Pathways to the Integration of New Americans (PINA)

World Refugee Day was June 20, 2024. To celebrate, community members gathered at the Auraria Campus in Downtown Denver for the 2024 Colorado Refugee Speakers Bureau Showcase. The event, which took place in the Tivoli Turnhalle Center at Metropolitan State University of Denver, provided space for refugees to share their stories with an audience.

Refugees who spoke at the Showcase represented Afghanistan, Columbia, Tunisia, Tanzania/Burundi, Southern Cameroons, Burma, Somalia, and South Sudan. Speakers shared moving stories, not only of their journeys to the U.S., but also of their resilience and achievements since their arrival.

The showcase is one of several Colorado Refugee Speakers Bureau events that happen throughout the year. Through speaking and storytelling engagements, the Bureau's mission is to create connection and understanding between refugees and the community. In turn, their vision is to see a more inclusive, vibrant, and cohesive Colorado.

The PINA Program was one of several local and statewide community groups at the Colorado Health Symposium, which took place July 26-28, 2023. The event drew more than 600 people to the Keystone Resort Center. The central theme for this year's event was "People-Powered Transformation."

On July 12, 2023, the PINA program held the first ever Community and Listening Circles event. This conversation-driven luncheon offered the community a chance to have open and meaningful dialogue about how well the city is serving New Americans (immigrants and refugees) in Denver. These listening circles offer people and organizations with diverse backgrounds an opportunity to share feedback, concerns, and celebrations related to city services.

24 people attended the event, representing a number of city agencies and community organizations. These included Montbello Organizing Community (MOC), Denver’s Office for Immigrant and Refugee Affairs (DOIRA), and the International Rescue Committee (IRC). 

Our caseworkers are trained and ready to support you. Our team will be able to identify which resources you are eligible for based on your current immigration status.

We understand there are families with mixed status households. If you do not have lawful presence, it is possible that a family member in your household can still qualify for vital resources.

Immigration laws in the United States are very complex. It is always best to consult with a trusted immigration lawyer who can review your specific situation.