Winterhaven Lights Walk with Refugees--this Friday

All are welcome to join the Winterhaven Lights Walk on Friday December 18th at 6:00pm.

Lutheran Social Services has organized an evening walk through Winterhaven, the Tucson neighborhood notorious for its spectacular holiday decorations. This is an event bringing together Tucsonans, refugee families, volunteers and refugee resettlement staff for a little holiday sightseeing.

If you can volunteer to transport refugees to this event, contact us at (520)440-0100. Otherwise, meet at gas station on northwest corner of Country Club and Ft. Lowell at 6:00pm.

We hope to see you there!

EMM (Episcopal Migration Ministries) will be visiting from NYC with a film crew as they are filming a small documentary about refugee resettlement in the US so you may be caught on film if you attend. The footage will be used for web modules that encourage activities ‘beyond the basics’ to resettlement agencies and to encourage involvement from sponsors and faith based organizations.

Interested in researching your African refugees?

Below is an great opportunity for any graduate student interested in studying African refugees. Forward this along if you think you know someone to whom this fellowship applies.

Deadline very soon...

African Diaspora Graduate Fellowships
Deadline: December 15, 2009

TIAA-CREF will award up to $30,000 for Ruth Simms Hamilton Research Fellowships to support graduate-level research on the dispersion and settlement of African peoples once they left the African continent.

It would be good to get a graduate student working on research with our African refugee contingency here in Tucson or Phoenix!

For more information: http://www.tiaa-crefinstitute.org/awards/hamilton.html

Visit or Volunteer with Iskashitaa at the 4th Avenue Street Fair--This weekend!

When?
Friday, December 11th through Sunday, December 13th, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

The B Line restaurant has once again generously donated the patio space adjacent to the restaurant to Iskashitaa so we can participate in this winter's 4th Avenue Street Fair! We are looking forward to sharing and selling our fruit products and refugee-made crafts (see our holiday catalog). Stop by, check out our booth and say hi to staff and refugee volunteers at any point during the 3 day fair.

Have time to volunteer?
We still need volunteers this weekend! Please come down for a few hours to help us out. Working at the Iskashitaa booth at the street fair is a wonderful opportunity to interact with refugees, see refugee-made crafts, and enjoy the fun, food and entertainment at the fair! This is a great experience for both veteran and first-time volunteers. If you are available, call or email Tara at 520-722-9285 or tarapullano@gmail.com.

Visit www.fourthavenue.org for more information on the Winter 4th Avenue Street Fair

Saturday's Art Sale

Iskashitaa will be at the 5th Annual Poets Corner Holiday Art Sale this Saturday, Dec. 5th, 10:00-4:00pm (4221 E. Burns St. -NW of Broadway and Columbus).

Iskashitaa is showcasing the items found in our Holiday Catalog along side the unique works of over 20 artists. Come out and enjoy some refreshments while persuing local, organic food products, refugee-made crafts, ceramics, mixed media, jewelry, fiber art, origami lighting, succulent hangers, garden art, paper sculpture and more.

Also, we would love some volunteer help with this event. Contact Tara at tarapullano@gmail.com if you are interested.