Rice’s campus buzzed with laughter and joy as the Center for Civic Leadership (CCL) and Interfaith Ministries for Greater Houston’s Refugee Services Program partnered with students enrolled in Multicultural Psychology to host a fall family festival Nov. 23 for refugee families in Houston.
This service-learning project brought together approximately 100 people, including refugee families and Rice students, for a day filled with connection, learning and cultural celebration. For many of the refugee families in attendance, the event marked their first visit to a college campus, making the experience particularly meaningful, said course instructor Chase Lesane-Brown, an organizer of the event.
Duc Anh Nguyen, a senior taking the class, called the event “an amazing experience.”
“Not many courses provide us with a chance to learn from such a human-focused approach,” Nguyen said. “More importantly, as an international student who has experienced the challenges of settling into a new life in different countries, I am glad that I can help lessen the burden lots of refugee families are carrying. Seeing the enjoyment and cheerfulness of the kids during the whole event was the highlight of my semester.”
The festival featured engaging activities for children, including campus tours, kids crafts, field games, cricket, food and more. Senior Rohit Jha had the opportunity to lead campus tours and share insights into the American education system with the families.
“It was really heartwarming to see them not only enjoy Rice’s beautiful campus but also feel inspired and excited about opportunities for their children’s futures,” Jha said.
There were also opportunities for families to share their cultural stories and spaces for dialogue between students and community members. Attendees explored Rice’s vibrant campus and enjoyed activities highlighting the diversity and resilience of the refugee community.
“Being part of this festival was such a meaningful and rewarding experience,” said senior Emma Chen. “It was amazing to see families from different backgrounds come together, share their stories and just enjoy the day. Watching the kids laugh and play while their parents had the chance to relax reminded me how important it is to create spaces where everyone can come together comfortably. It’s moments like these that really make me feel the power of community and kindness.”
Lesane-Brown emphasized the importance of such service-learning projects for building bridges between Rice undergraduate students and the Houston community. She also said it is important for students to have these types of learning opportunities as part of their courses because it allows for structured reflection of the service experience while directly connecting the practical application of classroom knowledge to real-world situations.
“This festival not only brought joy to the families but also gave students a chance to immerse themselves in a meaningful, cross-cultural experience,” Lesane-Brown said. “It’s a vital part of understanding multiculturalism in action.”
“Hearing about this project for the first time, I knew I wanted to be a part of it and be able to help out in organizing the event on the Rice campus,” said junior Aman Chaudhary. “It’s a unique opportunity that I didn’t want to miss.”
Senior Tolu Asupoto had the opportunity to interact with both children and adults from a variety of regions.
“I particularly enjoyed seeing how the Rice CCL and other volunteers banded together to make this event a success,” Asupoto said.
Jessica Khalaf, director of operations and partnerships for the CCL, applauded the collaboration between Rice and Interfaith Ministries for Greater Houston.
“The Center for Civic Leadership is always happy to support experiential learning opportunities that allow for students, faculty and community organizations to collaborate and learn with each other,” Khalaf said. “Building community on and off campus is important to every Rice student’s experience and for the mission of our university. Interfaith Ministries served as strong co-educators for our students throughout this semester-long planning of the festival.”
“Seeing families from different cultures and speaking different languages come together through games, music and food was truly heartwarming,” said Annie Li, a senior involved with the event. “It reminds us that, despite the challenges displaced people face when adjusting to a new environment, at their core they are just like us — individuals who cherish joy, connection and shared moments of celebration.”