There’s a sign you’ll see hanging in Tellus360 that says “All Who Enter These Doors Are Equal,” and we truly mean that. No matter who you are, you are welcome at Tellus. And we’d like to think those words also apply to Lancaster County, and the entire country. If you come across our borders, whether by plane, train, automobile, boat, or on foot, we want America to be a place that welcomes everyone with open arms. We love that Lancaster is such a warm and welcoming place for refugees from so many different parts of the world.

This is why we hosted “A Concert for Refugees” last night (Sunday, January 17, 2016), in cooperation with a number of local organizations. These organizations included Church World Service Lancaster Immigration & Refugee Program, The Refugee Center and Community School at Reynolds, the Lancaster County Community Foundation, Faces of Lancaster, Ten Thousand Villages, the Unitarian Universalist Church of Lancaster, Lancaster Rotary, and Music for Everyone, among others. This was not a fundraiser, though people were given the opportunity to donate.

This was an awareness event, to show our support for, and solidarity with, those refugees who are coming into our area and relocating to Lancaster to start anew. These folks have been forced from their homes, and perhaps their families and livelihood, and need a place to go. For them, Lancaster is that place, and we welcome them.

Here is a video shot by the folks from JCool Audio and Video, who documented the entire event, as dozens of musicians and others came together for the cause, with music as their vehicle. Thanks to all who partnered with us, and thanks to all who came out!

And here are some photos from the event. Enjoy!

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