Holiday Party Delights Across Cultures

Songs and dances in many languages, food from many cultures, a fashion show, gifts from Santa, awards for student achievements,  presents from Santa, and the efforts of many staff, students and volunteers behind the scenes helped make this year’s Holiday Party one to remember (actually two to remember as there were parties for evening classes and for day classes). After 16 weeks of school it was a time to celebrate and integrate our cultures, and launch our holiday season in grand style.

Citizenship: “This is what it’s all about!”

New citizen Mee Thao celebrates with Instructor Song Xiong, right, and Program Manager Anna Bierer, left.

On Sunday Dec. 4th ILC hosted a celebration for  students who became citizens in 2011.  Participation in the program nearly doubled this year, thanks to Instructor Song Xiong’s efforts in recruiting students, training volunteers, and developing a curriculum that addresses the needs of English language learners and emerging literacy students.

About 30 citizens and their family members came for lunch.  Mike Bennett from Cambridge University Press, Madison office, generously sponsored the lunch, with additional donations  from an anonymous volunteer.  Reema Ahmad, deputy registrar in Milwaukee County from Project Mobilize spoke to the attendees about registering to vote and helped 5 people register to vote.

Program Manager Anna Bierer with new citizen Janai Idow

Program Manager Anna Bierer shares her enthusiasm for this milestone:

“This picture is of me and one of my first students at ILC.  Three of my students from January 2005 were at the celebration.  I am very proud of these students and their accomplishments.

Becoming a citizen is a journey.  These individuals studied English, writing, history and civics.  All of this in addition to working and raising children.  I applaud their efforts and the support of teachers, volunteers, friends and family members who helped them.  This is what it’s all about!”

From our Newsletter: Radio 88.9 Interview, Culture Night, Family Reunion

Our Fall 2011 Newsletter is available for download.

Our web-only extras include:

• The International Learning Center/Meet the Need Organization | 88Nine Radio Milwaukee www.radiomilwaukee.org

  Listen to Program Manager Anna Bierer and student Ilunga Wangoy talk about how ILC is meeting the needs of new arrivals.

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• Special Report from Instructor Mary Bruce on Culture Night at ILC:

      Excitement was in the air on Monday, October 17, 2011, as students filed in for my evening class’ Culture Night.  Culture Night had been desiginated as a time a student could present a topic which held cultural significance for her/him–a game, a dance,some language instruction, a recipe, etc.  The first intrepid presenter, Savyvanh Thepsourinthone, of Laos, shared her recipe for sticky rice with us.  Mouths watered as she demonstrated her technique preparing and molding rice balls.  Next, Jean Dominique spoke of Haiti’s rich culture, its history and geography.  Jean answered numerous questions from the audience.

     We were all anticipating some dance from four enthusiastic, beautifully dressed young girls from Burma, but unfortunately had a few technical difficulties with the music.  Luckily Nora Dahl was on hand and soon solved the problems.  Onlookers received the graceful dancers as they clapped along in time with the lovely melodies.  The dancers were:  Win Thiri-Tun-11, Mhwe Yannt Tun-7, Eh Khu Htoo-9 and Paw Khee-10.  Thanks much to student Lwin Then for bringing the wonderful dancers to the event.  Their enthusiasm was certainly contagious–they stole the show!  I hope that they continue dancing!

     Later in the evening Novati Ngendakuliyo told us about wedding and dowry customs in Berundi.  He answered lots of questions from interested listeners.  Novati provided us with many topics for further investigation and discussion.

     Thanks to all the students who gave presentations, brought delicious food and cleaned up after the event.  Many thanks also to Nora Dahl for her technical assistance and photography skills.  Culture Night was a time when new friendships were formed  and mutual respect for all cultures reigned.  After all, we really do share so many more similarities than differences even though we are from different places and speak different languages.

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• Special Report from ILC co-founder Marilyn Hegge on a long awaited  family reunion fro student Wells Walusai:

Here is a little background on the whole immigration process.
A lawyer(not an immigration lawyer) first filed the Petition for Alien Relative in November of 2003. Petitons were filed for Aleba, Lenga Lenga and Kamana (Wells’ son.)
Even though the petitions were sent in the same envelope, (this is a no, no) they were all processed separately. It was not until March 2008 that Lenga Lenga and  Aleba’s petitions were approved.  The next step was to file the Application for Immigrant Visa and Alien Registration and pay the $400 fee. When I called the State Dept. I learned that Lenga Lenga’s child had never been added to the petition. (I didn’t start helping him until 2008.) Because of Lenga Lenga’s age at the this time, they were not going to allow the child to accompany her! With the help of Senator Kohl’s office, her case was reclassified so that her son could accompany her.
After waiting many months, the two daughters had their interview at the consulate in Kinshasa, DRC. The consulate asked for more proof that Wells was the father. We finally had to have DNA testing done.
Kamana’s petition was denied because they didn’t like his birth certificate. The girls had the same type. We appealed and after waiting one year his petition was approved. Kamana had his interview recently and he too had to have his DNA taken. He is waiting for the results.
This is a shortened version of the challenges of working with the USCIS. Whew!

Save the Dates! Film Series Continues

International Learning Center’s Film Series continues with  documentaries on the third Friday of each month.

All screenings at 7pm; panel discussion follows, speakers to be announced.
Doors open at  6:30pm for Meet & Greet, sample ethnic food.
Location: 639 N. 25th Street, Milwaukee; enter behind  Central United Methodist Church

10/21/11   Crossing Midnight – download the flyer
Set on the border of Thailand and Eastern Burma, Crossing Midnight tells the story of a remarkable community of refugees from Burma working against incredible odds to help their own. 29 min.

11/18/11 Rain in a Dry Land
How do you measure the distance from an African village to an American city? Rain in a Dry Land chronicles the fortunes of two Somali Bantu families, transported by relief agencies from years of civil war and refugee life to Springfield, Massachusetts and Atlanta, Georgia. 1 hour 23 minutes.

12/16/11 Burma VJ
Using smuggled video footage, this documentary tells the story of the 2007 protests in Burma by thousands of monks. 84 min.

Radio 88.9 “Make A Difference” features ILC Volunteer

ILC Walks for Wellness

ILC students turned out in force for United Neighborhood Centers of Milwaukee’s 4th Annual Wellness Walk at Kosciusko Park Friday September 9th. More pictures here.

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ILC now has a Twitter account.  Please follow us @ilcmilwaukee.

We also have a Facebook page.  Find information about events related to our program and other partner agencies.