Prepare to experience the universal language of play and stories at “A Children’s World of Play” - May 12th!

Join us at ImaginOn on May 12th to play sports and board games, participate in interactive cultural and literacy activities, and enjoy stories and dance from around the world! Come and explore arts and crafts that are known throughout Africa, Latin America, Europe and Asia.

Location: ImaginOn, 300 East 7th St., Charlotte, NC 28202
Date: Saturday, May 12, 2012 from 1:30 to 4:30 PM
Cost: FREE - Everyone Welcome!

Let us know if you would like to volunteer at this event. We’d love to hear from you!
For more information call us at 704.333.8099, or email
lprintz@ihclt.org

Join us this Thursday, May 3rd, for an extraordinary music performance by cellist Tanja Bechtler and Swiss pianist Hanny Schmid Wyss.

The Mission of The Bechtler Ensemble is to present musical performances that are educational in nature. The performances are primarily designed to weave a connection between the historical and creative contents of the music to the art exhibited at The Bechtler Museum.

The Bechtler Ensemble gives concerts in intimate settings. During these concerts, which are usually about one hour in length, slides of the art from the Bechtler collection as well as images from the art in its original setting in the Zürich home, are shown. Musical compositions are chosen from the same time period as the art, and before each piece a brief explanation is given as to why the composer and artist were paired. For more information about the artists click here >>

Location: International House, 322 Hawthorne Lane, Clt, NC
Date:Thursday, May 3, 2012, from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Cost: General admission $10, students $5

RSVP not required but helpful.
Contact Hendrik van Vuuren at 704-333-8099 ext. 12 or email hvanvuuren@ihclt.org

Movie screening at International House. Lovestruck ¡Pancho! – A Biggest Bros. Production. Written and Directed by Duncan St. Clair.

Join us on May 21st at 8PM for a special screening of "Lovestruck ¡Pancho!", a crazy bilingual romantic comedy in both English and Spanish. Pancho, a Mexican immigrant, arrives in Charlotte to find himself in the midst of an untraditional bilingual Southern love triangle. A parody of translation and culture, Lovestruck ¡Pancho! is as much a community movement as an independent film.

Featuring longtime friends of International House Raul Farroch, Iris Newton and Todd Rose!

Date & Time: Monday, May 21st at 8 p.m. (Doors open at 7:30 p.m.)
Location: International House, 322 Hawthorne Lane
Cost: Free!

For more information click here or visit lovestruckpancho.com

The Board of Directors of International House and the 2012 Gala Committee invite you to enjoy an evening of Peruvian cuisine, dancing, entertainment, and Live and Silent Auctions at our 24th 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)

Location: The Westin Charlotte
Date: Saturday, October 6, 2012
Time: Six-Thirty in the Evening - Black Tie Optional

Corporate Sponsors include: WELLS FARGO, CONTINENTAL TIRE, PIEDMONT NATURAL GAS, COATS NORTH AMERICA, DUKE ENERGY, Aziz Law Firm, Providence Day School, Garfinkel Immigration Law Firm, SouthEnd Dentistry, The Language Academy of the Carolinas, Viscotec Automotive Products, LLC

English Tutors Needed - Earn extra income this summer AND help International House provide English tutoring to immigrant children! We are seeking tutors for our summer Youth English Tutoring Program (YETP). YETP helps low-income immigrant children with English speaking, writing, reading, listening and comprehension skills. A stipend of $1,400 will be paid to tutors who sign up for the six-week session.

This year, YETP is a six-week long session: June 18th- July 27th. Tutors will work with small groups of 3 to 5 children and will receive training and supervision through an on-site coordinator. Tutors will work from 8am-4pm on Mondays to Thursdays with Friday mornings spent at International House for group planning and evaluation. Morning tutoring sessions will be held at Merry Oaks International Academy Elementary and afternoon sessions at Albemarle Road Elementary, so tutors must have their own reliable transportation.

Application Instructions >>
For more information call us at 704.333.8099, or email Gail Johnson at gjohnson@ihcltorg

I saw a little boy the other day as I was walking along one of Charlotte’s greenways. He was with his father and grandmother, but in his mind, he was also enjoying the company of some other imaginary friends. Crouched down on the path, he engaged in a lively conversation with a passing beetle. He jumped up, laughed, and then ran into the grass on chubby little legs, away from the smiling adults and then back again. He began singing a little song and started counting the daisies nearby. Life was a game, and he was playing it with every aspect of his young being.

Imagination is a powerful thing. As humans, if we can imagine it, we can often build it. If we use our imagination creatively, it can open new possibilities for our lives, and even help us influence the direction of our nation. Imagine a world of peace and opportunity, where people respect others from different backgrounds and resolve their differences through discussion instead of violence. Imagination often partners with that wonderful human endeavor we know as "play". Play is appreciated in all cultures, and whether an Olympic event or a neighborhood ball game, play offers us a way to experience the beauty of life with people we enjoy.

Once again, International House will offer Charlotte families and children an opportunity to experience imaginative play from cultures around the world through our annual "Children’s World of Play" event. Hosted at ImaginOn on May 12th, this free event will highlight games, stories, music, and dance from around the world. An afternoon of interactive activities, "Children’s World of Play" draws together many performers, artists, and cultural representatives from Charlotte’s international communities. It is a wonderful way to experience a microcosm of global culture and meet new friends. Come on out and let your inner child have some fun. We hope to see you there!

Denise Cumbee Long

The next meeting of the International House Book Club will be on Monday, May 21, 2012 at 7 p.m. Everyone welcome!

The book to be discussed will be Sea of Poppies by Amitav Ghosh (560 pages) INDIA

Set in India in 1838 at the outset of the three-year Opium War between the British and the Chinese, this epic novel follows several characters from different levels of society who become united through their personal lives aboard a ship and through their connections to the opium and slave trades.

Ghosh's use of local patois creates a rich and colorful atmosphere, and episodes of humor live side by side with episodes of terror. The first book in a projected "Ibis trilogy," this historical novel pulses with life, and as the novel comes to a satisfying close, Ghosh keeps several doors open, suggesting the direction he will take with the novel's sequel.

Duke Energy Foundation - $15,000 for Adult English Tutoring program and Citizenship Classes

Coca Cola Bottling Co. -
$5,000 for A Children's World of Play on May 12th

PNC Bank - $2,500 for A Children's World of Play on May 12th