The OTT conference “2014 KRG Year in Crisis” has attempted to reveal some of the meanings that the refugee crisis of 2015 had for the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. Heated discussions brought different points of view, from government, parliament and policy practitioners, to researchers and civil society. An intense exchange of ideas touched upon survival issues that the region has been dealing with for decades, up to social and political problems posed by the war with the Islamic State. Local, regional and international perspectives, made us agree that we need to cooperate on a common view for our future and contribute towards building a tolerant and open society.