Happy Spring from IIA! This past month, we’ve welcomed 48 refugees from Afghanistan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Burma, and Honduras to our community. March has also been a month of celebration, including International Women’s Day and Persian New Year/Nowruz. Learn more about what IIA has been up to this past month, how to get involved, and upcoming events in the community in our newsletter below.
What is the Persian New Year (Nowruz)?
On March 19th, people globally celebrated Nowruz, a Persian holiday that marks the beginning of Spring in the Northern Hemisphere. Nowruz comes from the ancient language of Avestan, which can be translated into “New Day.” This holiday represents rebirth, new beginnings, and a new life. The Persian New Year typically lasts around two weeks or 13 days.
Nowruz is celebrated by 300 million people globally, but it is observed mainly in Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, India, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Pakistan, Turkey, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. The holiday has been observed for 3,000 years in many diverse regions, including the Balkans, the Black Sea Basin, the Caucasus, Central Asia, the Middle East, and many other parts of the world. The Persian New Year has Zoroastrianism roots, which is a religion that predates Christianity and Islam. Those celebrating Nowruz promote peace, solidarity, and other essential values among friends, families, and other members of the community.
To learn more about this important holiday, head to IIA’s blog at iiakron.org/blog.
Upcoming Events in Akron
2024 Downtown Akron Sakura Festival – On Saturday, April 6th, from 3pm-9pm, Downtown Akron Partnership will be hosting their annual Sakura Festival along the towpath downtown. The community will celebrate over 450 cherry blossom trees as they bloom along the towpath trail, and there will be live performances, food, vendors, crafts, and more. The event is free to everyone, and you can learn more at downtownakron.org.
2024 Solar Eclipse Events—On Monday, April 8th, a plethora of Akron businesses and organizations will host events in honor of the once-in-a-lifetime total solar eclipse coming to Akron. Below, you will find a list of just a few of the festivities.
- Downtown Akron Eclipse with Us
- Total Solar Eclipse Viewing Party – Downtown Akron Library
Recommendation Corner
Everyone Who Is Gone Is Here by Johnathan Blitzer
Everyone Who Is Gone Is Here highlights the history of migrants and focuses on the troubling issue of the Southern border. Blitzer discusses countless policies and governmental corruption that have led to the current situation and how these policies are currently contributing to this humanitarian problem. Blitzer also details the stories of Latin Americans who have faced many aspects of violence and political conflict, leading them to flee their home country. Their stories of constant migration are told, as well as the uprooting of their lives, which have been ingrained in severe forms of trauma. Blitzer tackles misguided political actions that have been carried out regarding this crisis and offers a discussion on the complexity of this national emergency. Additionally, Blitzer speaks on themes of adversity, struggle, safety, resilience, and prosperity.
If you are interested in reading Everyone Who Is Gone Is Here, you can check the book out at your local library or order a copy through your local bookstore!
Get Involved
Hiring: IIA is currently for multiple positions, including an Administrative Assistant and ESL Instructor. If you are interested in applying or learning more, please visit https://www.iiakron.org/join-our-team.
Donations: One major goal IIA has for 2024 is collecting enough blanket donations to give a warm blanket to every new refugee we resettle. Our goal is to raise 500 blankets throughout the year, and we are well on our way to meeting this goal with dozens of blankets already donated. If you’d like to donate new or lightly used blankets, please contact Murtaza.hajizada@iiakron.org.
Thanks for staying up to date on everything IIA, and we look forward to sharing more information soon!