Using Poetry and Art to Build Understanding
At the 2026 Art in the Park Festival, we were delighted to host a stall for the Refugee Support Network in the Community Souk, alongside a fantastic mix of local traders, small businesses, artists and social enterprises. It was a great opportunity to connect with local people, share information about the network and celebrate the diverse communities that make Milton Keynes such a welcoming place.
One of those was Heena C Khan, a local writer, illustrator and poet who has also been supporting MK Islamic Arts and Culture (MKIAC) with their Nur: Illuminating Stories project.
Through her writing, poetry and artwork, Heena explores themes of identity, belonging, community and social issues, often sharing stories and perspectives that encourage understanding, reflection and connection. Her work celebrates the richness of different cultures and experiences while highlighting the things that bring us together.
Much of Heena’s work comes from her own personal experiences and emotions. Allowing the viewers and readers to question themselves and use her voice to find their own, providing a platform that moves borders, languages, and boundaries.
As we mark Refugee Week, we wanted to shine a light on Heena’s work and the role that creativity, storytelling and the arts can play in helping people feel seen, heard and welcomed in our communities.
You can find out more about Heena and her work at heenackhan.com or by following @heena.ck on Instagram.
Heena wrote a poem especially for Refugee Week. This poem looks at not just the journey of the individual but of the struggles, hopes and dreams they come with. Providing a reminder that these people are all but like each one of us and the choices we would make in times of trials and destruction
Photo credits: Heena C Khan