The Row House Inc. and Church World Service (CWS) will host a program of firsthand refugee stories on Friday, Oct. 21, at 7 p.m. in The Trust Performing Arts Center, 37 N. Market St., Lancaster.

The New Neighbors Speakers Bureau of CWS will be represented by Apsara Uprety and Amer Al Fayadh, new Lancaster residents from Nepal and Iraq, respectively. Shawn Smucker, author of the 2018 memoir "Once We Were Strangers," will share his perspective on befriending refugees. Staff members Rachel Helwig and Andrew Mashas will give an update on what CWS is doing to enhance Lancaster as a welcoming city and how people can get involved. There will be a question-and-answer time, and refreshments will be available.

There is a discount for those who register in advance; tickets will also be available at the door. Admission is free to Row House members. To learn more, visit http://www.therowhouse.org. Limited seats can be reserved through http://www.eventbrite.