Free Thanksgiving concert at International House by award-winning flute and guitar duo AlmaNova. Don't miss this one!
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This innovative duo has been trained in the classical tradition while exploring other types of music. They have traveled all over the world playing their unique blend of classical repertoire infused with music from the Balkans, Spain, Latin America and the British Isles. AlmaNova's great love of all musical genres shines through to their audience by way of dynamic performances and mesmerizing stage presence. Join us as we receive these special guests for a complimentary "Thanksgiving Performance" on November 22nd.
Location: International House's Kellen Room
Date: Tuesday, November 22, 2011, 2011 7pm - 9pm.
Cost: Free
RSVP not required but helpful. Contact Hendrik van Vuuren at 704-333-8099 or email hvanvuuren@ihclt.org
Sponsored by WFAE and International House. More Info >> |
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Creative Writing for Immigrants
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 Every Thursday, the students from our daily ESL class join Dr. Glenn Hutchinson at Johnson C. Smith University for a creative writing seminar.
This is a wonderful opportunity for our English learners to practice their language skills through an experience that reaches far beyond a typical ESL class focusing on pronouns and adverbs.  Students are asked to practice their English by writing about favorite words, sounds, smells and food. They recently read a chapter from The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros entitled, “Laughter” and compared their own laughter to trains and pots and pans, explaining that joy becomes louder with family. And they wrote about dreams and how their dreams have changed...
Read More >>
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Many Cultures One Community |
On November 2, Crossroads Charlotte announced their "Many Cultures One Community" initiative at a press conference held at International House .
 During the month of November 2011, Crossroads Charlotte presents a 30-day series of community-wide events and workshops designed to build trust across ethnic, racial, and cultural differences as well as improving access for Immigrants, Refugees, Asylees and Internationals (IRAIs) in Mecklenburg County.
The effort will include an awareness campaign about trust across differences and the real stories of the immigrant community. It will culminate with a community-wide event on December 3rd highlighting the most relevant topics and resources for creating access for the IRAI community and building trust across cultures.
As part of the initiative, International House will host a "Live, Learn, Grow" luncheon on November 18th.
 Charlotte University: Live, Learn, Grow is a training program that educates immigrant communities on local resources vital to successfully integrating into Charlotte life. Many local immigrants are unaware of the resources available to them in the Charlotte area. Barriers to these resources include language, trust, fear, cultural differences and logistical issues.
Several "teach the teacher" Luncheons are offered throughout the year and focuses on immigrant leaders who can, in turn, take the information back to their respective communities. Topics addressed include legal services, education, healthcare, financial literacy, emergency services, cultural awareness, social services, housing and employment.
Learn More >>
THIS SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 5:
What: "Connecting Cultures through the Arts"
When: Saturday, November 5, 2011 (3:00 to 4:30 PM)
Where: ImaginOn - 300 E. Seventh Street
More Information >>
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Language Conversation Hours- Fun and Free!
Conversation Hours continue at the International House, providing a relaxed and comfortable atmosphere to practice the language of your choice. Every week, a group of individuals gather for one hour to converse casually in the designated language. Conversation Hours offer a free, fun and informal way to learn a foreign language or improve a language you already know.
Each language hour has a fluent speaker to help facilitate the conversation. The Portuguese Hour, for example, has a new facilitator (Sumaya Casteel) who is excited to lead the group. We have Conversation Hours for the following languages: English, Spanish, German, French, Chinese, Portuguese, Japanese and Russian. All skill levels are welcome, and all you need to do is show up; each class is free of charge. We encourage you to attend whenever it is convenient for you. For more information, please contact Norma Jiron, our Program Associate at njiron@ihclt.org or 704-333-8099.
See the schedule >>
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International House - A World of Possibilities! |
In 1994, Louis Acker had to relocate to Charlotte for work. Being from Nash County and not knowing anyone in the city, he quickly grew bored and lonely. Shortly after his arrival, he began looking for ways to meet interesting people, and it wasn’t long before he found International House. Louis decided to start coming to the Spanish Conversation Hours, though his Spanish background consisted solely of a few high school classes, of which he remembered little. Before he even made it inside the building, he could hear the laughter and chatter of the participants, reassuring him that he had chosen the language that was right for him.
Through the Spanish Conversation Hour, Louis was able to make several friends, as well as find a roommate. When he eventually moved back home, he continued taking Spanish classes, and then decided that since his kids were grown and in college, he could start traveling again. With his newfound knowledge of the Spanish language, Loius was able to travel to the Dominican Republic, Mexico, Peru, Brazil, Ecuador, Bolivia, Guatemala and Spain. Knowing the native language made a world of difference. Louis credits the Spanish Conversation Hour and International House with changing his life and opening the world to him. He recently brought two friends that he met in Ecuador to International House to begin participating in English Conversation Hours. Louis hopes that their experiences will lead them somewhere special as well.
 Louis' pictures from his recent trip to South America
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Annual Pot-Luck Party for All Conversation Hours Participants
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All Language Conversation Hours participants and guests are invited to join us for our pot-luck style supper to celebrate the different cultures represented by this great program. Please bring a specialty from your native country to share with friends, and experience food, music and culture from all over the world!
Sponsored By: Crossroads Charlotte
Crossroads Charlotte helps people and organizations IMAGINE OUR TOMORROW and exchange ideas, experiences and actions that shape a positive future for everyone. Crossroads Charlotte provides ways for people to ACT TODAY in small and large ways to build trust by creating access, inclusion and equity in Charlotte-Mecklenburg.
Through the Front Porch Grant program, we are responding to this challenge. Our project strives to create a better community by offering free Language Conversation Hours on a weekly basis to the Charlotte community. |
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Meet Our International Visitors |
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 International House is delighted to welcome guests from Iraq in early December so don't miss our next “Who’s in the House?" event.
Keep an eye on our website or look for future emails for a date and time.
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From the executive director
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A GOOD MOVE FOR INTERNATIONAL HOUSE
All good things must come to an end. Since 1985, International House has called the James L. Staten mansion home. The building’s owner, St. John’s Baptist Church, has generously allowed International House to lease the facilities for $1 per year plus operating and maintenance costs. With its “shabby chic” décor, this rambling old house has been home to a fledgling nonprofit which has grown in size and services through the years to become one of Charlotte’s premiere organizations dedicated to building international understanding and serving Charlotte’s immigrant and international communities.
Soon, however, our lease will expire, and St. John’s Baptist Church has other plans for the building. For the past two years, the International House Board of Directors has worked diligently to investigate other facility options. This past spring, we submitted an application to the Charlotte Mecklenburg School system to lease the former Midwood High School on Central Avenue.
Budget cuts necessitated several school closings, and CMS put these properties up for a competitive application process to nonprofits wishing to lease them. One of 10 candidates applying for space at the Midwood School, International House was awarded the opportunity to negotiate a lease with CMS as the master tenant of this 40,000 ft. brick building on Central Avenue.
Although not final, lease negotiations are proceeding with CMS, and it appears that International House will be moving down the road and around the corner next spring to a new home. We are all very excited. What an amazing opportunity! This wonderful building, built in the 1940’s, has ample parking, high ceilings, hard wood floors, and big windows with lots of sunlight. It is ideally located: close to Uptown, yet in a diverse neighborhood with a high density of immigrant residents. There is a bus stop directly in front of the entrance. The building is too large for International House to occupy alone, so we are in conversation with a variety of like-minded nonprofit organizations who are interested in sub-leasing from us. This brings up all kinds of possibilities for shared programming and efficiencies relating to shared common spaces. It will also allow us to cover the operating expenses related to running a building of that size.
These are exciting times, but much work lies ahead. We are very grateful for the hard work of our board real estate committee, and especially our board president, Monte Ritchey. We continue to forge ahead with our discussions with CMS and other potential tenants. We also know that our operating costs will climb significantly after our move, as we will no longer enjoy the rent-free arrangement we have had with St. John’s church for over 25 years. In addition, we face upfront expenses to renovate and upfit classroom space at Midwood into suitable offices and meeting rooms. But, the challenges do not daunt us. We already have pro-bono services donated by architects and attorneys, and we are confident that International House supporters will also step up to the plate when the time comes.
International House has an extraordinary past. But, we now stand at the threshold of the next phase in our organizational life, and it will take us to a new level. We invite you to help us successfully navigate this transition, and join us in opening the door to a new home next spring !
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International Book Club |
The International House Book Club will meet again on Monday, November 21st at 7 p.m.
The book to be discussed will be My Name is Red by Orhan Pamuk. (TURKEY - 16th century Istanbul). A great murder mystery! - From Library Journal
In 16th-century Istanbul, master miniaturist and illuminator of books Enishte Effendi is commissioned to illustrate a book celebrating the sultan. Soon he lies dead at the bottom of a well, and how he got there is the crux of this novel. A number of narrators give testimony to what they know about the circumstances surrounding the murder.
More Info
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Doorways |
Our next meeting will take place on Wednesday, December 7th, from 10am to 12pm at International House.
'Doorways' is a women's group, with members from countries and cultures across the globe. The members are interested in meeting and making new friends and enjoy learning about the various subjects presented by the guest speakers.
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Get Involved . . . |
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Home Hosts Needed!
If you are interested in being a cultural ambassador or home host please contact International House at 704-333-8099 or Lara Printz at 704-34202248 or email lprintz@ihclt.org.
Sewing Machines needed to help refugees!
We are looking for access to new or used sewing machines to be used in a refugee sewing project that is being organized by Jennifer Loiseau from CMS.
Please email hvanvuuren@ihclt.org or call us at 704-333-8099 if you are able to help, thanks!
Young Turkey/Young America: A New Relationship for a New Age. Through this program, 20 young emerging leaders from Turkey and 20 young emerging leaders from the U.S. will gain knowledge and leadership skills to become more engaged in their communities, and get to know each other’s country, as well as learn about each group members’ ethnically, religiously, and nationally diverse background.
Read More >>
Apply by November 10, 2011 >>
For more information about our people, programs, or organization please email info@ihclt.org or call 704-333-8099.
www.ihclt.org
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The event was once again