Jody K. Biehl, director of UB’s Journalism Certificate Program, debuts “Finding Refuge in Buffalo,” her multimedia exploration of Buffalo’s collective refugee and immigrant experience, at an opening reception from 5:30-8 p.m. May 10 at the studios of WNED and WBFO, 140 Lower Terrace, Buffalo.

The exhibit explores the Buffalo community’s long history as a hub for refugees and immigration. It feature 24 profiles — including photographs by freelance photographer Brendan Bannon — of people who came to Buffalo in the past 15 years. There will also be stories about people whose Polish, Irish, German, Italian and Puerto Rican families came to Buffalo between 1850 and 1960.

Both Biehl and Bannon, as well as some of the refugees and immigrants featured in the exhibit, will attend the reception to discuss the project.

“This is a collection of quiet heroes,” Biehl, clinical associate professor of English, wrote in her introduction. “Many of these stories have never been told. Some of the tellers have been too frightened or traumatized. Most of them thought no one would care.

“Some of these stories are epic in scale. People buried babies, crossed oceans. They endured torture, racism, starvation, disease,” Biehl wrote. “All these people and their families endured. They survived to tell these stories.”

The reception is free and open to the public. The exhibit will be on display through June 2. It then moves to the Argus Gallery, 1896 Niagara St., where it will be on view June 28 through July 20.