Roshni

ROSHNI'S INITIAL PROJECTS WERE A RESULT OF A YEAR-LONG OBSERVATION, SURVEY, AND NETWORKING WITH THE LOCAL RESIDENTS, SPECIFICALLY AMONG THE REFUGEE/IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY. THEY THUS COMPRISE 90% OF OUR PRIMARY CONSTITUENT TARGET GROUP. OUR STRENGTH LIES IN CREATING PROGRAMS AND EVENTS THAT ARE INFORMED BY THEIR REAL-LIFE STORIES AND RELEVANT ISSUES OF INTEGRATION, JOB READINESS, RACIAL EQUITY, AND ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES. WE USE ART TO HEAL AND INSPIRE THOSE, WHO HAVE BEEN DEEPLY TRAUMATIZED AS A RESULT OF WAR, GENOCIDE, AND ETHNIC CLEANSING IN THEIR COUNTRY OF ORIGIN. WE SHARE STORIES WITH THEM BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, HELP THEM TELL THEIR OWN. THROUGH SHARING AND LEARNING, WE CREATE AN ENVIRONMENT OF WELL-BEING, AND AN INCREASED SENSE OF SELF-WORTH AND DEVELOP THE NECESSARY SKILLS FOR JOB READINESS. AS AN ADVOCATE FOR RACIAL EQUITY IN THE PERFORMING ARTS, WE RECRUIT AND MENTOR LOCAL ARTISTS THEREBY PROMOTING DIVERSITY AND CREATING EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR ARTISTS OF COLOR.

NEW AMERICAN STORIES (NAS): NAS IS AN AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAM THAT ALLOWS YOUTH TO CREATE THEIR ORIGINAL PLAY. IT IS OFFERED THROUGH TWO,12-WEEK SESSIONS THROUGHOUT THE SCHOOL YEAR. A FINAL PRODUCTION IS HELD IN MAY TO SHOWCASE THE WORK OF ALL STUDENTS. PARTICIPANTS LEARN ABOUT STAGE PRODUCTION AS THEY CREATE A SCRIPT, SET DESIGN, AND CHOREOGRAPHY FOR AN ORIGINAL PERFORMANCE. THE 12-WEEK SESSIONS ALLOW FOR LONG-TERM ENGAGEMENT AND A DEEPER IMPACT RATHER THAN A ONE-OFF EXPERIENCE. THE BENEFIT TO YOUTH IS RELATIONSHIP BUILDING WITH STAFF AND OTHER PEERS, SEEING A PROJECT FROM START TO FINISH, AND SPENDING OUT-OF-SCHOOL TIME IN A SAFE AND PRODUCTIVE WAY. NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS SERVED: 110 - A TOTAL OF 22 WEEKS AND 500 HOURS OF PROGRAMMING OFFERED - YOUTH RANGED FROM GRADE K-12 - 100% BIPOC YOUTH, 90% REFUGEE/ASYLEE YOUTH THE EMPATHY PROJECT: THE EMPATHY PROJECT IS A PERFORMANCE/WORKSHOP THAT ADDRESSES ISSUES RELATED TO SELF-AWARENESS, MENTAL HEALTH, CULTURAL DIVERSITY, AND EMPATHY. IT SERVES VARIOUS SCHOOLS AND ENGAGES YOUTH IN IMPORTANT DISCUSSIONS THROUGH CREATIVE EXPRESSION. NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS SERVED: 2000 - A TOTAL OF 12 SCHOOLS SERVED - YOUTH RANGED FROM GRADE K-12 - 100% BIPOC YOUTH, 90% REFUGEE/ASYLEE YOUTH

SEW AND SING PROGRAM. THEY ARE OUR WOMEN-ORIENTED PILOT PROJECT FOR STAY-HOME REFUGEE/IMMIGRANT MOTHERS. IN THIS WEEKLY 3-HOUR PROJECT THEY LEARN TO SEW SIMPLE HOUSEHOLD ITEMS MOVING TOWARDS MORE COMPLEX SEWING. THE SECOND PART IS TO LEARN TO SING TO IMPROVE SPOKEN ENGLISH, CONNECT WITH OTHER WOMEN, AND FEEL A SENSE OF ACCOMPLISHMENT. NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS SERVED: 35 - A TOTAL OF 9 MONTHS SERVED WITH A TOTAL OF APPROXIMATELY 250 HOURS SERVED - 100% OF REFUGEE WOMEN RESETTLED HERE IN THE LAST 5 YEARS

THE NEW AMERICAN ARTS FESTIVAL IS A MOVEMENT TO EXPRESS, TO EXHIBIT, TO EXCLAIM AND IS OUR ONGOING INITIATIVE TO PRESENT NEW AND DIVERSE VOICES THROUGH ORIGINAL ARTWORKS. THROUGH COMMISSIONED ORIGINAL ARTWORKS AND COMMUNITY CONVERSATION WE INTEND TO BRING ABOUT A DEEPER AWARENESS AND ASSERTION OF THE CULTURAL IDENTITIES OF THOSE HISTORICALLY UNDER-REPRESENTED BIPOC COMMUNITIES. THE NAAF STARTED VIRTUALLY, AS A PILOT EDITION IN 2020 DURING THE PANDEMIC. SINCE THEN, WEVE HAD TREMENDOUS SUCCESS ENGAGING THE COMMUNITY AND BRINGING TOGETHER A BROAD RANGE OF CULTURAL GROUPS. IT IS A BRILLIANT TESTIMONY THAT SHOWS WHEN GIVEN THE RIGHT SUPPORT, BIPOC COMMUNITIES WILL FIND THEIR VOICES AND TELL THEIR STORIES THROUGH NEW AND DIVERSE ARTWORKS.