Oct 25, 2024

Thanks for joining us on this journey

The One Journey movement was launched seven years ago in response to the negative and dehumanizing narrative surrounding refugees and displaced people. Our founders, Wendy Chan and Vanda Berninger, set out on a mission of founding a grassroots movement striving to foster a world where refugees are valued and welcomed.

Since our founding, One Journey has been a hub for changing the narrative about refugees by showcasing their talents and accomplishments through music, art, storytelling, technology, food, sports, and more. We held our signature event, the One Journey Festival, four times at the Washington National Cathedral. The Festival has featured refugee performers, artists, entrepreneurs, and nonprofits, and attracted thousands of visitors. Newcomers and their welcoming neighbors joined together in the spirit of connection, empathy, and celebration.

We truly believe our Festival helped create a welcoming spirit and that many were touched by the celebration and shared sense of humanity. The Festival even found its way to displaced people in other countries through the power of technology - such as a young Afghan man displaced in Pakistan who watched a live stream of his favorite rock band, Kabul Dreams, at the 2022 Festival and later told us that moment helped him carry on. He said he was inspired by so many strangers at a gathering a world away who cared about him and his path forward. He later made his way to the U.S., began law school, and attended the 2023 Festival where he got to meet his musical heroes in-person.

Beyond the Festival, One Journey has supported our mission by hosting close to 100 awareness-raising and celebratory events in Washington DC, Northern Virginia, San Francisco, Philadelphia, New York, Miami, Boston, and even virtually. None of these could have been done without hundreds of volunteers, sponsors, partners, and our team of community organizers.

It is with gratitude to our supporters and volunteers, and a keen sense of sadness that we announce that our initiative is coming to a close. We have been an initiative 100% driven by volunteers. Their support, energy, and hard work over the last several years has been inspiring and nothing short of miraculous. Today, we have found that continuing this same level of commitment and the time needed to hold a major Festival, while simultaneously growing our movement, is beyond our capacity to continue.

We know that this movement will never truly die because of our neighbors who choose to make our communities welcoming for those seeking refuge, a place to call home. The need for a narrative shift is still alive and well, and we are grateful to those who work tirelessly each day to amplify refugee voices and spotlight the talents and contributions of newcomers. Individually, we look forward to supporting our nonprofit Take Action Partners in their missions.

To the network of accomplished artists, musicians, dancers, and entrepreneurs that we have had the pleasure of working with over the last seven years we say thank you for sharing your talents and contributions with us. While our journey together may be over, yours is just beginning.

We will forever be united by our shared humanity. While we may have all taken many paths, we are united by One Journey.