Author: Christa Yoakum

Posted on

Black Lives Matter. Nebraska needs all of us to make change.

This is a momentous time in our country’s history and a powerful time for us to take a stand with our neighbors. As a community or as a society, we cannot be whole when Black Americans are repeatedly targeted because of the color of their skin.

By now we’ve all seen the inexcusable actions of law enforcement that ended George Floyd’s life and the protests across the country. It is no longer enough to be tolerant or to be a passive ally. It is time to act. It is time to dismantle the racism and oppression that has been so entrenched in our institutions and structures.

Together we can do more and together we can make change. Our communities are strongest when everyone in the community feels valued.

As Welcoming America stated in their response, Welcoming Cannot Thrive As Long As Racism Persists.

“We cannot be welcoming when African Americans are repeatedly targeted because of the color of their skin.

We cannot be welcoming when violence against our neighbors is minimized or ignored.

We cannot be welcoming if we are afraid to address the root causes of racism.”

Here are resources for your own learning and tools for talking with family, friends, and neighbors:

Support, donate, volunteer with local organizations:

What is going on in your community? Share your favorite tools and local organizations to combat racism and promote inclusion. We would like to hear from you.

Posted on

Tea Time with Khenda

A quarterly newsletter celebrating Welcoming and Inclusive communities across the state of Nebraska

My name is Khenda Mustafa, Welcoming Coordinator with Nebraska Is Home. Even as the Coronavirus pandemic brings uncertainty for us all, we can come together to support one another in continuing to build a welcoming and inclusive culture across our state.

This is the first issue of a quarterly newsletter called Tea Time with Khenda, where we will share resources, stories, and events to celebrate and build welcoming communities together.

Why Tea Time?

Growing up, I was taught the importance – and joy – of welcoming others and making them feel comfortable, safe, and valued. With hospitality playing a major role in Kurdish culture, our family entertained guests quite a lot. I remember being younger and helping my mother brew a large pot of ceylon tea whenever we had company over. When the tea was ready, I would pour the piping hot liquid into glass cups and serve it along with sugar in its various forms — sometimes dates, sugar cubes, and even toffee. As the conversations flowed, so did the tea.

It seems that all around the world, people have great conversations over hot beverages, and it is in this spirit of hospitality and communion that Nebraska is Home brings you Tea Time

Grab a Cup of Your Favorite Brew and Have a Seat…

Turkish tea

We’re All In This Together… Separately

As we adapt to the new environment brought about by this pandemic, here are some questions that we can be asking ourselves in the process:

  1. How are we including the whole community in our efforts today?
  2. In what ways are we thinking about coming together as a community after collectively getting through this?

We might not have the answers right away, but we should keep asking ourselves these questions and discussing together what kind of community we want to be, coming out of this.

Resources

Now more than ever, it is important to remember to take care of ourselves. Have a look at these tools for self-care and community wellbeing:

  • Tired of only bad news? Check out this heartwarming news story from right here in the state
  • #StayAtHome. This is the single most effective thing we can do to stop the spread of Coronavirus. Here are activities for health, wellness, and connectedness that you can do to care for yourself and others from home
  • How is your breathing? Here is a helpful short talk and guided meditation for coping with fear in times of pandemic
  • What’s going on in your town? This is a Restaurant guide for delivery, curbside, and drive-through services in Lincoln. Send us other local business guides from your community!
  • You can find more useful tools for communities and inspiring stories of neighbors coming together to help each other – while staying apart – on Welcoming America
  • Check out Nebraska Appleseed’s blog for policy updates and actions you can take to promote inclusive solutions for the health and wellbeing of all community members

Upcoming (Virtual) Events

This year’s Statewide Welcoming Convening is going online! Over the next few months, we’ll be exploring new ways to hold local community conversations, particularly around race equity using the video series Cracking The Codes. – Stay tuned, we’ll be reaching out soon.

Have an event? Send us information on your virtual events and we’ll share them! We’ll be glad to share your in-person events too, once we are able to get together again, so keep us informed!

What Can I Do?

  • Find local COVID-19 response efforts and get involved. For example:
    • Support the work of schools, faith groups, and local organizations 
    • Check in on friends and neighbors – see ideas here!
  • Complete and share the Census – Every individual in our community counts! All you need is your address to help ensure Nebraska receives accurate representation and resources for our growing communities! Complete the Census TODAY and encourage your friends, family, and neighbors to complete theirs too! You can complete the Census:

Send us your stories and events to share in a future issue of Tea Time!

Posted on

A Night At The Museum

Note:This piece was written by Katie Hile, U.S. Citizenship Instructor for the Asian Community and Cultural Center with quotes and contributions by Hieu-Bui, citizenship student and New Nebraskan.

 

As a part of Welcoming Week 2018, History Nebraska hosted a dynamic evening at the Nebraska History Museum for twenty-five students currently enrolled in citizenship preparation classes at the Asian Community and Cultural Center and El Centro de las Américas. The twelve-week program provided by the two community centers is funded by the office of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). In partnership with the Center for Legal Immigration Assistance, this collaborative initiative provides legal permanent residents (LPRs) with citizenship instruction and naturalization application services.

Together, students, interpreters, teachers, and docents explored exhibits of Nebraska’s state history together with thoughtful conversation about the students’ family histories that are helping to create this most recent chapter of Nebraska history and shared experience. In addition to being moved by many artifacts and Standing Bear’s powerful story, one student recounts his experience in interacting with exhibits at Nebraska’s History Museum:

“I saw many things about the history of Nebraska, including the Constitution of State and Certificate of 1865. I saw the motorcycle made by Kawasaki in Lincoln and I saw the picture that talked about Nebraska’s electrical system introduced by Senator Norris. …I thought my trip was rich for my knowledge. I discovered many things about my state.”

It will always take courage to make our communities, cities, and country a home for every American: to be a home for those seeking safety and a new life. Equally, too, it is a privilege to welcome those who have so much to share – dreams, talents, family, and a commitment to making our communities strong. As we embrace a new generation of Americans, let’s celebrate the tremendous gift we have that is to welcome the immigrant.

———-

For information on the USCIS-funded program in Lincoln, Nebraska, please contact Katie Hile at katie@lincolnasiancenter.org or Kelly Ross at El Centro de las Americas at kelly@elcentrone.org

Posted on

Nebraskans to celebrate National Welcoming Week Sept. 14-23

Mark your calendar for upcoming local events across Nebraska celebrating this year’s National Welcoming Week! This month, towns in Nebraska and nationwide celebrate how our communities are strongest when everyone feels welcome during the 7th annual National Welcoming Week September 14-23.

In 2017, there were more than 700 events around the country. Nebraska communities are excited to make this year the biggest one yet!

2018 Welcoming Week events

Columbus

 

Crete

 

Grand Island

  • September 30, 2:00 PM, The Stuhr Museum – 10th Anniversary Commemoration of the The Quilted Conscience Project

 

Kearney

 

Lexington

 

Lincoln

  • September 21- 5:30 PM – 9:30 PM – Half Way to St. Pat’s Hooley
    • An Irish “Hooley” with culture, music, and dance! Open to all ages and cultures.
  • September 21, 5:00 PM – 10:00 PM – Lincoln Calling
    • Music, night market, and art.
  • September 23, 4:00 PM – 8:00 PM – Harvest Moon Festival
    • Food, cultural activities, games, lantern lighting, and more!
  • September 29 12:00 PM – 9:00 PM – KZUM Arts and Culture Festival
    • Live music, art, vendors, workshops, and food trucks.

 

Omaha

 

South Sioux City  (Flyer of all events)

  • September 15 – Multicultural Independence Parade
  • September 15, 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM – Street Party
    • Food, music, and celebration for Welcoming Week’s activities in South Sioux City.
  • September 17 – Citizenship Day Celebration at Mary J. Treglia Community House
    • Tours at 7:45 AM and 4:00 PM; open house all day. Citizenship trivia.
  • September 21 – Naturalization Clinic at Mary J. Treglia Community House.  
    • By appointment
  • September 21 – “Prepare to Naturalize” at Mary J. Treglia Community House
    • 9:00 AM, 12:00 PM, and 3:00 PM presentations on the steps to become a citizen and changes in the process.
  • September 25, 4:30 PM – 7:00 PM – Immigration Simulation at Mary J. Treglia Community House.
Posted on

Immigrant Heritage Month 2018 – World Refugee Day celebrates unity creating stronger Nebraska

June is Immigrant Heritage Month. Throughout the month, we’ll be celebrating both our diversity and our shared American heritage by telling the stories of individuals that, together, comprise a uniquely American narrative.

This is a guest post from intern Allie Christianson.

With June coming to a close, Immigrant Heritage Month has brought many stories and celebrations of our neighbors, including the recent celebration of World Refugee Day at the Joslyn Art Museum in Omaha. The event was full of not only kind and talented people and beautiful works of art in the galleries and booths, but also with the laughter and friendship among them. It was inspiring to hear speakers share their stories at the speaker series and heartwarming to see the warm welcome from everyone around.

At our welcoming booth, community members signed a canvas with words of welcome and appreciation for all of our neighbors and thought of ways that they would welcome someone new into their neighborhood. Kids drew pictures and wrote how they would welcome someone new at their school and how they would want someone to make friends with them. We had heartfelt messages on the canvas and wonderful conversations with folks who shared their stories with us.

While I was at the welcoming booth for the majority of the event, I was able to go to the speaker series and hear Feroz speak about his experience as a refugee and the situation in Afghanistan. In his speech, I was struck by two prominent experiences as a refugee, first as a child and then as a father.

He opened my eyes to the feelings and awareness that had been so different in each. Feroz brought a gritty sense of humanity to a subject that is often stripped of the real experiences that refugees have. His experiences detailed a life that we often do not associate with refugees but one that I think we should: before coming to the U.S., he and his wife led successful careers and were happy in Afghanistan.

Hearing stories from refugees like Feroz brings a light to the issue and reveals the human experiences behind it. Sharing these experiences is necessary to build understanding that will help foster more welcoming and inclusive communities.

World Refugee Day provided a space for the Omaha community to come together and celebrate refugees’ unique contributions to our shared history and culture and a space to forge a brighter, more welcoming and inclusive Nebraska. I look forward to next year’s World Refugee Day and to continue hearing more stories of those who truly make Nebraska home.

Posted on

Immigrant Heritage Month 2018 – Prague Spring 50: A Reminder of Nebraska’s Tradition of Welcoming Immigrants

June is Immigrant Heritage Month. Throughout the month, we’ll be celebrating both our diversity and our shared American heritage by telling the stories of individuals that, together, comprise a uniquely American narrative.

Lee Kreimer

This spring, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln had the honor of hosting a convening of authors, playwrights, engineers, and academics from Czech Republic who live and breathe the impact of the Prague Spring in 1968 and the effects it had on the decades following.

With one of the largest populations of Czech Americans in the United States and a strong tradition of celebrating Czech culture — from kolaches for sale at farmers markets, summer Czech festivals across the state, polka music playing in restaurants and meeting halls, and the strong Czech language and culture program at UNL — Nebraska is a logical home for this unique event. As a descendent of Czech immigrants myself, I’m not surprised. My family’s story and our state history shows a long tradition of welcoming refugees and immigrants that has existed for generations. In 2016, Nebraska continued that tradition by welcoming the largest number of refugees per capita in the U.S.

The Prague Spring 50 event posed a rich opportunity for presenters, the University, and the larger community to discuss the impact of the uprising of Prague Spring and its longstanding after effects – the invasion of Czechoslovakia, and 20 years later, the social movement led by Vaclav Havel that led to freedom from totalitarianism. For his work and leadership, Havel remains a human rights hero around the world.

Attending this event was an important reminder for me about the importance of history. Not only is it important for us to learn from our past, but it’s equally important for us to recognize where we came from.

Czech Republic has a long history of human rights achievements. I am proud and intrigued to be a descendent of a country that has demonstrated strength in so many ways. At the same time, I’m equally proud to be the daughter of my parents and the granddaughter of my grandparents, farmers in Central Nebraska and Czech Americans.

It’s incredible to live in a place with such a rich variety of cultures, stories, languages, and experiences. Cultural events such as the Prague Spring 50 that celebrate the diverse history and background of Nebraska are one of the many reasons why I’m happy to call Nebraska home.

Posted on

Immigrant Heritage Month 2018 – Raul Arcos

June is Immigrant Heritage Month. Throughout the month, we’ll be celebrating both our diversity and our shared American heritage by telling the stories of individuals that, together, comprise a uniquely American narrative.

Raul Arcos

Raul Arcos, whose family is originally from Mexico, is now a young leader in the Columbus Chamber of Commerce.

I originally came to the United States because of my mom. She wanted my brother and I to have greater opportunities and better education than we could have in Mexico. So, we moved to Idaho when I was eight years old.

We first moved to Idaho because my extended family lived there. While there were many seasonal job opportunities for work, it was very difficult to find a full-time position. Eventually, one of my cousins moved to Schuyler, Nebraska. They liked it a lot and then convinced the rest of my family to move there. After two years in Idaho, we moved to Schuyler when I was 10.

Two years later, my mom, my brother, and I moved to Madison, Nebraska. Perhaps because of my small school, I felt like a part of the community. There were at least 10 other Latino families living there, and my teachers were very welcoming. They made me feel like I belonged there. I felt like Nebraska was home.

That sentiment has continued. A couple of years ago, I moved to Columbus for work. With better jobs and higher wages, I had better opportunity there.

At this point, I’ve lived in the United States for 25 years. I have grown to be deeply invested in my community here. The work that we do at my job with the local Chamber of Commerce has been amazing. And, the moments of success in this work are what I cherish the most.

I love seeing GED participants get their GED because of the effort, dedication, and sacrifice they make. I also enjoy helping Business Development participants open their business and assisting them with technical issues. I get to see the growth in the process with all of the work that we’re doing in Columbus. I can’t imagine living anywhere else. Nebraska is home!

Posted on

Immigrant Heritage Month 2018 – Mohamed Warsame

June is Immigrant Heritage Month. Throughout the month, we’ll be celebrating both our diversity and our shared American heritage by telling the stories of individuals that, together, comprise a uniquely American narrative.

Mohamed Warsame

After moving to Nebraska from Somalia, Mohamed joined many other immigrants who found work in a meatpacking plant near South Sioux City.

Seven years later, Mohamed is one of the go-to employees for any job at the plant, but has made an even greater impact by helping newcomers adjust to important details of life in the U.S. through his business, Sugal Consulting.

“A lot of people here, especially those from Muslim countries, they would like to buy a house or a business, but they don’t have a credit score,” he says. “So they come to me: ‘Mohamed, is there a way you can help?’”

Read more about Mohamed’s impact on his community at New American Economy.

Posted on

Immigrant Heritage Month 2018 – Saaehmoo Marvel

June is Immigrant Heritage Month. Throughout the month, we’ll be celebrating both our diversity and our shared American heritage by telling the stories of individuals that, together, comprise a uniquely American narrative.

Saaehmoo Marvel

Originally from Thailand, Saaehmoo is now a U.S. citizen and an integral part of the Lincoln community.

My name is Saaehmoo Marvel. My family is originally from Burma, but I was born and raised in Thailand. I have had a passion for working to help my community for a long time. Before I came to the U.S I was working with the humanitarian organizations along Thai-Burmese border to help refugees by providing interpretation and translation. At that time, I really wanted to go back to live in Thailand. But, my heart told me that I should go to the U.S because I dreamed of a better future. Back in Thailand, it was so hard to live. I worked but I could not afford to go to school or buy a car, a home, good food or good clothing.

I resettled in the U.S as a Karen refugee with my husband in 2007. I was crying a lot in the first year living in the United States due to language barriers, new cultures and work discrimination. After a couple months, due to financial difficulty, I sought work and I got a job as a prep cook in one of the casinos in New York. After a few years, my husband and I moved to Nebraska for better work opportunity and cost of living. We’ve been here ever since.

As I look back on these struggles, they slowly fade away. After that difficult time, I wanted to go back to school so I could gain more experiences and not live behind others. I came to the U.S for freedom and I really found freedom. Because of the education system, I have been able to earn the degrees for my career. I earned a bachelor’s degree in Organizational Communications and then a master’s degree in Management.

We have settled down here in Lincoln. People in Nebraska are very friendly, and those who I’ve connected with are very nice to me and my community. And our Karen community is very close here. As a community, we help if someone is sick or in need. We support each other. The people in my community are very reliable and we are pretty close. Whenever we need help, we go to each other.

My husband and I bought a house a few years ago. And I really like my job in-home healthcare. I get to help my community directly by hiring caregivers from our community to care for those that need it. I am fortunate to be able to work directly with them.

I am blessed and I am thankful for the opportunities in the U.S. Being a person without a country is very hard because I never had a place to belong. In 2015, I became a U.S. citizen. I am thankful to be an American.

Posted on

Immigrant Heritage Month 2018 – Seth Mock

June is Immigrant Heritage Month. Throughout the month, we’ll be celebrating both our diversity and our shared American heritage by telling the stories of individuals that, together, comprise a uniquely American narrative.

Seth Mock

My father moved to Des Moines, Iowa, from Africa. Shortly thereafter, the rest of our family followed. We didn’t adapt well to Des Moines. My father learned that the majority of our South Sudanese Community was happy in Nebraska so he moved us to Omaha. I’ve been in Nebraska ever since. The people in Nebraska have been good to me.  

Seth, an immigrant Nebraskan from South Sudan, founded Lincoln’s Midwestern African Museum of Art.

I learned from my father at an early age that I wanted to be a producer of change. My father founded the two largest refugee churches and organizations that helped thousands of refugees inside the refugee camps in Africa. In Omaha, my father also helped found Omaha’s Refugee Empowerment Center, which works directly with the refugees and South Sudanese community. The group he works with has developed many community leaders, and I really valued that.

I wanted to give back to the community in a meaningful way. I worked as a diversity consultant for Omaha Public Schools. Nebraska is home to many refugees from South Sudan, Congo, and many other countries. I enjoyed working with families of diverse backgrounds and helping the district become more inclusive.

Despite the great outcomes of this work, I wanted to do more. The community was lacking a place where Africans could feel at home. Where our youth and women were positively empowered. They were missing a place where some of their deeper needs as a community could be met and our African Heritage could be preserved and exhibited to the public.

I wanted to use art as a vehicle to help youth bring positive change while providing a platform for Nebraskans to experience and celebrate African culture.  Unfortunately, it was difficult to do this in Omaha at the time. We couldn’t find the right space at the right price. We looked into the possibilities of starting in Lincoln.

The African community in Lincoln was interested in having more cultural activities. In many ways, because of our persecution as a people, we could also connect with the Yazidi community in Lincoln. We felt that Lincoln was strategic because it’s the capital of Nebraska. Today, the Midwestern African Museum of Art is in downtown Lincoln, next to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and the Nebraska History Museum.

As a family, my wife Pamela and I have had to make many sacrifices to start the MAMA Culture and Resource Center in Lincoln, including moving our family to Lincoln and finding a new home. Despite these challenges, MAMA is now a non-profit organization that serves a very large, diverse community through various enriching and family-focused programs, and in the process helps Nebraska became a more attractive international destination.  

This is the only African art museum in the Midwest and the only one founded by an African immigrant in United States.

With many challenging things happening around the world, MAMA seeks to help bring positive change in our community. When you have a shared understanding, you have something to connect with.