Issue 3 February-April 2014
Look us up on the WEB! www.kyrm.org
1140 Cherokee Rd
Refugee Elder Program Recovering from winter and plowing joyfully into the new year! When classes started back up in February, many of our Elders were ready to come back despite icy weather conditions— equipped with mittens, scarfs, hats and boots, they just wanted to be there with everybody else! We really have a great group of wonderful people, and our precious volunteers didn’t miss a beat as well! The cold was “weathered” with warm-up exercises and much laughter! As time went along, we had community speakers, art sessions, new exercise explosions and already a field trip at the Carnegie Center in Indiana! New volunteers have been visiting, new students have been added and we celebrated a newly added American citizen! Birthdays were recognized at the end of the month to cheer on with special cupcakes! Amazing creations came out of our rotating art classes, and mural artistic sessions have begun in March and April, having their Gran finale soon exhibited at the Americana Community Center. Truly, it’s never getting boring at the Elder Program!
(Highland United Methodist Church) Program Coordinator: Abby Webb
Community Speakers Malea Hopf Young (Catholic Charities) and Jane Evans (KRM)
Exercises begin 9.30 am Early birds are welcome as early as 8.30 am !!
Mural Art with Tara Remington
Art therapy with Joyce Ogden
Ph.: 292-9899 or 479-9180 x 56 Tues & Thurs: 10.00 am-12. 00 pm
Exercises with Lettie!
Carnegie Center
UofL Theater group Citizenship celebration
In this issue Story Commons & Community speakers
2,3
Art classes & Field trip to Carnegie Center
4-6 + 7-10
Recent Volunteers & Students
11-12
Exercises & Birthdays
13-16
Citizenship ceremony & Theater group of UofL
17, 18-19
Mural arts with Tara Remington
20-30
Dedication
31 1
Issue 3 February-April 2014
Story Commons
Refugee Elder Program
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Above & Right: At our Story Commons in February, refugees from different backgrounds shared their STORY OF FAITH with community members over a light lunch— Ahmed (Iraq) sat along with Pastor Jason from Crescent Baptist Hill Church, Saw Kle, Karen state (Burma) Ivan (Cuba) and Liz, community member and former volunteer, and shared some of his experiences and comments. He came well prepared for discussion and had even a handout ready for every participant! Thank you, Ahmed!
Left below: The meeting extended afterwards to an interesting exchange between religious community leaders and individuals from various spiritual backgrounds on how to find more supportive ways to better accommodate the diverse religious traditions of refugees and create a more spiritually thriving community!
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Issue 3 February-April 2014
Community Speakers Malea Hopf Young, Health and Resource Access Coordinator from Catholic Charities, presented various aspects of the flu season and offered helpful suggestions on how to recognize and deal with cold and flu symptoms,
Refugee Elder Program
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The Elders shared also their own tips and ways on how to stay alert to their own wellbeing and promote their health. Below: Nzanzibandi (DR Congo) and interpreter James, Hit Ler (Karen state) in the back
Right Jane Evans, our Mental Health Coordinator, explained about SAD—Seasonal Affective Disorders, occurring especially during winter. Engaging the Elders in reflective questions, she outlined symptoms and presented counter measures and suggestions on how to recognize and combat such conditions.
Below left: Karen group with David, Pah Lah, Ler Htooni , Sunday, Pah Noe, See Lah,
Our Elders participated animated in the following Q & A session and took essential information home! Below: Dharmananda, Dhatta, Sekhar (Bhutan)
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Issue 3 January—March 2014
Art therapy classes Bhutanese group
Refugee Elder Program
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Left above: Hari (brr, some cold remained!), Dharmananda and Man (laughing the cold off!) Below: Sekhar showing off his beautifully decorated bag!
Right above: Artist & art therapist Joyce with Bishnu in the front and behind her Gobinda, Nara, Sekhar & Hari holding her created bag
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Issue 3 February-April 2014
Art therapy classes Below: Jose’s expressions !
Cuban group
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Refugee Elder Program
Right: Zoilo’s colorful rainbow !
Isabel (left) and Emma (right) have truly outdone themselves with those beautiful flower expressions!
Iraqi group Below right: Sabeeh showing off his interesting piece
Wafiqa waving cheerfully with her reflective picture! 5
Issue 3 February-April 2014
Art therapy classes Vietnam—Hong
Refugee Elder Program
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Left: Hong’s paint-
DR Congo—Nzanzibandi
Below: Musa thought the same way and created his own colorful pieces
Below: Nzanzibandi had so much fun, he just had to paint two pieces
Sudan—Musa
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Issue 3 February-April 2014
Refugee Elder Program
Look us up on the WEB! www.kyrm.org
Carnegie Center, IN Ordinary People, Extraordinary Courage: Men and Women of the Underground Railroad at the Carnegie Art and History Center in New Albany, IN. Refugee Elders enjoyed a multimedia experience featuring Jacob Cummins’ life story on his quest for freedom and those assisting him with selfless courage during the Underground Railroad movement. They related vividly to the video and part-enactment presentation and offered many comparisons to their own personal journeys and challenges. They also explored artworks of two contemporary artists, A. Gorman & M. Wimmer, whose creations consisted of materials from the geographic areas of the Ohio River and various objects turned into interesting art expressions, where Refugee Elders related with amazement to their own creations during their art therapy classes at the Program. At last, many photo-ops took place with their favorite displays!
Above: Abby making sure everyone is accounted for before embarking on the bus trip Right: Short orientation at arrival
Left: Listening to orientation: Vietnamese Interpreter Dep & Hong (Vietnam), Russian interpreter Pail, Karen David and interpreter Hsar, Karen Pae Dah & Ah Pay, Nzanzibandi (DR Congo) & Zoilo (Cuba)
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Issue 3 February-April 2014
Carnegie Center, IN Left: Jose V. (Cuba)
Refugee Elder Program
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Below: Ler Htooni (Karen State)
Below: Cubans Delia and Francisco!
Above: Nzanzibandi (DR Congo) Below: Bhutanese Tara
Left: Cubans Zoilo, Jose, Delia and Francisco!
Above: Iraqis Yussif, Omran & Adel!
Right: Hong (Vietnam) & interpreter Dep
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Issue 3 February-April 2014
Carnegie Center, IN Right: Wafiqa (Iraq)
Refugee Elder Program
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Above: Emma (Cuba) Below: Dep(Vietnamese interpreter), Zoilo (Cuba), Salim (Arabic interpreter) and See Lah & Keh Ler (Karen State)
Below: Nara & Hari (Bhutan)
Left: Hari Maya (Bhutan) admiring her surroundings while photos are taken around her!
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Issue 3 February-April 2014
Carnegie Center, IN Left: Tara (Bhutan) - another favorite piece
Look us up on the WEB! www.kyrm.org
Refugee Elder Program
Right: See Lah & Pah Lah (Karen State) chose a different display
Below: Pah Dah (Karen State) thought a little break might come handy!
Left: Mixed photo op: Zoilo (Cuba), See Lah & Ah Pay (Karen State) Teacher Michaela, Ler Htooni & Pah Dah & Keh Ler (Karen State) and Nara and Hari (Bhutan) (somewhat hidden) in the background
Below: Ah Pay, Pah Dah and Keh Ler (Karen State) with one of their favorites exhibits!
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Issue 3 February-April 2014
Recent & longtimeVolunteers Charlie has been coming since 2013 periodically to our Program and has been an invaluable help in Sarah’s and other teachers’ classes as well! He also can be found wherever help is needed! Thank you, Charlie!
Refugee Elder Program
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Dennis has been with us since February from Campbellsville University and works with MSR on his graduate degree! He was assisting in Michaela’s class and helpful in other areas as well Thank you, Dennis!
Lettie served with the Peace Corps in Senegal, belongs to two exercise classes and began in February to lead our Elders in fitness exercises—since then, their participation exploded and even the most reluctant engage now in warm-up activities! Thank you, Lettie!
Breia is originally from Texas and she loves to read and travel to new places. She really enjoys talking to and working on citizenship material with the Refugee Elders group and assists periodically with mock interviews in Michaela’s class class ! Thank you, Breia! 11
Issue 3 February-April 2014
Recent students Jose V. & Edday (Cuba) joined in February Michaela’s class, and Salvador & Bigain joined in March Sarah’s class! Welcome, Jose, Edday, Salvador and Bigain!
Refugee Elder Program
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Below; Saw (Karen State) came in February to us and participates in Sarah’s class as well! Welcome, Saw!
From Iraq we had Sabeeh, Husham and Nejhmeeh Clair joining us in Sarah’s and Julie’s classes! Welcome, Sabeeh, Husham and Nehmeshclair!
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Issue 3 February-April 2014
Exercises Lettie’s contagious spirit touched so many of our Refugee Elders and they began to quickly engage in her playful exercises while using chairs as helpful tools! From stretching to rotating, pushing and lifting—every move counts and almost every vital body part is involved without even realizing it!
Refugee Elder Program
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Stretch the neck—important especially after sitting in class and concentrating intensively on learning material!
Pump those arms—helps with moving shoulders, arm muscles and getting oxygen to the heart!
Many began slowly turning joyfully from spectator to participant!
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Issue 3 February-April 2014
‌ and some!!!! Relevant vocabulary went along with exercising different body parts, connecting so theory and practice!
Refugee Elder Program
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Even our volunteers and interns got inspired to get their bodies some treatment!
Some Elders told us they began to do parts of these exercises at their home as well! That’s really inspiring!
Nice discovery: sitting at the tables and learning, connected with some fun ways to exercise the body gets one really energized!
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Issue 3 February-April 2014
Refugee Elder Program
Look us up on the WEB! www.kyrm.org
Birthdays January—February JANUARY
Pah Noe—Ah Pay—Pah Dah—Ler Htooni—Hit Ler—KAREN STATE
Shree—Indra— Dhatta—Bhadri— BHUTAN
LeBoi—VIETNAM Musa—SUDAN
Martin—CUBA
Nzanzibandi - DR CONGO
Salma -IRAQ
FEBRUARY
Bishnu-BHUTAN Emma-CUBA
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Issue 3 February-April 2014
Birthdays March— April MARCH See Lah—KAREN
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Refugee Elder Program
Man—Tara BHUTAN
Kiummars—IRAN
APRIL
Francisco—CUBA
Miralia—CUBA
Gobinda—Sekhar— Bishnu—Hari Maya— BHUTAN
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Issue 3 February-April 2014
Refugee Elder Program
Look us up on the WEB! www.kyrm.org
Citizenship ceremony Left Man (Bhutan) showing cheerfully his citizenship certificate off with Teacher Michaela
Left & above: Family members and wife Uma accompanied Man in his celebration—besides him, Gobinda and Bishnu, current faithful students looking forward to have their turns!
Left: Man & wife Uma Right: Naina, Man & Uma
Left: Naina (Bhutan) has been coming to the Elder Program until 2012 and continued then with AccessCare, finishing up just in time to get her certificate as well!
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Issue 3 February-April 2014
Refugee Elder Program
Look us up on the WEB! www.kyrm.org
Theater group of UofL Amy Steiger, UofL Professor with the Theater Arts Department, visited the Elder Program with a small group comprised of Alaina, Tamara and Femmy, and interviewed our students for the “Louisville intercultural engaged Theatre Project�, to be performed at a time to be announced.
Left: Elmira (Azerbaijan), Volodymyr (Ukraine), Bryan (intern), Omran (Iraq), Juan (Cuba) and Femmy from the Theater group exchanging opinions
Below: Juan (Cuba) finished a short story while Femmy and Tamara listen intently in company of Elmira (Azerbaijan), Volodymyr (Ukraine) and Salma (Iraq). From the back we see Bryan (intern) and Omran (Iraq) Above: Alaina, Ler Htooni (Karen State), Dennis (intern) and Edday (Cuba), with Amy
Right: Jose V (Cuba), Dharmananda (Bhutan) and Amy in an interesting exchange with Gobinda & Sekhar (Bhutan) and Alaina listening
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Issue 3 February-April 2014
Refugee Elder Program
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Theater group of UofL Now it’s Omran’s (Iraq) turn to expound on some issues, while the group is listening reflectively to his comments
Amy is amazed at the distinct pieces each of our Refugee Elders share and expresses it with such conviction that it delights our Elders as well. Jose (Cuba), Dharmananda, Gobinda & Sekhar (Bhutan) In the back: Stacey (Catholic Charities) makes sure administrative tasks are taken care of properly!
Right: Kamalapati’s turn (Bhutan) to give some insight!
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Issue 3 February-April 2014
Look us up on the WEB! www.kyrm.org
Mural Art prep sessions Tara Remington, artist with the Louisville Visual Art Association, has been in the visual art related industry for 25 years, has created two art centers, trained in arts integration, is an art teacher, an LVAA art recipient and is currently developing many art related projects in the Louisville area. She was invited by the Refugee Elder Program to lead the Elders in a creative way of expressing their culture, traditions and visions and shape a common thread related to their experiences and life journeys.
Refugee Elder Program
After Abby’s introduction, Tara explained how the mural art session could develop and displayed for additional information some of her works
Then the work began: here some snapshots of our Bhutanese group: Left: Hari Maya, Madhavid, Man, Kamalapati, Rhagu, Nara
Below: Shree and Man
Above: Bishnu, Datta, Man, Shree, Kamalapati and volunteer Beth making sure everyone is fine 20
Issue 3 February-April 2014
Mural Art prep sessions Below: Interpreter Prem with Hari B. & Hari Dahal (Bhutan)
Refugee Elder Program
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Right: Bhadri concentrating on her piece (see below)
Below: Prem’s piece
Below: Gobinda’s part
Left: Madhavid taking a break from her piece (see below)
Left: Hari Maya enjoying herself
Below left: Hari Bhandari’s drawing Below right: interpreter Karna
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Issue 3 February-April 2014
Mural Art prep sessions
Look us up on the WEB! www.kyrm.org
Refugee Elder Program
Above: Cubans Edday, Salvador, Francisco & Zoilo (back) conferring about the topics Left: Edday, Francisco, Jose & Emma getting to work on their contributions
Right: Isabel didn’t hesitate and began working on the project, Zoilo waiting for his turn—
Left: Isabel made sure she left her imprint as well… Right: Hmm, what is Salvador drawing, think Zoilo & Isabel? Jose & Emma concentrate on their pieces... 22
Issue 3 February-April 2014
Mural Art prep sessions Interpreter Pail (Russia) was quite involved in all artistic endeavors, having a studio of her own and knowing how to inspire artistic expressions—while Elmira (Azerbaijan) was still pondering, Volodymyr (Ukraine) felt quite joyous and began to draw the Israel flag below!
Refugee Elder Program
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Left: Elmira (Azerbaijan) is quite amused that they got Volodymyr (Ukraine) so involved (above left)!
Left: Elmira’s piece Right: earned break! 23
Issue 3 February-April 2014
Refugee Elder Program
Look us up on the WEB! www.kyrm.org
Mural Art prep sessions Musa (Sudan) listening to volunteer Roger’s encouraging comments, who always engages him in vocabulary practices when he arrives as one of the early birds
Nzanzibandi (DR Congo) and his interpreter had quite some joy putting down ideas and expressing cultural tidbits
Above & right: After his signature, Nzanzibandi laid back and relaxed 24
Issue 3 February-April 2014
Mural Art prep sessions
Look us up on the WEB! www.kyrm.org
Refugee Elder Program
The Iraqi group did their discussion as well and then went to work: Above Joseph, interpreter Dalya, Wafiqa, Abdel, Omran and Abby talking to Salma Joseph discussing with Dalya the meaning of the stones in his drawing part (right)
Above: Wafiqa enjoys expressing herself—left her piece Left: Ahmed engaged in drawing
Salma’s (left) and Omran’s (right) pieces 25
Issue 3 February-April 2014
Mural Art prep sessions Left: David, Ler Htooni, Hit Ler, interpreter Hsar, Pah Noe, Saw, Pae Dah, See Lah (Karen state) pondering about how to begin…
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Refugee Elder Program
Right: David starts… Pae Dah watches intently...
… while the men get to work, Pae Dah & See Lah want to make sure exactly how to begin..
…and put finally their ideas on paper, See Lah quite intrigued and Pae Dah now very eager, while Ah Pay is selecting her colors
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Issue 3 February-April 2014
Mural Art prep sessions
Look us up on the WEB! www.kyrm.org Left: Pah Noe is taking a break and displays his contribution (right) while Saw is watching him
Refugee Elder Program
Right: Now Saw sees it fit to take a break on his own… and shows off his piece (see below)
Left: See Lah doesn’t need a break… she continues expressing her ideas
Right: contribution of Hit Ler Left: contribution of Ler Htooni
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Issue 3 February-April 2014
Refugee Elder Program
Look us up on the WEB! www.kyrm.org
Final mural work Left & right: Nzanzibandi (DR Congo) making sure his work is as detailed as possible
Left & right: Abby pitching in and Nzanzibandi (DR Congo) & interpreter Kamil working the wall while Musa (Sudan) is taking a break
Above: Musa (Sudan) is dedicated to do his job thoroughly Below: Musa and interpreter Kamil while Abby is pitching in on the right
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Issue 3 February-April 2014
Refugee Elder Program
Look us up on the WEB! www.kyrm.org
Final mural work Left: Francisco & Zoilo (Cuba) & Volodymyr (Ukraine) Right: Francisco (Cuba) on the ladder Hong (Vietnam) with her back, interpreter Dep, and Russian interpreter Pail, whose involvement was amazing
Left: Cubans Edday and Isabel
Left: Cubans Edday & Jose P.
Left below: with their backs: Edday (Cuba), Hong (Vietnam) and Russian interpreter Pail .
Below: Cuban Martin
Left: Cubans Jose V. & Martin (back) and Nzanzibandi (DR Congo)
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Issue 3 February-April 2014
Final mural work Left: David & Pah Noe (Karen state) are very concentrated on their painting
Refugee Elder Program
Look us up on the WEB! www.kyrm.org Left & right: Hari and Sekhar (Bhutan), and Ah Pay (Karen state) in the background
Right: Man (Bhutan) deep in his work
Above: leftover paint and tools
Big finale picture of the last session!
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Issue 3 February—April 2014
Dedication
Refugee Elder Program
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Last but not least: a special THANK YOU to Stacey (Catholic Charities) for her dedication to serving our Elders always an enticingly arranged snack table—Whenever time allows, Joyce (Catholic Charities) is also joining and helping out. Periodically, and if we can get her away from the Wilson-Fish crowd (!), we also have special treats days with Glenda’s delicious additions. Her husband Roger, of course, can be encountered everywhere help is needed, besides assisting in Sarah’s class with mentoring and engaging our Elders in pre-class conversations. All of them create in unison a wonderful atmosphere for our Elders to enjoy in their break time healthy & tasty snacks . Thank you Stacey, Joyce, Glenda, Roger & Chris!!!!!!
Chris (Catholic Charities) is periodically checking in and making sure that new donations find their way either to the “snack “ table or in the supply room 31