A first reading of the play will take place FRIDAY the 23rd at 2:00pm OUTSIDE at RCHP and you’re invited!

I just finished reading Jhumpa Lahiri’s The Namesake, which tells the story of Gogol — a second generation Indian American. A major theme in the book is how Gogol’s identity is split between the country he was born and raised in (America) and his ancestral country of India. He is split between his parents’ teachings, culture, food, sense of home, dreams for him and his American ideals, goals and desires. So many of the interviews I have conducted bring up this same reality for immigrants, refugees, and asylees.

Creative Connections is the brainchild of Parnika Celly, an intern with I-Rise getting her Masters in Social Work from Rutgers University. Creative Connections is designed to create virtual space for the I-Rise client community to engage in mutual mentorship, making and learning arts and crafts, and self expression through the arts.

The Biden administration has been making huge strides in demonstrating their commitment to refugees and immigrants. He signed three executive orders on immigration, including one that aims to reunite migrant families that the Trump administration separated.

I have been having such a blast running workshops at RCHP. I’ve had the opportunity to run theater workshops with high schoolers and middle schoolers through Terry Stoke’s youth group on Wednesdays and Sundays (7pm - 8:15pm). I am getting to participate in Wendy Jager’s Book Club for English Language Learners on Tuesdays …