Christa Yoakum - Nebraska Is Home

June 9, 2016

Immigrant Heritage Month – VJ and Mary

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.

“I kind of like the mystery of my heritage because then there are no ties to the past and I get to think about just moving into the future.”

VJ:

I work at an ice cream store.

Mary:

I work at a coffee shop.

VJ:

We work below the poverty line but we can pay for utilities, pay to get around, and still have time for our art. We found a nice balance of doing what we love and working. We aren’t worried about the struggle and competing like in some other cities. We live in a community here where people want you to share your work, and it makes a big difference, especially in happiness.

Mary:

VJ and I met in 2008. I ended up in Nebraska because of my dad’s job and because my brother played football at the university. My family lived all over the Midwest and West. We lived in Utah for a while, and Colorado. My dad is from Alabama and mom is from Hawaii. I don’t know much other than that. She is Samoan, born in Honolulu, then lived in Samoa and Fiji. My parents met in California, my mom was on a mission trip and my dad was just working out there. I moved here in 2005 in the middle of high school. I don’t speak Samoan or Fijian or Tongan or anything. She does, and I wish she had passed that down a little bit more. Food is a big thing that I learned from her, some traditional Hawaiian meals. After my parents met in California they traveled around a while and then landed in Utah. They’re still together. They currently live in North Dakota. I don’t really know if I have a hometown considering all the moving that I’ve done.

VJ:

I really don’t know where my parents are from. I was adopted so there is not much history about my family. My mother was a drug addict in New York City in the ‘80s. I was adopted at the age of five, lived upstate in New York until I was a freshman in High School, then I was shipped to a boarding school. I really don’t know what my heritage is. Some people say I look like I am from Brazil. Some people say I’m Middle Eastern. I kind of like the mystery of my heritage because then there are no ties to the past and I get to think about just moving into the future. I believe it is all about cutting the negative cords. Being a person of color is a great experience because it forces you to look at yourself outside of what is considered to be the norm.

Mary:

Exactly, because you are already marginalized. So it makes you think “Ok, who am I as an individual?”

America is a great place because there are so many cultures that have converged. People out here in Nebraska are connected to the Earth; this is a historically agricultural community. People have a love for the planet. There is a heritage of farmers out here, a ton of people love to garden and share food. There is an abundance, and when people have that, you are in a good spot.

Mary:

I think in Lincoln there is a great and loving community that is connected to the Earth, who put their creative lives first. The people are progressive about spiritual healing as well. That kind of separates race from the connection you have with other people. You want to know people because of the energy someone is giving off to you above all other descriptors of who they are or their physical appearance.

June 2, 2016June 2, 2016

Immigrant Heritage Month – Tim and Heather

“Today, I look at the people trying to come to America. They are no different from my ancestors who came. My heart goes out to immigrants. Particularly those who don’t have much and who had to give up their cultures, their traditions, their history to come some place new to try to start a new life and create a better opportunity for their children. That is what the immigrant experience is all about. We are all immigrants.”

Heather’s story

I don’t know when exactly my ancestors came to America. My grandparents were from here. I know that I’m mostly Swedish and Dutch. I have lost a lot of my history because my mother and grandparents are all passed. My husband and I went to the Netherlands and it was awesome to see all those tall people!

My grandfather is adopted so we don’t really know his background. I have his olive coloring, the only one in my family. It’s kind of interesting to know that I have that piece of him. He died many years before I was born. My mom was a young girl when he died. I spent much of my childhood in Oakland, Nebraska which has a large Swedish community. It was completely coincidence because my mom and dad divorced and she just moved there. Everybody in the area had a role in the big Swedish festival every year. Lots of Swedish foods and parades.

Tim’s story:

My family’s heritage goes back to 1868 on both my mother and father’s side of the family. They actually immigrated together from Schaumburg, Illinois. They ended up there because they came from Schaumburg, Germany. It was part of the state of Hessia where you had the Hessian mercenaries. So I am probably a backdoor member of the Daughters of the American Revolution, only my people were foreign mercenaries who were fighting for the British against the colonists. I have actually gone back to Germany to see where my people came from and found a relative. My people didn’t have a last name until the 1600s. They had been in this area since the Anglo-Saxon migration to the British Isles, which was prompted by Attila the Hun moving into Europe. My people have always been serfs, peasants, and that’s why they didn’t have a last name until the Seventeenth Century.

My mother’s side came in 1847 and that was in part to avoid the unrest that was building with The Revolution in 1848. One thing peasants are good at is keeping their heads down so they don’t get shot. They have a very good survival gene. We actually have a letter that was written by the pioneer patriarch from my mother’s side that he wrote to his half sister after coming to America, and he explained the reasons. It was the mandatory military conscription, it was the fact that you had to pay high taxes for the wealthy to help fund their lavish lifestyle, and it was the fact that there was no possibility of social advancement. So they wanted to go someplace where they could achieve something on their own merits. On my father’s side, they immigrated in 1867 just before another war in Germany in 1868 that led to the reunification of Germany. To avoid the Franco-Prussian war of 1870, my ancestors on my father’s side immigrated when they were in their fifties. They brought the entire clan over so they could get their eldest son away so that he would not be conscripted into the military to fight in that war. They were draft dodgers.

Today, I look at the people trying to come to America — they are no different from my ancestors who came on over the Atlantic Ocean on a boat. Had there been an Ellis Island at that point they would have gone through there. My heart goes out to immigrants. Particularly those who don’t have much and who had to give up their cultures, their traditions, their history to come some place new to try to start a new life and create a better opportunity for their children. That is what the immigrant experience is all about. We are all immigrants.

I am a lifelong Nebraskan. I will never leave. It is completely different from where my ancestors came but it doesn’t matter. This is the place where they are going to carry me out with my boots on.

May 5, 2016May 5, 2016

First Lincoln Unites! festival celebrates strength of diversity

Lincoln did indeed unite this past weekend in a new festival celebrating the city’s vibrant mix of cultures with activities for all ages. If you missed the day’s African drumming, henna tattoos, delicious food, and moving citizenship ceremony, read on for a vicarious experience and mark your calendar to watch for the 2nd annual event next spring!

The day began with 29 new Americans taking their oath of citizenship. Mayor Chris Beutler read a city proclamation affirming Lincoln’s commitment to continue fostering a welcoming environment for all residents – including immigrants – in order to create a stronger community for all. Judge John Gerrard asked the new citizens to keep their heritage, teach their children multiple languages, cherish their customs, and add to the richness of the United States.

These new citizens came from 14 different countries including Burma, India, Mexico, Guatemala, and Canada.

Following the ceremony, Lincoln community members celebrated together with live music, dance and interactive activities. Performances included Afro-Caribbean music, Folklorica dancers, Karen dancers, African drummers, Peruvian music and more local talent. When the Kurdish band played, dancers of all ages filled the dance floor.

Booths ranged from fun to informative. Families, children, and neighbors of all backgrounds could interact with a variety of cultural traditions as they learned African drumming or stopped by the photo booth, food carts, and other activities. The UNL Define American Chapter asked people to define what it means to be American, and Nebraska Is Home talked with people about what they could do to welcome new friends.

Lincoln Unites! media coverage:

LJS editorial: A welcome celebration

10/11: Naturalization ceremony welcomes 29 new American citizens

Naturalized citizens love their new country

Mayor’s Proclamation:

Whereas, Lincoln has long been recognized as a hospitable and welcoming place where people, families and institutions thrive and the contributions of all are celebrated and valued; and

Whereas, Lincoln is a refugee resettlement community and has been recognized nationally for its welcoming efforts;

Whereas, Lincoln is committed to continue building a welcoming and neighborly atmosphere in our community, where all are welcome, accepted and integrated; and

Whereas, fostering a welcoming environment for all individuals, regardless of race, religion, ethnicity or place of origin, enhances Lincoln’s cultural fabric, economic growth, global competitiveness and overall prosperity for current and future generations; and

Whereas, Lincoln is committed to creating an environment that is receptive to immigrants and that strategically positions our Star City as a globally competitive 21st century leader

It is hereby decreed on this 30th day of April, 2016, that Lincoln, Nebraska is a Welcoming City that embraces a rich diverse culture with acceptance and inclusion.

March 14, 2016March 14, 2016

Omaha’s International Women’s Day event is vibrant and growing

March 8th, International Women’s Day, has long been celebrated by the global community as a day to honor women for their social, economic, cultural and political achievements. On this day, women, communities, and countries the world over enjoy the day with events that range from festivals to tea parties.

Three years ago, a group of refugee women in Omaha came to the realization that the day was, for the most part, ignored in the United States and decided to form a committee for a city-wide celebration of International Women’s Day. That first year, the women asked a few community members to help them plan an event for Omaha that was held at Girls, Inc. with about 50 women who shared food from all over the world and an afternoon of eating, dancing, and socializing.

In the third annual event this past Saturday, that simple vision has grown to more than 150 guests and 28 agency booths! Held at the University of Nebraska Omaha’s Barbara Weitz Community Engagement Center, Barbara Weitz welcomed the crowd and recognized several women for their local contributions and leadership, including: Alana Schriver, Norma Rahmanzai Isaczai, Carol Tucker, Sayler Moo, Dr. Mackenzie Taylor and Sien Nya Tin.

As welcoming communities across the country are recognizing, something special happens when we all get involved in creating a welcoming community environment. At Saturday’s event, you could feel the energy in the room as a diverse crowd of new and longtime Nebraskans shared music, food, and lively conversation. As one Omaha dad said, his daughters had the opportunity to travel the world that afternoon and to be inspired by women leaders.

Mark your calendar for next year’s International Women’s Day, which is just one great opportunity during the year to meet neighbors from around the world!

October 5, 2015October 5, 2015

Nebraskans celebrate Welcoming Week 2015

Welcoming Week 2015 was the biggest ever, marking a significant moment for the Welcoming movement from September 12-20. People across the United States joined in by participating in Welcoming Week, a national movement that aims to celebrate and honor the contributions that immigrants make to our local communities every day.

This fourth annual event that included more than 245 events and more than 22,000 people participating in 31 states (including Nebraska) shows a growing desire for our country to become more inclusive and welcoming for all New Americans.

The nation-wide movement, led by Welcoming America, included more than 250 partner organizations including MoveOn – a nonprofit organization focused on education and advocacy as well as providing civic engagement tools to the public, and building the progressive movement by encouraging and supporting the development of more grassroots leaders.

Nebraska continues to be a national leader in welcoming. On September 17, the White House Task Force announced the launch of the Building Welcoming Communities Campaign to support initiatives that build bridges among immigrant and receiving communities. Three Nebraska cities – Crete, Lincoln, and Schuyler – were among the first 40 U.S. communities to sign on to the campaign.

National Welcoming Week was highlighted by several events locally. Award-winning journalist Jose Antonio Vargas set the tone as the first guest speaker in the 2015 EN Thompson Forum at the Lied Center on September 15. He shared his story growing up as an undocumented immigrant from the Philippines and of the people who supported his success here in America. As a co-founder of Define American, he continues to promote dialogue about the different backgrounds and experiences that make up the diversity of Americans.

The celebration continued with community members taking a walking tour of businesses owned by New Americans in one Lincoln neighborhood. A variety of businesses featured included a Vietnamese restaurant, an Oriental market, South Sudanese grocery store, and a Mexican bakery. Each business owner had an opportunity to tell their story about why they started their business, how they funded it, and who their customers are. Community members were treated to Vietnamese sandwiches and Mexican pastries and flan. They ate coconut cookies at the Oriental Market and bought coffee and candies at Lincoln Grocery Mart, the South Sudanese store.

The tour also included a stop at the Good Neighbor Community Center – a nonprofit organization that supports refugees and immigrants providing food, clothing, ESL classes and opportunities for social interactions.

Community members from across Nebraska also stood up and proclaimed themselves as welcomers on social media by joining the “I am a Welcomer” campaign.

Nebraska has long recognized the power and strength of diversity and inclusion. National Welcoming Week was another reminder of how our communities, our neighborhoods, and our businesses all thrive when we make efforts to welcome new neighbors and walk forward together.

August 17, 2015

Cookies with a purpose

I must admit, I’ve always been a sucker for baked goods. Still, there’s something special about the banana bread filled with chocolate chips baked by Delores de la Torre. After sitting in her kitchen for an hour and hearing her story, I know why it tastes so good.

DSCF3706 — Delores de la Torre is the owner of “Around the World Cookies.”

Delores, a mother of four, a full-time employee at a local restaurant, a small business owner of “Cookies Around the World,” and a strong, volunteer-oriented member of the Lincoln community, adds a special touch to the baked goods she sells at multiple different Lincoln farmers markets, churches, and catering functions throughout the area.

An immigrant herself from Mexico, Delores wanted to make baked goods that reminded immigrants of home. She remarked, “This country is full of immigrants. A taste of home can make people so happy.” She bakes and sells numerous cookie varieties with roots from all over the world including Mexico, Russia, and seemingly every country in between. Of course, her cookies provide a taste of the world for Lincoln residents.

Yet, there’s more. Delores dreams of hiring victims of domestic violence to both expand her business and, more importantly, empower them to help themselves. She likes to call them “cookies with purpose.”

Dolores and Frieda — Delores de la Torre (right) pictured with her daughter Frieda.

Despite her busy schedule, Delores remains devoted to her children. Along with her many hours in the kitchen has come more time to spend at home with her family, who take part in the baking as well. Frieda, her youngest daughter, helps with tasks such as frosting cookies. Her other kids help, too.

In addition to their contributions in the kitchen, Delores’s children have high aspirations. One of her older sons currently attends the University of Nebraska – Lincoln. Frieda, her youngest daughter, dreams of studying oncology after high school.

Delores is happy to call Lincoln home. She enjoys the weather (including snow!) and the community, and considers it a great place to raise a family. With everything that she has taken from being a part of the Lincoln community, Delores gives back.

“Why is it important to volunteer? It’s giving back what America gave to me,” Delores said.

Initially following her son’s actions, Delores was proud of his involvement in the community and wanted to give back herself. Today, she volunteers with her kids. Upon parting, Delores left us with some words for the wise: “The only difference between ordinary people and extraordinary people is the extra – just put in a little extra time.”

Certainly, Delores lives by the tenet every day. If you ever get the opportunity to taste one of her cookies, eat it. Better yet, enjoy every bite and celebrate the wonderful contributions made to our community by immigrants who make Lincoln a more vibrant, better place to live.

July 27, 2015April 14, 2022

World Refugee Day opens eyes to refugee stories

Meeting neighbors, finding shared values, and learning about the richness of the combined cultures of all of the people who are proud to call Nebraska home is exciting and can help us to overcome what often divides us.

Here, Olivia Rask, an Appleseed intern, shares her experience at the recent World Refugee Day Celebration in Omaha. There are many opportunities across the state this summer to meet neighbors, learn new stories and experience the richness of our combined cultures. We’ve provided a list of some activities for you to check out.

320-WRD There is something incredibly daunting about the term “refugee.” Before attending World Refugee Day, I had had the basic definition down: someone fleeing their country because of danger to their life. For me, and many others I would suppose, the word simply reared images of death and destruction, burning buildings, and disease. However, everything else about refugees, where in specific they are from, where they are placed, and their lifestyles remained something I had no idea that I didn’t know.

I had no awareness at all of the refugees being placed into my very own community. So in many ways, World Refugee Day was a wake-up call. Although hopefully the event was just the start of more experiences with the refugee population of Nebraska.

I learned a remarkable amount of things during the day but what had taken me most by surprise was that less than one percent of the entire refugee population of the world is resettled into another country, meaning the vast majority of individuals live out long years in refugee camps. This statistic definitely shook my previous conceptualization of the lives of refugees in the world.

Though perhaps marginal in their situation, the resettlement of refugees who have been accepted to live in the U.S. and in cities like Lincoln and Omaha is a vital task. And again, something that I had not known was going on around me. After visiting the booths of Catholic Social Services and Lutheran Family Services (two of the local organizations offering resettlement services) at World Refugee Day, I started researching more into their initiatives in assisting both immigrants and refugees on a more personal, community scale. And I am now very interested in volunteering with their programs.

Another exceptionally valuable thing that I had observed from World Refugee Day was that although refugees have gone through devastating circumstances, the people themselves seemed optimistic. They were filled with hopes and prospects for the future. Which I believe shows a lot about the vitality of our state.

Here’s a list of some opportunities across the state this summer to meet neighbors, learn new stories and experience the richness of our combined cultures.

Heritage Campfire Program- Homestead National Monument of America – July 25 – Details
Wilber Czech Festival- Wilber- July 31-August 2 – Details
Heritage Campfire Program- Homestead National Monument of America – August 1 – Details
New Americans Arts Festival – Omaha- August 7 – Details
2015 Ponca Tribe of Nebraska Annual Pow Wow- Niobrara – August 7-9 – Details
Festival Latino- Columbus, Ohio- August 8 & 9 – Details
Heritage Campfire Program- Homestead National Monument of America- August 15 – Details
John Beheler- Second Saturday Speaker Series- Omaha- August 15 – Details
Genoa U.S. Indian School Celebration- Genoa- August 15 – Details
Native American Presence on the Missouri- Kearney- August 18- November 1 – Details
Omaha Greek Festival- Omaha- August 21-23 – Details
Lincoln Greek Festival- Lincoln- August 28 & 29 – Details
Family Fiesta!- Omaha- September 20 – Details
45th Annual McCook Heritage Days!- McCook- September 26-27 – Details
Music and Dance Festival-Schuyler- September 27 – Details
Japanese Ambience Festival- Omaha- October 3-4 – Details
Illuminating Lincoln: Lighthouse Community Event- Lincoln Haymarket- October 8 – Details
9th Annual Hispanic Heritage Month State Commemoration – Nebraska State Capitol- October 9 – Details

July 8, 2015

New Americans share their stories at World Refugee Day 2015

I could list many things that I love about Nebraska. The beautiful countryside, the bike paths, and the friendly neighbors are just a few. After attending Omaha Benson High School’s World Refugee Day Celebration last week, it reaffirmed another thing that I love about my state: diversity.

New to Omaha — Appleseed Intern Olivia Rask (left) speaks with two recent refugees to Omaha at World Refugee Day.

Many may not be aware of the diverse refugee population that has been settled in Nebraska since the middle of the 20th century and long before. For decades, refugees have transitioned from their war-torn, conflicted, or otherwise dangerous homes to a life in Lincoln, Omaha, and the tri-cities area of central Nebraska. As a native Nebraskan, I love the opportunity to eat food from countries around the world, meet friendly people who have started a new life here, and learn about life from the perspectives of these new Nebraskans. At the celebration for International Refugee Day, I was able to witness a handful of the wonderful contributions that these people make to our state.

One of my favorite parts of the event was the welcome and naturalization ceremony. Groups of young people from Burma and different countries in Africa presented traditional dances from their countries. Audience members were also instructed on the basic ways in which refugee resettlement works in Nebraska. Of course, the naturalization ceremony of 30 new American citizens from all over the world was also a very powerful experience to share.

Throughout the day, a number of organizations in the Omaha area presented information to passersby in Benson High’s hallways. A group of Sudanese women had handicrafts for sale as a fundraiser for their organization. Various non-profits provided information for refugees regarding health care, housing, and other important services available to them in the community. Nebraska Appleseed’s table had a tree on which patrons would write something that is welcoming to new residents in Omaha. As an intern with Appleseed, I enjoyed meeting native Nebraskans and new Nebraskans alike as they shared their favorite things about Omaha.

I’m so glad I was able to attend this event. In addition to meeting new people who are interested in similar work within the community, I met friendly people who love their new country. It was such a pleasure spending the Saturday at International Refugee Day.

March 12, 2015

Free Omaha tours of The Quilted Conscience project this weekend

This weekend in Omaha, you have another chance to see a pair of powerful, colorful exhibits of memories-and-dreams quilts from Nebraska immigrant and refugee youth (The Quilted Conscience), as well as a rare opportunity to see Fabric of Survival, a stunning series of quilts telling the story of a Holocaust survivor from her village in Poland through Nazi occupation and ultimately moving to America. (This is the final weekend to see Fabric of Survival.)

In The Quilted Conscience project, what started as a documentary film to inform residents of the changing demographics in America has blossomed into a new and unique way to unite communities. Refugee youth in Grand Island were brought together with Nebraska quilters to create images depicting the girls’ memories growing up in their homelands and the dreams they hold of their future in America.

Many of the Nebraska quilters, who grew up in rural Nebraska, related to the immigrant girls’ memories of fetching water and helping on a family farm as children. They also remembered sharing many of the same dreams of becoming teachers or working in medicine. Through these quilts, the new and longtime Nebraskans from different cultures and generations realized that they, in fact, have a lot in common with one another.

Using quilting as a way to bring people together and unite communities is now taking place in other cities such as Hastings, Lincoln, and Omaha, with beautiful outcomes displayed in Omaha this month.

The Quilted Conscience project currently is on display at 3 Omaha locations:

Joslyn Art Museum – The Quilted Conscience (until April 25)
Kaneko Gallery – Fabric of Survival (until March 14) & The Quilted Conscience (until April 25)
Clark Library – The Quilted Conscience (until April 25)

Van tours on March 14th, March 28th and April 11th are available to take people to the three locations. RSVP to reserve your spot for a free van tour. (All van tours run from 1pm-4pm and begin and end at the Joslyn.)

A short clip of The Quilted Conscience, the film depicting the original Grand Island quilting project, will be shown at the Joslyn Art Museum at 1pm on Saturday (at the beginning of the van tour).

February 11, 2015February 11, 2015

Holocaust survivor’s story told in Omaha with ‘Fabric of Survival’ quilt project

This is a guest post from Rachel Peric, Deputy Director of Welcoming America and a board member of Art and Remembrance.

In 1977, at the age of 50, my grandmother, Esther Nisenthal Krinitz, decided she wanted her family to see what her childhood home in Poland looked like. A survivor of the Holocaust, my grandmother had lost almost everyone she loved in the world. Out of her family, only she and her sister had survived.

Beginning with an image of her home, and later, a dream from the war, my grandmother began to tell her story through the medium she knew best – sewing. Stitch by stitch, she brought to life the family that she had lost and the story of her survival. Before she passed away in 2001, my grandmother created a series of 36 embroidered fabric panels that narrate and depict life before the war and her harrowing experiences of living through the Holocaust.

The exhibit of her work, Fabric of Survival, is now on exhibit in Omaha at the Kaneko Gallery, thanks to the support of the Institute for Holocaust Education, in partnership with Art and Remembrance.

After surviving the war, my grandmother made her way to America with her new family. Not only a Holocaust story, my grandmother’s story is an immigrant story. And much like my grandmother, today in Omaha, a new generation of immigrant youth who have extraordinary experiences of their own are also finding their voice and stitching their own remarkable artwork through a project called The Quilted Conscience, on display at the Joslyn Art Museum, KANEKO, and the W. Dale Clark Main Omaha Public Library.

For many Jews like myself, the powerful act of remembrance is lived out when we are exposed to stories like my grandmother’s, or other survivors still living here in Omaha. But we can also find even greater healing and deeper meaning when we encounter the stories of newcomers to Omaha and discover universal connections to our own past.

The same strength, resilience, and creativity that my grandmother brought with her to America is evident in the stories of immigrant youth here today in Omaha. For this reason, perhaps the Jewish community can play a unique role today in helping to bring forward these newer stories of courage, and welcome the next generation of youth from around the world to Nebraska.

Fortunately, initiatives like Nebraska is Home, hosted by Nebraska Appleseed, and part of the national Welcoming America network, are here to help. In Omaha, and across the state, Nebraska is Home is fostering more inclusive communities – places where regardless of where you are born or what you look like, you are valued and welcomed.

Nebraska is Home and The Quilted Conscience will be helping to bring diverse community members to see Fabric of Survival, creating a new generation exposed to this powerful story, and also empowered to share their own. Together, they will create a new rich tapestry that weaves together the old with the new, the past with the present – and, it is my hope, a uniquely Jewish story of survival and immigration with the story of newcomers to Omaha today. I hope you will join us.