Dear LERDs,

So much has happened since our last newsletter! I will keep it short here because I'd love for you to see the all the photos and updates that follow below. BIGGEST NEWS: We opened a second site! We are copyrighting our curriculum, we hired a new Program Director, and our 2021 Fall Fest was INCREDIBLY FUN! (If you missed it, save the date: 10/01/2022).

We started back our K-5 program at Aldersgate. We are welcoming 100 English Language Learners students primarily attending Intellicor Islamic School, Merry Oaks International Academy, Windsor Park ES, and Winterfield ES. We are thankful that CMS is supporting ourBRIDGE's families by providing transportation to our center. We still provide transportation home every night.

Our Middle School program is also back! In partnership with Mecklenburg County, we offer a program for fifty refugee and immigrant middle schoolers from Eastway Middle at the Rec. Center on Shamrock Dr. The kids LOVE IT! They not only have more space for themselves with soccer fields and playgrounds, they also have access to the basketball court. It is wonderful to see when things we envision actually happen. Many of the kids have drawn a basketball court years ago in their ourBRIDGE Center Wish List. We will send a separate newsletter with more info about our second site soon!

Talking about the future we envision: We already have over 120 registered students in our waiting list. As families continue to share our work with friends and neighbors, and as the city and school district prepares to welcome new refugee families, we expect this number to continue to grow. We are working hard to expand and replicate so that every newly-arrived family has access to an ourBRIDGE program where they can learn English, be supported socio-emotionally during their acculturation to the US, and where they can feel proud of themselves and their cultures.

Please consider becoming part of this effort by investing in our work. We will need as much support as we can get.

As always, thank you for your continuous support and for believing in our mission. Please let me know if you have any questions or ideas.

Sincerely,

Sil Ganzó

ourBRIDGE Executive Director

She/Her

Sil@joinourbridge.org

Welcome Juanita, our new Program Director

With over 10 years of experience in non-profit leadership and youth development, Juanita has a deep passion for education and community. In addition to her work in non-profit and community organizations, Juanita has a passion for the arts. Her roots run deep as she was born and raised in the Lowcountry. She is a proud Gullah Girl and much of how she shows up in the world derives from that rich and unique culture, her family, and her hopes and dreams for the world.

Welcome Bella, our new Office Manager

Bella attended Queens University of Charlotte, where she graduated with her degree in Communication and Interfaith Studies. While there, she had the opportunity to partner with the community that works with migrants and refugees at the border, conduct studies regarding health communication, and met the ourBRIDGE staff when she led an interfaith workshop for us! She loves to explore coffee shops, thrift stores, and work with the LERDS at ourBRIDGE!

2021 ourBRIDGE Fall Fest Shout outs!

Ethiopian Coffee Ceremony

Semhar Kfle shared the traditional Ethiopian/Eritrean Coffee ceremony. Semhar is a former ourBRIDGE Classroom Facilitator from Eritrea. We were happy to see her and her sons, Natu and Sam, back at our center.

Henna/Mehndi

Mumthaz is a Sri Lankan henna artist who uses her homemade henna mixture. Her beautiful and intricate patterns are done in Indian style.

Let us know if you'd like to contract her!

Thank you, volunteers!

Our Fall Fest wouldn't have been as successful without the help of volunteers! Over 20 volunteers, including former BRIDGE kids, dedicated ourBRIDGE advocates, community partners, and Ethiopian Youth Group members, helped make our Fall Fest a success.

BOOM is an artist-led performance and visual arts showcase of contemporary and experimental works. BOOM connected us with two of our fall fest performers: Kurma and DJ Kato. We’re looking forward to partnering with BOOM for their Echoes East Charlotte event on November 14th at the Sailboat Bay apartment complex.

For a long time, the ourBRIDGE staff and students have dreamed of a vibrant and welcoming outdoor space With Providence United Methodist Church’s generous gift, we’ve built a beautiful stage and are closer to our dreams coming true.

Prikshyia, Bandana, and Sanju, danced to Ghintang Ghintang, a Napali love song.

Prikshyia, Bandana, and Sanju, danced to Ghintang Ghintang, a Napali song about a girl so much in love that it makes her dance.

Prikshyia, Bandana, and Sanju are three ourBRIDGE OGs, they have been part of our program since they were five!

So many more opportunities to get involved and support Charlotte's refugee and immigrant community!

#LERD #LOVE #EDUCATION #RESPECT #DIVERSITY

ourBRIDGE JoinourBRIDGE.org