ABOUT

Refugee Forum of King County

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In 1978, with increasing numbers of refugees arriving in King County, the Regional

Office of Refugee Resettlement began hosting monthly meetings for local refugee
resettlement organizations to plan services and discuss issues. This is where the Refugee
Forum was born.

The original members of the Refugee Forum included the local refugee resettlement
agencies known as Voluntary Agencies (VOLAGs), the Refugee Community
Development Office (which later became the State's Office of Refugee and Immigrant
Assistance), the Office of Health, Education and Welfare, Seattle-King County Public
Health, Seattle Central Community College, and the regional staff of the federal Office of
Refugee Resettlement. Other resettlement organizations that have participated include
World Relief (WR), Lutheran Community Services (LCS), the International Rescue
Committee (IRC), Jewish Family Service (JFS), and the Diocese of Olympia.

The Refugee Forum has a long history, dating back more than 40 years. In June 1982, the
Refugee Forum was granted 501(c)(3) nonprofit status by the IRS. Since then, it has
operated as a membership organization governed by a volunteer board consisting of two
co-chairs, a treasurer, and a secretary. The Refugee Forum strives to respond to the
changing needs of refugee communities and the organizations that serve them. Jennifer
Malloy of DSHS served as Chair of the Forum for many years and now serves as
Treasurer. The current Chair, Caroline Okello, brings lived experience as a former asylee.

As increasing numbers of newly arrived refugees were resettled in South King County,
Refugee Forum members voted to move meetings south to Renton. Meetings were
initially hosted by the City of Renton and later moved to the King County Library
System's Renton Cluster, where they were held until the COVID-19 pandemic. During
the pandemic, meetings transitioned to a virtual format via Zoom. Over the years, the
Refugee Forum has met in a variety of locations, including the Seattle Red Cross,
Lighthouse for the Blind, and Renton City Hall. The Forum typically attracts an average
of 50 participants each month from organizations that support refugees.

More than four decades after its founding, the Refugee Forum continues to grow and seek
new ways to improve the lives of refugees in King County through information sharing,
problem-solving, and community building. New attendees often learn about the Forum
through word of mouth and include staff and volunteers from resettlement agencies, city
and county employees, and other partners with an interest in supporting refugee
communities.