival of Nations, League of Women Voters and MO-ORA set up tables to distribute outreach materials and educate community members on their organizations. The Festival of Nations tent even had a portable photo booth!

Events like R4R remind us of the commitment staff and community members show to uplift our new neighbors.

“Congratulations to everyone for making it. It was not about the certificate. It was about the spirit in which we came here today to really support refugees. Thank you for doing that,” Arrey Obenson, IISTL President & CEO said.