August 2013
KRM’s Vision: To compassionately welcome displaced people from around the world. Upcoming Eventsbeing by providing an atmosphere of hospitality, To encourage the hope that lives within each human responsiveness, mutual respect, trust and tolerance. To be known for our reliability, resourcefulness, partnerships and comprehensive services.
Urgent Needs -Pots and pans -Kitchen chairs
Upcoming Events
WorldFest August 31-September 2 The Belvedere Volunteer Orientation September 3, 5:30pm Kentucky Refugee Ministries Lunch & Learn September 11 Kentucky Refugee Ministries Global Gourmet September 20 Mellwood Art Center
September 20, 2013 Tickets on sale now! Mellwood Art Center Friday, September 20, 2013 6:30pm-11:30pm International Dinner, Silent Auction, Live Music by Muhamed Braco Skopljak and Danny Flanigan & Friends Tickets- $70 Tables of 8- $600 Tickets are available online at http://kyrm.org/global-gourmet-2013/
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KRM KITCHEN TABLE PROJECT By Marina Zalvidar, KRM Accounting Specialist Almost thirteen years ago, in 2000, when my son and I arrived to this country from Cuba, among the several precious items I received from Kentucky Refugee Ministries, most of which I still keep, there was a dining table. During all these years I have moved several times. I also own now another dining table. However, I feel very difficult to detach myself from the KRM table. To me this table it is not only a welcoming to this new life, it is also a statement of how much KRM cares about its clients and how much it is willing to give in order to help refugees to start a new life from scratch in this wonderful country full of opportunities. I have been aware during the last couple of months of the need for dining tables for KRM clients. And, since I was not willing to give up my treasured KRM table, I decided to build tables using the experience I gained on my first job in this country as a Auto CAD Technician creating construction drawings for cabinets and office furniture. This first job was only possible due to the perseverance of a former KRM Job Developer, Jeremy Morris. Thank you Jeremy and KRM! The KRM Kitchen Table project was approved. Daniel Ruiz and Jud Hendrix quickly joined in, then we built the prototype. The project was born. KRM is building dining tables for clients! These tables will suit households from 1 to 8 family members. Several volunteers are donating their time and skills to build the tables. Interested in building a table‌ 1) Build a Table at the KRM Warehouse- KRM has created a woodworking space for creating these tables at their donations warehouse, located at 817 S. Floyd St. Individuals, groups and organizations can come to the KRM warehouse and within 3 to 4 hours complete a table. 2) Build Your Own Table- We have two table plans and a materials list that we will send individuals or groups if they would like to build a table in their own space and at their own speed. 3) Create or Refurbish a Table - You are welcome to design and build your own table or refurbish an older one. Cost: We ask participating groups to help pay for the tables. Large table are $75 and small tables are $50. KRM is happy to work with groups to do fundraising
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CO-SPONSORSHIP We would like to thank our current co-sponsorship teams:
Beargrass Christian Church Deer Park Baptist Church Fourth Avenue United Methodist Church Highland Presbyterian Church Immanuel United Church of Christ St. Thomas Episcopal Church
Thank you for all you do for welcoming our newest arrivals! If you are interested in learning more about cosponsorship, please contact Lee Welsh at lwelsh@kyrm.org.
SCHOOL SUPPLY DRIVE
We’re gearing up for the start of the new school year this month. Last week alone, KRM helped 28 youth to register with JCPS! KRM refugee families are in need of backpacks, highlighters, index cards, 1” or 2” 3-ring binders and markers. To donate, please contact Adrienne at aeisenmenger@kyrm.org.
EQUIPPED TO LEARN KRM Children and Youth Services is excited to announce the “Equipped to Learn” Program. “Equipped to Learn,” which kicked off in June, will provide access to educational technology for over 120 refugee children, giving them hands-on opportunities for math, reading, and English language learning. The program is a proud recipient of a 2013 grant from Ronald McDonald House Charities. Through this grant funding, KRM was able to purchase 9 iPads for use by clients and volunteers at both the Lexington and Louisville offices. Refugee students can now utilize iPads outfitted with English language learning software, as well as literacy and math skill building applications. Students in both the 2013 KRM Summer Youth ESL Program and New Beginnings Tutoring/Mentoring Programs have begun to utilize this technology. Soon the KRM Lexington office will implement this program in their Face Time Program, an after school tutoring and mentoring program based in local partner schools. Through access to these new educational tools, students will receive greater educational support throughout the 201314 academic year and beyond. Many thanks to Ronald McDonald House Charities for their support!
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KRM SUMMER YOUTH ESL PROGRAM 2013: A SUMMER OF FUN AND LEARNING
The Summer Youth ESL Program at Kentucky Refugee Ministries was an incredible learning experience for newly arrived refugee students during the months of June and July. 40 students (K-8th grade) participated in this English intensive, five-day-a week program. For the majority of students, the program was their first exposure to school in the United States. This morning program empowered students’ parents to attend ESL classes at KRM, volunteer in the community, and engage in job readiness activities. Through a strong partnership with the JCPS English as a Second Language department, each day, students participated in Math and Science as well as Language Arts/ESL classes, taught by JCPS teachers. Through an ongoing partnership with Indiana University Southeast, three licensed teachers completing their ESL endorsement co-taught classes with the JCPS teachers. This additional educational support allowed for more one-on-one instruction with students. Participants also attended daily Art Therapy groups, led by an art therapist, which culminated into a community art show at the beginning of July. The theme of the summer program was habitats, and each week in June students participated in thematic, science driven curriculum focused on jungles, oceans, and the arctic. Students also participated in a variety of field trips related to the themes: the IMAX movie Born to be Wild, the Louisville Zoo, Falls of the Ohio State Park, and the Earth and Spirit Center. During the program, artist Angel Liwen from the Crane House and musician Gregory Acker helped students create shadow puppets with the students, which they made into a puppet theater performance. The program ended with a Final Celebration in which students received, backpacks, school supplies, and certificates As a result of the program, the majority of the students showed marked academic improvement and will be more prepared to begin school in the fall. Student art will be on display at the Iroquois Branch of the Louisville Free Public Library in September. Without the help of our amazing staff, sponsors, and numerous volunteers, this summer program would not have been possible. Special thanks to the JCPS ESL Department, Louisville Metro Department of Community Services and Revitalization, Cralle Foundation, Ronald McDonald House, Pathfinders Class at Southeast Christian Church, and many more!
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NEW BEGINNINGS TUTORING/MENTORING PROGRAM: Volunteering with New Beginnings is an excellent opportunity to help refugee children in the Louisville community. The goal of the program is to help refugee students adjust to their new lives in the United States while also encouraging and supporting them in their educational endeavors. We do this by matching volunteer tutor/mentors with newly arrived students who are in need of additional academic and social support. Many of our students face barriers, including little formal education and minimal English proficiency, when they begin school in the United States. Serving as a tutor/mentor can greatly impact the life of a child and make the transition much easier. Each tutor/mentor meets with his/her student(s) one hour per week and is invited to attend fun and educational field trips. VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT: This month, New Beginnings says goodbye to one of its wonderful volunteers, Alison Jenkins. Alison has volunteered as a tutor/mentor since January 2012, working closely with a Bhutanese family resettled from Nepal. She says she and her student, an energetic kindergartener, often do yoga together between academic tasks to burn off energy. Alison described her relationship with the family as one of give and take; as she tutors her student each week, she also has the opportunity to learn about Bhutanese culture and become part of the family. Alison encourages new volunteers to remember a few simple things: all children are different and will require different things from their tutor/mentors, but once you build a strong relationship, you can begin to make progress. Thank you, Alison, for your time with New Beginnings! If volunteering with New Beginnings sounds like a good fit for you, please contact Allison Smithkier (asmithkier@kyrm.org) to learn more!
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Fall 2013 Calendar of Events
Contact Us: Kentucky Refugee Ministries 969B Cherokee Road Louisville, KY 40204 (502-479-9180) www.kyrm.org KRM is an Episcopal Migration Ministries and Church World Service affiliate.
-August 1-31: Backpack and School Supplies Drive -August 6-15: KRM Family Center is on Break -no Family Center -August 8 (Thur): Eid Al-Fitr (End of Holy Month of Ramadan) -August 15 – 25: Kentucky State Fair -August 20 (Tue): JCPS School Year Begins -August 24 (Sat): Arabic Salon at Iroquois Library @ 1pm and 2pm -August 24 (Sat): Warehouse groups from U of L and Bellarmine @ 9 am-12pm and 3-5pm) -August 28 (Wed): My Recipe for Peace at St. Francis of Assisi @ 6:308:30pm. http://www.paths2peace.org/My_Recipe_for_Peace.html -August 30-Sept 2 World Fest 2013 on the Belvedere @11am-11 pm KRM will be there! http://www.louisvilleky.gov/globalization/worldfest/ -September: International Month at the Louisville Free Public Libraries http://www.lfpl.org/international/ -September 2 (Mon): Labor Day Holiday; KRM is closed -September 3 (Tue): New Volunteer Orientation, KRM 3rd floor conference room @ 5:30pm -September 7 (Sat): Larry Kammerer, USCIS Officer, speaks about Naturalization at Iroquois Library -September 8 (Sun): International Literacy Day -September 11 (Wed): Lunch and Learn at KRM @12pm -September 14 (Sat): KRM Warehouse Day @ 9 am-12 pm -September 15-22: National Welcoming Week http://www.welcomingamerica.org/get-involved/welcomingweek2013/ -September 19 (Thur): U of L Community Service Fair 11:30 am-1pm -September 21 (Sat): African Heritage Festival @ KCAAH @ 11am-7pm -September 20 (Fri): Global Gourmet – annual KRM fundraising party! http://kyrm.org/global-gourmet-2013/ -September 24 - 27: Idea Festival 2013; http://www.ideafestival.com/ -October 1 (Tue): New Volunteer Orientation, KRM 3rd floor conference room @ 5:30pm -October 1 (Tue): Washington, DC Idealist.org Grad Fair http://www.idealist.org/view/fair/t2njn75Hb2Jd/ -October 8 (Tue): Chicago Idealist.org Grad Fair http://www.idealist.org/view/fair/g8CTdNhT778d/ -October 12 (Sat): KRM Warehouse Day @ 9 am-12 pm -October 15 (Tue): Eid al Adha -October 22 (Sat): Arabic Salon at Bon Air Library @ 7pm -October 23 (Wed): Atlanta Idealist.org Grad Fair http://www.idealist.org/view/fair/mF8ZP4m7g6BD/ -October 26 (Sat): UofL “How Can We Best Serve” Conference http://engageleadserve.org/category/how-best-can-we-serve/ -November 10 (Sun): Hello, Neighbor! Day of Dignity – Save the Date!
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