By Morgan Mattson
While Lutheran Family Services of Nebraska is a leader in refugee resettlement and case management, refugee artists are also identified across the state and supported in their endeavors to create and sell their work by way of the New American Arts Project. The New American Arts Project was created by Lutheran Family Services of Nebraska in 2016 in order to connect refugee artists to arts organizations in the Omaha and statewide community. The goal is to move beyond survival and to give clients the opportunity to thrive, using arts as the vehicle to do so. The work is aimed to support refugee artists by providing time, space, materials, resources, and professional development in order to support their art efforts. Whether that is the preservation of a traditional art form, learning a new art medium, becoming professionally proficient in a craft, continuing a professional art career, or creating as a hobby. Through these efforts, the program hopes to bridge the community by providing opportunities for Nebraska community members to engage with refugee artists, creating advocacy and building empathy, compassion, and unity in our home state and beyond. For more information and to view and purchase items, please visit the New American Arts Project website HERE!
Lutheran Family Services of Nebraska is also a proud partner and recipient of the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation’s Building Bridge’s Grant aimed to battle Islamophobia and anti-refugee sentiment across the state of Nebraska, specifically in rural communities. This three-year project has identified artists in communities across the state of Nebraska in Omaha, Lincoln, Grand Island, South Sioux City, and Lexington to name a few! Artists in these areas are supported in their work through community partnerships and collaborations, helping to bridge a divide between ethnic, racial, and religious communities. Lutheran Family Services is proud to partner with many fantastic organizations such as The Lied Center, Benson First Friday, Mary Treglia House, and many, MANY others to raise awareness of refugee resettlement and refugee issues across the state.
DON’T FORGET!
You can help by making a “Welcome Refugees” sign on a piece of paper, poster, etc., and taking a picture of the sign showing your support for the Nebraska refugee community. The picture can be a selfie holding the sign, the sign in your window, next to your pet… anywhere! Post your picture to Facebook with the hashtag #welcomerefugeesNE or to THIS page and Thrivent will donate $5 back to LFS for refugee resettlement! You can take up to 5 pictures with your sign and Thrivent will donate $5 back for every picture. That’s $25 per person!! Let us work together to show our support and welcome for the refugee community of Nebraska!
