The main classrooms of RISSE are upstairs in the old church, they need everything – paint, sketchpads, pencils crayons, money. I had very few teachers I loved in my life, but the first thing you see at RISSE is the great love between the children and the teachers, they need no urging to ham for the camera, they loved to be with one of their teachers.
I have permission to use names now, but I’m going to hold off for awhile, there is a sad kind of fear and caution around the refugee children. I want to get to know them, and let them be comfortable with me. I might bring Red on one of my visits, some of these kids come from countries where dogs are not considered pets and never get into homes.
I love taking photos of these faces, they are the truth about refugees and immigrants, they have so much spirit and love. At RISSE, the students learn English and have a place to go after school while they parents work. They seem very happy and engaged there. Next week, some portraits of the chlldren. If you care to donate to RISSE, you can do so here.
I am grateful to know and meet these people, they are the real deal, an Army Of Good unto themselves.
It took me nearly four months, but I have finally made the refugee connection I have wanted to make, a wonderful, dedicated organization, a group of newly-arrived refugees, the chance to meet them, photograph them, show their true faces, write about their real lives.
Most of them I met today are children, but not all. At RISSE’s (The Refugee and Immigrant Support Services of Emmaus) very crowded offices, in a big and beautiful old Methodist Church in the Pine Hills of Albany, I got to find what I have been looking for.
The refugee and immigrant story is not an easy one to find these days, there are many issues of trust, purpose, patience and willfulness.
Had I not been a reporter for some years, I doubt I would have been able to do it. There are lots of people smarter than me, but not too many as stubborn.
My mission is to write and take photos that show the truth about refugees and immigrants in America, that show how real and very much like us they are, how much they need our help and generosity, how frightened and encircled they feel.
Tuesday was just the beginning, a chance to see the kids, sit in on the adult classes, get a feel for this remarkable place. One year ago, arsonists burned their classroom and office building down, and slashed all of the tires on their aging vans. RISSE needs just about everything, and any donations you choose to give will be put to great use.
The church chose to stand by the refugees, they rebuilt the offices and are looking for a new van.
I will begin my part by joining artist Rachel Barlow next week to bring 90 art and creativity kits for these amazing young people, many of whom I saw and met and photographed today. I was struck by how much they love one another, how eager and open they are, how devoted their teachers are, and how much they love their students. It takes a lot of heart to do this work, and there was a lot of heart on display at RISSE.
The refugees at RISSE are her from all over the world – Asia, Africa, the Middle East, South America. They come to RISSE every day to learn English, look for jobs, organize their finances, fill out the daunting paperwork of American life.
For now, the photographs speak for themselves. I think we have enough money now for the art kits, Rachel will make as many as she has funds to make. The kids were so excited to be getting them.
I’ll put up some photos on Facebook, my first RISSE album, I have been seeking to do this for a while. I am the child of immigrants from a family of immigrants.
To me, America is about opening its arms to people, as you can see from the photos, they are part of the rich tapestry that has made America unique in the world, and I want to show that they are not dangerous, they have not come to steal our services or harm us. Some of these children have suffered horribly. The idea that they are dangerous is a monstrous lie.
I hope these new Americans and especially, these children, get to see the true heart and soul of this generous country.
So here goes, the RISSE project, I hope to help them raise some of the money they need to do some of the things they are in urgent need of. Here we go, and thanks for your support of the art kits, a great start. I’ll put up some photos on the blog, make them an album on Facebook. Many more to come.
Today on the Amazon Draw/Create/Paint gift page for refugee children, I bought a coloring book for $6.96 that includes stress relieving butterfly patterns for $6.99. I saw this item on the Amazon wish list, it is simple to use and inexpensive. Just click the draw/paint/create button on the Amazon checkout page. This is a wonderful way to help children who are often traumatized by their experience before coming to America and who are struggling to adjust to the complex life here.
We are seeking to put together 90 of these kits for refugee children in upstate New York, where a large number has come in recent months and years. We are only a few hundred dollars short of the $1,200 we need to get these kids into the hands of the children who need them.
The wish list is dwindling, people are very drawn to this project. We are almost there.
I’m on my way to Albany this afternoon to meet some of them, and hopefully, photograph one or two.
You can also, if you prefer, donate directly to this very timely and urgently needed program by going here. The kids are being put together by the Vermont author, painter, and illustrator Rachel Barlow. Thanks much.
I got my authors copy of “Talking To Animals” Monday, and Fate and Red seemed quite intrigued. The book will be out for sale on March 5.
You can pre-order the book from Battenkill Books, my local independent bookstore, and get a free and classy tote-bag specially designed for this promotion. It features a border collie and the words “stay.sit.read.” You can pre-order here and I will sign and personalize each book, so far, more than 500 pre-orders. Heading for 1,000, plenty of tote bags left and you will support a wonderful independent bookstore as well as an enterprising author. You can also call the bookstore at 518 677-2515 and talk to the very nice and knowledgeable people who work there.
In general, I don’t post the “awwww…” photos from other people, I would be swamped with cute photos But this one got to me after I heard Maria sayint “awwww…” a few times, and so I made an exception. The cats belong to her friend Gail, and I have never seen them or met them. But I think some “awwww” photos are okay these days, people need to laugh.
