A New Partnership Off to a Tasty Start!

Early this year First United Methodist Church committed to partnering with Iskashitaa Refugee Network to foster understanding and compassion for refugees transitioning into Tucson community life through story telling, culinary arts and more. 

The first event was the "Mini World Tour of Foods", held May 25 in the church kitchen and Arizona Room. A half dozen FUMC women had a "hands on" cooking lesson preparing Iraqi vegetarian dolmas (stuffed grape leaves) and Congolese chicken tomato stew with Faeza Hililian and Marie Bampamulowa. The men
set the tables, shopped a sale table of food items made by refugees, andchatted about the work of Iskashitaa with Director Barbara Eiswerth. Iskashitaa staff, volunteers, the cooks, and three recent immigrants from Eritrea joined us for a sumptuous meal rounded out by rice, salad, and dessert dishes brought by FUMC participants and Iskashitaa volunteers. 


Lively fellowship among two dozen people made for a memorable evening, It was all recorded by Girls Making Media, a local media production training program for young women, also partnering with Iskashitaa.


The evening culminated with conversation about following up next fall with a Refugee 101 event sponsored by the Adult Education Team and Iskashitaa. 

Stay tuned and check out Mini World Tour recipes at www.firstchurchtucson.org. for delicious dolma recipes and many more!