As September unfolds, we find ourselves reflecting on an amazing month of unity and generosity here at the International Institute of Akron. During this time, IIA has welcomed 75 individuals from Afghanistan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, Syria, and Burma to our community. Below, we’ll share stories of resilience, updates on our community initiatives, and opportunities for you to get involved in creating positive change.
September at the Institute
This month, IIA has had the privilege of celebrating Welcoming Week between September 8-17. Through Welcoming Week, organizations and communities bring together neighbors of all backgrounds to build connections and affirm the importance of welcoming and inclusive places to achieve a collective prosperity.
IIA shared advocacy resources, immigrant-owned restaurants, and messages of welcome from our team through our social media platforms.
We also partnered with the Riverfront YMCA for Welcoming Week for an exciting afternoon with our Afghan community in the YMCA’s gymnastics center. It was a heartwarming sight to see the kids and families coming together for a day of fun!
Thank You for Your Generous Support of IIA’s Asylum Fund!
We are overwhelmed with gratitude as we express our appreciation for your unwavering support of IIA’s Asylum Fund. With immense joy, we’re excited to announce that together, we have raised a total of $18,132, far surpassing our original goal of $10,000.
Your generous donations are the lifeline that sustains our mission to provide refuge, protection, and a new beginning for those fleeing persecution and seeking asylum in our community. Each dollar contributed not only fuels our efforts but also sends a powerful message of solidarity and humanity to those in desperate need.
Thank you for being the driving force behind the positive changes we create together in Akron and Summit County.
Upcoming Akron Events
Akron-Summit County Public Library to Host Yiddish Book Center “Stories of Exile” Discussion:
In October and November, Akron-Summit County Public Library will be hosting the Yiddish Book Center’s, “Stories of Exile” reading group series. The Yiddish Book Center's "Stories of Exile" Reading Groups for Public Libraries is a reading and discussion program to engage teens and adults in thinking about experiences of displacement, migration, and diaspora. In this program, librarians organize reading groups to discuss three books of Yiddish literature in translation and one book related to the experience of a community served by their library.
To learn more about the programs offered throughout the series, or to register, please visit: https://www.akronlibrary.org/press-room/akron-summit-county-public-library-to-host-yiddish-book-center-stories-of-exile-discussions-at-several-locations
Lakota Nation VS. United States Showing at Akron’s Nightlight Theater:
Just in time for Indigenous Peoples’ Day, The Nightlight theater is offering two showings of the documentary Lakota Nation VS. United States (2022) on Sunday, October 1 (2:30pm,) and Monday, October 2 (8:00pm).
The film provides an inside look at the Lakota fight to protect their sacred land. It is a provocative, visually stunning testament to a land and a people who have survived removal, exploitation and genocide.
Get your tickets to Lakota Nation VS. United States at: https://prod5.agileticketing.net/websales/pages/info.aspx?evtinfo=328006~6a36e7ec-5c5e-413d-824d-70502334ff01
Immigrant Spotlight: Lucie’s Path to Citizenship
On May 26, 2023, Lucie Kazadi officially became a citizen of the United States after living in Kent, Ohio, for nine years as an immigrant from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Her journey symbolizes the challenges immigrants face, from steep fees to a language and civics test, resonating with countless others who share the immigrant experience.
Lucie’s transformative Journey in Kent, involved overcoming language barriers and forging meaningful connections, leading to her introduction to the International Institute of Akron’s citizenship classes. With unwavering determination and the support of her community, Lucie conquered her doubts and passed her citizenship exam on that momentous day. Her story is a testament to immigrant resilience and determination, and you can read more about it at https://www.iiakron.org/blog/2023/9/15/citizenship-day-lucies-path-to-citizenship.
Recommendation Corner
In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, celebrated from September 15th to October 15th each year, we would like to share some valuable resources that highlight Hispanic, Latin-American, and Indigenous peoples of the Americas history in the United States.
Opened in June 2022, the National Museum of the American Latino is one of the newest Smithsonian museums. Located in Washington, D.C., this museum showcases a multitude of unique American Latino experiences and the collective contributions of the Latin American community in the United States.
Within the museum’s Molina Family Latino Gallery, there is currently a showcase of a documentary entitled “Somos” directed by Alberto Ferreras. This documentary highlights the diversity and complexities of Latin American identity.
Click the image below to learn more about the museum and to view the documentary’s preview.
Additional Resources:
It is important to acknowledge the harm that stereotypes and generalizations can create for communities facing barriers. The Latin American population in the United States is a community that experiences significant impact from these stereotypes. ThoughtCo. Provides a helpful article that addresses these common generalizations and their negative effects on the Latin American and Indigenous peoples of the Americas community, specifically within the United States.
Click Here to read the article.
Written by Alyssa Gonzales at Salud-America.org, “The Unsung Impact of Latinos on the U.S. Economy” is another great article to read to understand further the quantitative contributions of Latinos in the United States and how these contributions are underemphasized. Gonzales also includes ways that the reader can help local Latino communities.
Click Here to read the article.
How to Get Involved
We are currently seeking for donations to support our efforts in assisting refugees and immigrants in integrating into their new communities.
If you can donate anything on the list of needs below, please contact, donated.goods@iiakron.org.
Current Needs:
- Pots and pans
- Towels and washcloths
- Twin and full sheet sets
- Pillows
- Blankets and comforters
- Dish soap
- Bathroom and kitchen cleaner
- Sponges, cleaning rags and paper towels
- Laundry detergent
- Trash cans
- Trash bags
- Brooms
- Toilet paper
- Soap
- Toothbrush
- Toothpaste
- Combs and Hairbrushes
Thanks for staying up to date on everything IIA, and we look forward to sharing more information soon!