Making sure people are informed about the refugee community - that's the hope of a roundtable discussion hosted by the Burchfield Penney Art Center.

Denise Phillips Beehag, the director of new American integration at the International Institute, said, "Our mission statement is making Western New York a better place for and because of refugees and immigrants." 

Since 2002, 16,000 refugees have moved to the City of Good Neighbors. On Thursday evening, the Burchfield Penney Art Center presented a virtual roundtable discussion with various organizations, like Jericho Road and the Anne Frank Project, to talk about the refugee community in Buffalo.

"We have numerous populations of established refugee groups in our city," said Jeff Ogilvie, the deputy director of Journey's End Refugee Services.

Journey's End provides refugees with the resources and support they need to thrive in Western New York. Ogilvie thinks Buffalo's low cost of living, cheap housing stock, and welcoming school system have been enticing to refugees in the past. But there is another thing to consider.

Lisa Karrer said, "I love Buffalo, but they don't just choose to come to Buffalo. Refugees do not choose to leave their homes. This is something that I think is just very basic, but sometimes we don't realize that. You don't want to be leaving your home but you're forced to leave your home."

The discussion was held as part of an exhibition at the art center called SHELTER, which was created by Karrer, an interdisciplinary artist and Buffalo native. Her work aims to highlight the role Buffalo has become as a sanctuary for refugees.

Some believe it's the people and organizations that have helped elevate the city to that title. 

"The resettlement agencies and agencies like Hope and Jericho Road but also trusted friends, trusted neighbors. That goes back again to this welcoming city, Buffalo being a good place. You have to be able to make those trusted relationships because for new Americans that really is an important thing," Beehag said.

You can check out the Burchfield's Facebook page to watch the full 2-hour conversation.