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Blog → May 31, 2018

Upcoming Event: Bands for Refugees

Tsos Fliers 5 29 2 1 1

Written by Margo Watson

SAVE THE DATE, JUNE 16, 2018 6:30 PM. BANDS FOR REFUGEES.

I have traveled all over the world and have found we have one universal language that centers around the Arts, especially music. It instinctively draws people from all walks of life together. An incredibly talented group of musicians and artists have put together a Must-Attend Event at the Draper Amphitheater to share music, stories, photos and invitations to help our brothers and sisters who are refugees.

This event is sponsored by Their Story is Our Story. TSOS is a non-profit organization that began in Germany when a couple of neighbors witnessed the flow of families seeking refuge come into their hometown. These two friends paused their lives, they volunteered, they listened, they acted.

Aren’t we all part of a legacy of refugees? My great-great-great grandparents came to America from Denmark, Ireland and England for religious freedom and a chance to make their own choices on how to raise their families. They gave up everything so that their children could have choices and live a full life. The world was more open back then and I have been the beneficiary of their sacrifice. I cannot sit back now and ignore those whose history is no different than mine.

The stories we hear today of these courageous refugees from Syria, Ethiopia, Africa, Afghanistan and other countries under political havoc and war have a similar theme. They just want what we all want: To be safe, to be free to follow their dreams and beliefs, to be heard and not ignored as someone else’s problem.

Haven’t we all benefitted at some point from the generosity and kindness of someone else? Aren’t we all in a position to pay it forward to someone in need?

Attend this great concert to learn how you can help refugees. Only a small donation of $5, or more if circumstances allow. What is there to lose? Great outdoor setting, entertainment by bands, local singers, dramatic readings and a feeling of satisfaction knowing you are participating in relieving the plight of someone in need.

We hope to see you there!

What would you do if you had to leave everything behind?

By the end of 2024, more than 123.2 million people worldwide had been forcibly displaced from their homes due to war, persecution, or human rights abuses.

An increase of 7.2 million over 2023, that’s more than 19,619 people every day — roughly one person every 4.4 seconds.

They arrive in refugee camps and other countries, like the US, seeking the one thing they’ve lost: safety.

Fleeing political imprisonment, ethnic violence, religious persecution, gang threats, or war crimes, they come with what little they managed to carry:

Legal papers – if they’re lucky.

A single backpack.

Sometimes a child’s hand in theirs.

They also carry the weight of what they left behind: fractured families, homes they’ll never return to, professions they loved, friends and relatives they may never see again.

They carry loss most of us can’t imagine – but also the truth of what they’ve endured.

At TSOS, we believe stories are a form of justice. When someone shares their experience of forced displacement, they reclaim their voice. And when we amplify that voice – through film, photography, writing, and advocacy – the world listens. Hearts soften. Communities open. Policy begins to shift.

That shift matters. Because when neighbors understand instead of fear…

when lawmakers see people, not politics…

when a teacher knows what her student has survived…

Rebuilding life from the ashes becomes possible.

We’re fighting an uphill battle. In today’s political climate, refugee stories are often twisted or ignored. They’re reduced to statistics, portrayed as national threats, or used to score political points.

The truth – the human, nuanced truth – gets lost, and when it does, we lose compassion.

We are here to share their truth anyway.

At TSOS, we don’t answer to headlines or algorithms. We are guided by a simple conviction: every person deserves to be seen, heard, and welcomed.

Our work is powered by the people we meet — refugees and asylum seekers rebuilding after loss, allies offering sanctuary, and communities daring to extend belonging.

Your support helps us share their stories — and ensure they’re heard where they matter most.

“What ultimately persuaded the judge wasn’t a legal argument. It was her story.”

— Kristen Smith Dayley, Executive Director, TSOS

Will you help us keep telling the truth?

No donation is too small — and it only takes a minute of your time.

Why give monthly?

We value every gift, but recurring contributions allow us to plan ahead and invest more deeply in:

  • New refugee storytelling and advocacy projects
  • Resources to train and equip forcibly displaced people to share their own stories
  • Public education that challenges fear with empathy
  • Local efforts that help communities welcome and integrate newcomers

As our thank-you, monthly supporters receive fewer fundraising messages — and more stories of the impact they’re making possible.

You don’t have to be displaced to stand with those who are.

Can you give today — and help carry these stories forward?

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Their Story is Our Story is a 501(c)3 Non-Profit Organization under the United States Internal Revenue Code. All donations are tax-deductible. Our tax identification number is 812983626.