 Prepare to experience the universal language of play at “A Children’s World of Play”
Join us on Saturday August 27th from 1:30pm-4:30pm at ImaginOn for sports, board games, interactive activities, and arts and crafts that are popular throughout Africa, Latin America, Europe and Asia. Watch Indian and Bosnian folk dancing, international tango and salsa performers and African drummers. Criss Cross Mango Sauce will be featured, along with many other musical and dance surprises from around the world. Come on out and play with us!
Let us know if you would like to volunteer as a performer or activity facilitator for this event. We’d love to hear from you!
Contact Lara Printz at lprintz@ihclt.org or call 704-333-8099.
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Mexico in the House!
 Stop by International House to meet our visitors from Mexico and learn more about their culture, customs, and entertainment. Guests will also enjoy regional music and light refreshments.
You won’t want to miss this great opportunity for international learning and dialogue!
 Mexican Youth Ambassadors
Wednesday, August 3 from 6 - 7:30 PM
This group is learning about community- building, nonviolence, and quality and diversity in schools.
*For more information regarding these groups,
contact Lara Printz:
LPrintz@ihclt.org or 704-333-8099
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MY GREEN CARD WAS FINALLY GRANTED
By Jorge Borda
My story begins when I arrived in the United States in 1999 from Colombia. I came to Miami and remained there for around six months until I moved to Charlotte. Then, I went back to Miami and filed my political asylum application. As a pending asylee, I was able to get a work permit and a Social Security card, and I thought everything was all right with my case. Finally in 2003, I received a letter for an appointment in Arlington. I went to the interview, but unfortunately my asylum was denied, and I was issued a Notice to Appear before the Immigration Judge.
Read entire article >>
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Recent Events: Iraq Young Leaders,
A New Play Reading & Digital Immigrant Stories-
July has been a busy month at International House. Aside from all the regular programming and a very successful Youth English Tutoring Program (YETP), we also hosted three great cultural events right here at International House.
 The "Who's in the House?" event featuring the Iraq delegation of young leaders kicked the month off on a high note. International House was filled with a crowd curious to hear from the Iraqi teens, and we feel that the energy-filled evening was a huge success. We would like to thank The Middle Eastern Council of North Carolina for co-sponsoring the event, as well as the presenters and 60+ attendees who made this evening so special.
Storyology: Digital Storytelling by Immigrants and Refugees:
 On July 18th, members of the community had an opportunity to relive the lives (struggles and triumphs) of some of our local immigrants by viewing short videos stories created in a program coordinated by the American Friends Service Committee (AFSC).
The videos were produced by the immigrants themselves with the help of volunteer mentors, and most of the videographers were in attendance and available for questions afterwards. This emotional and moving event shed some light on the real-life stories that so often go untold.
 Monday, July 25th saw the reading of a brand new play, "The Pot" by Dr. Glen Hutchinson. The story is about a college student, Laura, who brings her boyfriend, Rick, home for Thanksgiving. Rick has lived in the States since he was four years old, but is undocumented. When he meets Laura’s family, including her father who just has been elected to the State legislature and an over-opinionated uncle, the immigration debate gets heated. Nine actors skillfully presented the play to the 70 guests in attendance, and the discussion afterward brought up some very interesting topics and questions. Thanks again to everyone involved!
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The Board of Directors of International House and the 2011 Gala Committee invite you to enjoy an evening of British Cuisine, Dancing, Entertainment, and Live and Silent Auctions at our 23rd Annual Benefit Gala.
For Advance Reservations and Information, call 704.333.8099 or click here to make an online reservation. Corporate Sponsorships Available. Tickets are $150 per person. (A portion is tax-deductible)
Black Tie Optional
WHEN: Saturday, October 22, 2011
LOCATION: The Westin Charlotte
TIME: Six-Thirty in the Evening |
| Recent News Stories:
News Channel 14 Interviewed International House's Program Director Lara Printz on current and upcoming events at the House. Watch Interview >>
 FOX News interviewed and spent some time with the Iraq High School Delegation that visited Charlotte earlier this month as part of our Citizen Diplomacy Program. Watch the news clip >>
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Would you like to help someone learn English?
We are currently seeking community volunteers who would be interested in becoming English Tutors for our English as a second language program (ESL). Our next tutor training workshop will take place in September right here at International House.
Sign up now to change lives by becoming an English tutor at International House. Please contact Norma Jiron: NJiron@ihclt.org or 704-333-8099 for more information or to sign up.
Citizenship Class - Registration now open!
New Citizenship Class Series Begins
Sunday, September 18 from 1 to 4 PM.
These classes help you prepare for the U.S.
citizenship test and interview by reviewing
American history, geography and
government. The class is taught in English
and you will have the chance to speak with a
local immigration attorney who will answer all
your questions.
Citizenship Classes take place every Sunday for 5 consecutive weeks starting September 18th, 2011.
*For more information or to sign up for the series please contact Norma Jiron: NJiron@ihclt.org or 704-333-8099
English as a Second Language (ESL) Classes start August 29th.
Our new ESL class series will start on August 24th and will take place every weekday (Monday to Friday) until December 9th.There will be two classes per day, a beginners class and a lower intermediate class - see the schedule below:
ESL Schedule:
August 29, 2011 to December 9, 2011 - Daily: Monday thru Friday
11 am to 12 pm - ESL for beginners
1 pm to 2 pm - ESL for lower intermediate students
Cost of the entire series is $25 and include all materials.
For more information or to sign up for the series please contact Norma Jiron: NJiron@ihclt.org or 704-333-8099
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Singgalot - Smithsonian Exhibit at the Charlotte Museum of History, Aug 13 to Oct 16, 2011
 Today there are more than 2.5 million Filipino Americans in the U.S. Yet many, including Filipinos themselves, aren't familiar with the details of their history in America: their experiences, rich traditions, and culture. Singgalot is their story.
Catch this traveling Smithsonian Institution exhibit on display at the Charlotte Museum of History beginning August 13.
This genre painting of a Filipino beauty wearing the traditional "baro at saya," lighting an old oil lamp is by the prolific painter Fernando Amorsolo, a National Artist of the Philippines, will be featured as part of the Living Art Montage with Choreography, one of the projects of the Philippine Cultural Legacy Series, in support of Singgalot (The Ties that Bind).
Read More ...
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Make a Donation
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From the Executive Director
I’ve been thinking lately about the importance of putting a human face to the immigration debate. Here at International House, there have been several occasions recently where a polarizing issue has been made deeply personal. We saw the faces of very real people, people with talent, hopes, and dreams, people like us, who spoke about feeling unwanted and dehumanized. Those of us in attendance at these events came away profoundly moved and inspired to work for humane and sensible changes to our broken immigration system.
Scene One: Several short videos created by immigrants and refugees were shown at International House recently as part of the “Storyology” project sponsored by the American Friends Service Committee. These videos were powerful visual glimpses of the hardships these newly arrived U.S. residents had endured, as well as the dreams that gave them hope. Several of the immigrants who had created them were in the audience. Their looks belied the unbelievable circumstances that brought them to America: a handsome young man from Mexico told a story of living on the streets, sleeping in cardboard, and working several jobs in order to go to school; a tiny teenager from Bhutan talked about fleeing armed military groups and hiding in dark jungles. We, in the audience, were also asked to think about our life stories, and we were challenged to create a six word “story” about one important life event. One woman from Colombia wrote “Packed my life in two bags.” Those six words captured so much.
Scene Two: The inaugural performance of “The Pot” premiered a few days ago to a packed audience in the Kellan Room at the International House. “The Pot” is a new play written by Glenn Hutchinson, Johnson C. Smith professor and International House volunteer, and it explores the complexities of the current immigration debate through the life of an ordinary family. Laura, a college student, brings home her new boyfriend, Rick, for Thanksgiving Dinner. Rick is an undocumented student from Mexico who has been living in the United States since he was four. Laura’s uncle, a retired ophthalmologist, also attends the family dinner and voices the anti-immigrant arguments expressed by many in today’s society. He claims that “illegals” don’t pay taxes (they do), that the rule of law is paramount and must be followed (even when the law is broken or morally ambiguous), and that Rick should just “get in line” so he can become a legal citizen (Rick would have to return to Mexico and live there for 10 years in order to be legally eligible for citizenship).
READ ENTIRE ARTICLE
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International Book Club
The International House Book Club is on summer vacation!
We meet again on Monday, September 19th at 7 p.m. The book will be The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet by David Mitchell. (Set in Japan at the turn of 19th century, with a Dutch protagonist.)
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Doorways
Our International House Women's Group meets the first Wednesday of each month for social and cultural exchanges.
To find out more about Doorways, contact Lakana Bikhazi at laklouk12@carolina.rr.com
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THANK YOU!
The 2011 International House Gala plans are well underway and
Great Britain - A Rock 'n Royal Celebration
may just be the event of the season!
Many thanks to our sponsors:
Bank of America
Wells Fargo
Al & Donna de Molina
Continental Tire
Piedmont Natural Gas
SPX
Blum, Inc.
Coats North America
Duke Energy
KPMG
Protiviti
Aziz Immigration Law Firm
British American School
of Charlotte
Food Lion
Garfinkel Immigration
Law Firm
King & Spalding LLP
RBC Bank
SouthEnd Dentistry
Chun Group, Inc.
Greer & Walker LLP
K&L Gates LLP
SunTrust Bank
The Language Academy of the Carolinas
The World in Our Backyard
For information about becoming a sponsor, call International House at 704.333.8099. |
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Donate to
International House
When you donate to International House, you help us provide important services to our community.
You can donate online here or mail a check to International House at
322 Hawthorne Lane, Charlotte, NC 28204 |
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