Refugee Community Building Conference '26
Building Community in Challenging Times
NAAPR brought together our community, elected leaders, service providers, and advocates for our sold out 2026 Refugee Community Building Conference at the Seattle Airport Marriott.
The Refugee Community Building Conference 2026 surpassed all expectations! Sincere thanks to our 255+ attendees, sponsors, volunteers, and speakers for making this year’s event a remarkable and memorable return after our 2025 hiatus. From engaging breakout sessions, to Mayor Mohamed Egal’s inspiring welcome, and Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal’s powerful keynote, every moment highlighted the strength of unity. I am especially grateful to Representatives Sharon Tomiko Santos and Janice Zahn, King County Executive Girmay Zahilay, and King County Councilmembers Baron and Mosqueda for joining us at the reception. Thank you all for making this a day to remember!
Thank you to our presenters who offered us all a full day of workshops covering everything from labor rights and housing justice to mental health, storytelling in legislative testimony, and the lived experience of refugee and immigrant communities across Washington State.
And most of all, thank you to our community members who showed up to connect and do the work. To everyone who traveled, registered, volunteered, presented, translated, and came ready to connect: this conference exists because of you. Your stories, your questions, and your presence are what turn a room full of strangers into a community that moves policy.
Here's to another year of turning lived experience into leadership.
Registration for the 2026 Refugee Community Building Conference is now open. Our last two conferences were completely SOLD OUT! Don’t miss this rare opportunity to join a transformative event that empowers, inspires, and unites. Register early to connect with visionary leaders, collaborate on impactful solutions, share innovative knowledge, and drive real change for our community.
Registration Now Closed
Early Bird Registration Now Closed: We are pleased to offer a limited number of free tickets. If you are interested, please fill out the scholarship form.
Regular registration fee is $120
For general questions regarding registration and scholarship, please email events@naapr.org or udita@naapr.org.
Keynote Speaker
Morning Workshops
Afternoon Workshops
About the Conference
The Refugee Community Building Conference is a powerful catalyst for learning, bold dialogue, and dynamic networking. It fosters community connections; provides professional development and leadership opportunities; and celebrates the economic and cultural contributions of our communities.
The 2026 Conference will build on the successes of the 2023 and 2024 events. This one-day gathering will feature speakers from refugee and immigrant backgrounds, interactive workshop sessions on key community topics, cultural performances, networking opportunities, and a resource room with display tables from service providers.
Informative and Interactive Workshops
Like previous years' conferences, this year’s event is another opportunity to facilitate learning, dialogue, and networking, fostering community connections. The conference includes morning and afternoon workshops led by community leaders and change-makers. Many of our speakers have experienced the refugee journey themselves, and we see them as experts and leaders in spearheading solutions and recommendations. Each workshop has been tailored with a bold focus on addressing relevant issues facing the refugee community, on best practices, and on cultivating cooperative strategies for advocating beyond inequities
Who Attends
The Conference is a convening space for people connected to the refugee community at all levels. This includes refugee community members who bring their lived experience, as well as service providers, allies, and policy makers. Attendees and presenters come from a variety of backgrounds including:
Refugee Community Members committed to advancing knowledge about community-driven solutions, advocacy, and changing the way refugees are viewed and prioritized in policy decisions.
Nonprofit Agencies who want to learn, grow, and advocate for refugees.
Philanthropists and Refugee Champions who are committed to hearing refugee perspectives and supporting the call to action for different approaches in investing in refugees’ success and integration.
Professionals serving refugees, including school district staff, mental health and health care providers, and volunteers.
Policymakers who want to learn firsthand about the diversity, richness, and real issues facing refugees to inform policy decision-making processes and prudent investment in refugee communities.
Volunteer
Resource Room
Space is limited. To reserve space, please contact Udita Singh at Udita@naapr.org by August 10.
Conference Schedule
Friday, September 18, 2026
8:30-9:30 am
Registration and Coffee
9:30- 10:15 am
Welcome, Opening Keynote, and Ethnic Entertainment
10:30 am- 12:00 pm
Concurrent Sessions, Morning
12:15 pm Lunch
1:45- 3:15 pm
Concurrent Sessions, Afternoon
3:15- 4:00 pm
Visit the Resource Room and Networking
4:00 – 4:30
Closing Remarks & Door Prizes
Hotel and Parking
Our 2026 Refugee Community Building Conference will be held at:
Seattle Airport Marriott Hotel
3201 S 176th St, Seattle, WA 98188
On-Site Parking
The hotel offers discounted parking for $18 per day plus tax (Port of Seattle and State tax).
Parking is limited. Carpooling is strongly encouraged.
Valet
Daily: $41.00
Visit Marriott’s website for most accurate parking information.
Accessibility
Click here to view accessibility information on Marriot’s website
Notice of Photo and Videotaping
We will be taking photos and video throughout the conference for use on websites, in social media, and other materials. Your attendance at the conference constitutes your consent to be photographed, filmed, and/or otherwise recorded without compensation.