Kim Epifano's Epiphany Productions is partnering with Refugee Transitions to identify refugee and asylee dancers, musicians, singers, and other artists for its production of "Heelomali," a mix of modern and ethnic dance, theater, and music performance. Heelomali will honor the strength and courage of refugees around the world and will correspond with World Refugee Day. Performances will take place at the newly renovated ODC Theater in San Francisco's Mission District on June 17th, 18th and 19th, 2011. The performance will include 10 performers from Epiphany Productions and 7 of Refugee Transitions' artists.

RT Volunteers: If one of your students is over the age of 16 and is a talented dancer, artist, musician or other performer, please contact Kim Epifano and Epiphany Productions at info@epiphanydance.org or (415) 647-1443, so she and her staff can set up an audition. 

Requirements:

• Ability to travel to San Francisco for rehearsals between Jan-March (1-2 days or evenings a week) and May-June (2-3 days or evenings a week)
• Ability to commit to tech week June 14-16, and all three performance days June 17-19
• Some knowledge of English
  

Benefits:

• Opportunity to perform with Bay Area professionals and work with an established dance company
• Stipends for participation and reimbursement for travel

Volunteer Spotlight - Featured on KQED!

Hope Richardson

Til (third from left) and his family

Til will also be sharing his story at RT's World of Difference Benefit Luncheon, on November 3rd, at The City Club.

My name is Til Gurung. I am a Community Navigator Intern with Refugee Transitions, where I help my community access important services and make a successful transition into their lives in the United States. For example, I help explain important documents and laws to my community members, help interpret at parent-teacher conferences and medical appointments, teach them about home safety, where to find our cultural foods in Oakland, how to use the bus, and how to drive.

I am a refugee from Bhutan. My community is Bhutanese, but we have a Nepali heritage and culture. Though we lived peacefully in Bhutan for many years, as our community grew, the Bhutanese government began to feel threatened. Thus, they initiated an ethnic cleansing program to force us from our homes. We suffered in our country Bhutan because we did not speak the language or practice the religion or culture of the royal family. Many of us were tortured and imprisoned. We had no choice but to flee to Nepal to save our lives. After twenty years in the Nepali refugee camps, we saw that there was no possibility of returning home. So we opted to apply for resettlement to the United States, hoping that we could begin our lives again.

But here in the United States, my community continues to struggle. We arrived in the U.S. when the economy was at its lowest point, so we struggle to find jobs. Many of us do not speak English or Spanish, and lack of education makes it even more difficult for us to learn the language, here. Just this year, the Adult Education system in Oakland shut down; Refugee Transitions is offering classes and tutoring in its place. By providing this language training and other support services through the Community Navigators like myself, Refugee Transitions is filling a real need in our community.  

As an example of the difference that tutoring makes in a person's life, I can talk about my wife. When we first arrived, my wife was unable to understand any English. Just taking the bus and going to the store was a challenge for her. Refugee Transitions assigned Mari to tutor my wife. After a year of tutoring, these things are no longer a big problem for her. Now she has more confidence and more language skills to help herself and our family. Thank you Mari, thank you Refugee Transitions, and thank you to all of you who support Refugee Transitions to make these programs possible.