Prior to annual Welcoming Week events in mid-September, we reached out to some of Charlottesville’s most beloved restaurants and breweries to discuss how we could promote the IRC’s mission while also giving their patrons an entertaining, interactive experience. Starr Hill Brewery and FIREFLY Restaurant + Game Room quickly agreed to collaborate, and together we designed IRC-themed trivia nights as a fresh approach to raising public awareness of our work. 

Starr Hill Brewery’s regular, weekday trivia night has grown tremendously since it first began just a few years ago. On Wednesday, this popular nightspot, within walking distance of the University of Virginia, packs in wall-to-wall students, who team up to compete for prizes. The brewery kindly sponsored an IRC trivia takeover on September 18th: IRC tip jars lined the bar, each table offered a scannable QR code leading to the IRC in Charlottesville website, friendly IRC employees manned an information booth to answer questions, and two trivia categories focused on refugee resettlement in Charlottesville and around the world. This event gave us a unique opportunity to reach a younger audience interested in internships and volunteer opportunities, and we couldn’t have asked for a more positive, energetic atmosphere.  

Just two days later, we unveiled a brand-new trivia night with our second partner, FIREFLY Restaurant + Game Room. Thanks to their generous sponsorship, we had commissioned Starr Hill’s talented trivia designer to craft five categories of questions that included facts about the IRC, refugee resettlement trends, nations of the world, and the U.S. citizenship test.  This focus put players in the shoes of new Americans. Regulars from FIREFLY’s usual Friday night crowd quickly joined in the competition, and FIREFLY generously donated $1 from every pint and appetizer purchased to support the IRC’s work! 

A third Welcoming Week partner, longtime IRC supporter Mudhouse Specialty Coffee Roasters, graciously sponsored an all-day benefit on September 19th donating 10% of sales at their 10th Street location to our work. They also invited us to staff an information table, where members of our community engagement team spent the day striking up conversations with patrons, handing out flyers, and describing the IRC’s work.  

Thanks to these three businesses, the IRC in Charlottesville held successful events three days in a row. Our Welcoming Week festivities showcased how strong partnerships help us communicate the IRC’s mission and generate grassroots support.