Welcoming new neighbors

Welcome Neighbor STL hosts Big Supper Club event where refugee chefs cook dishes from their home countries

By Wendy Todd

Iman Alkrad fled the war in Syria and landed in St. Louis along with other refugees. Currently, her daughter is still in Syria and Alkrad hasn’t seen her in 12 years. But in spite of the longing she feels for her daughter every day, she’s still done her best to create a life here – with the help of Welcome Neighbor STL.

The nonprofit began in 2016 by Jessica Bueler after she created a call-to-action when learning that some Syrian boys had been attacked in North St. Louis. The marketing and public relations professional used the NextDoor platform to ask for assistance for the boys and received an overwhelming response.

This show of community support prompted Bueler to initiate a more formal avenue to help immigrants in need of resources. The organization partners with refugee and immigrant families to connect them with people and opportunities to empower them to build their lives in St. Louis.

One way the nonprofit provides resources is with the annual Big Supper Club event, happening on March 29, which features refugee chefs from multiple countries including Afghanistan, Syria, India and countries in West Africa. They cook 11 dishes from their countries and also desserts to be served at the fundraiser. Since 2017 there have been 218 Big Supper Club events that have served 15,930 people and raised $426,898.

Proceeds from the supper go back to the chefs. Alkrad is one of the chefs who will be participating in the upcoming supper on March 29.

“Since my childhood, I loved to cook

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SUNDAY Cloudy 60/41 a variety of dishes and share my culture with other people,” she said. “Welcome Neighbor STL helped me to let people know more about my delicious cooking and teach me how to work with people in the United States.”

Along with food, music and conversation, attendees three families will be sharing about their experiences as refugees in St. Louis and working with Welcome Neighbor STL via video.

Alkrad received vital assistance when transitioning to the United States, of which now, five years after her application, she and her family have received citizenship.

“When I arrived to America, the International Institute found a house for me,” she said. “After a while, my husband and my sons found a job and started working. And I got to know Jessica. She was the first

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person I met when I arrived, and she helped me a lot. After that, I started cooking through Welcome Neighbor STL.”

Participating in the dinner will be another part of her St. Louis experience that makes her feel embraced.

“Yes, so many people welcomed us upon my arrival and helped us in different ways and made me not feel like I was in a strange place,” she said “I felt safe for both me and my family. War always made me think scary things, but the people here made me feel at home and safe.”

13th Annual St. Louis Teen Talent Competition chooses 14 high school acts for final event

On Feb. 26, 49 metro area high school acts competed in the semi-final round of the 13th Annual St. Louis Teen Talent Competition. The acts were divided into four categories (vocal, instrumental, dance and specialty) and adjudicated by nine St. Louis performing arts professionals, each representing the respective categories. The judges narrowed the field to 14 acts (22 students) who will move on to the finals at the Fabulous Fox Theatre on April 8 at 7:30 p.m.

The final competition is a professionally produced production the foundation is grateful to provide as a gift to the community that is free and open to the public. General Admission tickets are required and are available now at no charge through Metrotix online at metrotix.com and the Fox Box Office. The following finalists include a variety of singers, musicians, dancers and acrobats:

• Rayquan Strickland / Singer, Songwriter / Senior at Centra VPA

• Ava Hettenhausen / Singer / Junior at O'Fallon Township High School

• Ariana Kroegger / Singer / Senior at Clayton High School

• Noah Van Ess / Singer, Pianist / Senior at Lindbergh High School

• Cortland English / Singer / Junior at O’Fallon Township High School

• Kyla Gerhardt / Singer / Senior at Granite City High School

• Anna Layher / Circus Arts / Senior at Nerinx Hall High School

• Kyleigh McCourt / Baton Twirler / Junior at Mehlville High School

• Saisha Bhutani / Traditional Indian Dancer / Junior at Clayton High School

• Avery Payne / Dancer / Sophomore at Orchard Farm High School

• Cats Jazz Collective / Jazz Band/ Sophomore, Juniors, and Seniors at Webster Groves High School

• Cindy Yan / Pianist / Junior at Ladue Horton Watkins High School

• Yrwin Batan / Pianist / Junior at St. Louis Priory High School

• Drum Warriors Ensemble / Drummers / Junior at Grand Center Arts Academy; Junior at Collegiate School of Medicine and Bio Science; Sophomore at Clayton High School; Junior at Carnahan High School

“We’ve got a fantastic group of students this year! I’m looking forward to seeing these talented teens on the Fox stage! The students seem to get better and better each year,” exclaimed Mary Strauss, Fox Performing Arts Charitable Foundation Board President.

In addition to the excitement of performing on the Fox Stage, contestants are eligible to win scholarships, prizes, and performance opportunities. Nearly $50,000 in prizes, cash awards and college scholarships will be distributed among the top competitors. A full list of prizes along with official event information can be found on the Fox Performing Arts Charitable Foundation’s (FPACF) website.

The finals production will be directed by St. Louisan Lee Anne Mathews, a veteran Equity actor of international stages, longtime director, COCA educator and current artistic director with Westport Playhouse. Mathews will work with choreographer Yvonne Meyer Hare and music director Steve Neale to prepare performers for the Fox Stage.

Finalist acts will be judged on technical ability, interpretation, stage presence, and originality. Judges for the finals have careers spanning music, dance, and Broadway. A complete list of final round judges is available on the FoxPACF website.

The community response to this event has been significant as the program has grown over the past thirteen years. Annually viewers have watched the Nine PBS featured program on the final competition. FoxPACF is grateful for the continued partnership with Nine PBS, which will film the 2023 Finals in front of a live audience for a special broadcast to air later this spring.

The 2022 co-winners, Aubory Bugg, a homeschooled vocalist and guitarist and “Trifecta,” the circus tumbling troupe, will return this year for special performances. A complete list of winners and finalists from the past eleven years can be found on the FoxPACF website.

All seating is general admission. There is a limit of 10 tickets per transaction. Seating is first-come-first-seated and is not guaranteed. The theater will be over-sold to ensure a full house. Please, arrive early.