new - international house of ri

NEWSLETTER
MAY – AUGUST 2014
INTERNATIONAL
HOUSE OF
RHODE ISLAND
...through friendship, a world of understanding
NOTES FROM THE DIRECTOR – RISA GILPIN
I have now been “sitting in the driver’s seat” here at 8
Stimson Avenue for 6 months, truly enjoying the ride
and daily mapping out a plan for getting the word out
to our community about this gem of an organization.
With the aid of our talented staff, Janet Germano, Associate Director, and Linda Breslin, Administrative
Coordinator, and with the input from several Brown
University student interns, we have completed a marketing assessment, and are working on an oral history
project. We rely on you, our members, to share your
enthusiasm for and endorsement of our mission – supporting the idea that “through friendship, a world of
understanding” still holds great value in our collective
universe.
I am spending the summer setting up committees
to explore future programs, to raise awareness about
the organization, to gather our incredible volunteer
force of teachers and tutors in order to discuss their
successes and challenges, to strategize about how to
support IHRI activities, and to rethink our direction
moving forward into the future. We have a lively and
engaged group of Program Committee members who
are helping to evaluate our series of activities – thank
you to Dorothy Abram, Gladys Corvera Baker, Jessica
Barry, Christina Bertoni, Shontay Delalue King Butler,
Nadia Jensen, Mary Mueller, Pamelee Murphy, Elena Calderon Patino, Dena Quillici, Jane Yedlin, and
Grace Young – all forces of nature.
Our volunteers ARE the heartbeat of IHRI – we value
and appreciate the 100+ team of volunteers currently
working together to make our house shine – THANK
YOU all – we love hearing your stories of interaction
with international visitors to RI.
And speaking of stories, I have quickly come to realize
that the strongest bond we have as human beings is
the sharing of our stories – it is what keeps us fascinated here – learning and sharing with people from
cultures from around the world.
During this period, consultant par excellence Deborah
Langstaff led our Board, staff, and community members through 2 phases of a retreat to capture the essence of our mission and purpose, to envision success
several years out for IHRI, to discuss areas of strength
INTERNATIONAL HOUSE OF RHODE ISLAND
and areas needing improvement, and to touch on issues
of visibility, programming, and outreach. The process is
extremely valuable and will lead us to begin the work of
engaged committees, Strategic Planning, and increased
membership and interest in the organization.
Beginning Wednesday, September 3, 2014, we will be
staying open on Wednesday nights until 9 pm. This will
be a chance for us to hold more evening classes and begin a series of Global Community get-togethers. See below to read about our Latin American Literature group
(meeting monthly on the FIRST Wednesday of each
month) and our Poetry readings (meeting bimonthly on
the THIRD Wednesday every other month) – please join
us for these.
I perceive my job here as being the one who shouts from
rooftops how much joy there is in sharing our common
ground with folks from all over our world. I appreciate
any suggestions that any of you may have ([email protected]) and look forward to a lively fall .
MEET THE DIRECTOR TEA - APRIL 27, 2014
sessment for International House in Spring 2014.
Based on our mission of service to international
visitors and community members, they amassed
research, conducted interviews, and established
recommendations that will be so helpful to our
efforts to engage a broader audience aligning
“internal operations with external outreach.”
We share several of their observations below:
“Many individuals interviewed point to the house
itself as one of their favorite aspects of the organization, describing it as warm welcoming, friendly,
safe, and even going as far as to say that it feels
like home.”
“Before coming to the IHRI, speaking in English
made him (one of our students) very uncomfortable, but now he is more confident. Moreover, he
is appreciative of the time and effort his tutor has
made in forging a personal connection with him.
He said he has been ‘moved to tears’ by the effort
that his tutor has made to cater the lessons to his
interests and skills, as well as introduce him to
Providence culture.”
Luidmilla Landsberg and Irene Capotosto prepare the tea.
MARKETING ASSESSMENT
Brown University Public Humanities master’s students Hillary Brady and Victoria Charette, through
their class with Gayle Gifford (“Management of
Cultural Institutions”) conducted a Marketing As-
Hillary Brady and Victoria Charette
...through friendship, a world of understanding
JANE MOTLEY (1934-2010) RETROSPECTIVE,
GALLERY NIGHT, THURSDAY, MAY 15, 2014
Artist (painting, drawing, needlework, sculpture),
world traveler, disciple of Karnig Nalbandian, and
great friend to many, Jane Motley’s legacy was on
display at International House from May 15-June
2nd in our downstairs gallery. Thanks to organizers Dorothy James and Jone Pashalian, who
also lent work for the exhibition. Other folks who
shared pieces from their collections of Motley’s
work were Katie Worthington, Janet Germano, and
May Warner. This exhibit was a stunning tribute to
Jane’s talent and spirit.
ALYSSA ANDERSON – ORAL HISTORIES
FOCUSED ON INTERNATIONAL HOUSE RI
Alyssa Anderson, first year doctoral student in
American Studies at Brown U., answered our request for an intern to collect stories/oral history
(gathering, preserving and interpreting the voices
and memories of people, communities, and participants in past events) about our house. As our organization is now over 50 years old there are many
tales to tell along the road to our success. Founding Directors Bili and Gil Mason could/should
write a book about their many unusual experiences
related to this outstanding place. Alyssa conducted
three several hour sessions with Bili alone! The
interviews were video-recorded and will be shaped
into both written and dvd formats. We will, at last,
have a better understanding of our intriguing history, told by folks who have had memorable experiences and lasting friendships originating from
our unique setting. Interviewees range from past
directors to current students, and the project is ongoing and essential to preserving the history of our
organization. Stay tuned for a screening and snippets appearing on our website in the near future.
Anna Cerutti and Dorothy James
TEACHERS AND TUTORS – GATHERINGS –
FRIDAY, MAY 16, 2014
We had our first planned bi-monthly gathering of
our remarkable volunteer force of teachers and tutors – 22 of our group of 47 were present to launch
this initiative to bring best practice to the program.
Sharing thoughts, experiences, challenges and
recommendations with each other, we all agreed
that the goal of our particular teaching and tutoring
program at International House was as much about
warmth, friendship, conversation, social ambiance,
and lively interaction as it was about learning
grammar, sentence structure, and vocabulary – in
other words, IH shines at its more informal approach to English language acquisition.
INTERNATIONAL HOUSE OF RHODE ISLAND
A NIGHT FROM ISTANBUL – ISTANBUL’DAN BIR
GECE – FRIDAY, MAY 23, 2014
Co-hosted by TACSRI (Turkish American Cultural
Society of RI) we enjoyed a lively evening focused
on the food and culture of Turkey. Dilek Bongol,
one of our talented students, sang classic ballads
from Turkey – her voice brought tears to our eyes.
Acclaimed photographer Dr. Cemal Ekin presented
a slideshow and talk on his experiences photographing the magnificent Hagia Sophia in Istanbul
(patriarchal basilica, imperial mosque and now, museum, constructed in 537 until 1453). Dr. Ekin had
the rare opportunity to have access to the top of the
dome – he managed to overcome his fear of heights
and claustrophobia, and rose to this rare opportunity by photographing this testament to human
spirit from angles never before seen. He will have
an exhibit of this work at the Galleries at Central
Congregational Church in the fall. Special thanks
go to Aslihan Tokgoz Onaran, President of TACSRI,
for coordinating the many successful elements that
came together for a memorable evening.
school art teacher (2nd Monday of the month);
and by Lindsay Meehan and her deservedly popular program, “Music for Children” – IHouse was
rockin’ and rollin’ with songs and dances and a
steady stream of happy and energetic children
(there were 38 in attendance for Ms. Meehan’s
presentation). The Music program will return on
Monday, July 21st. Be sure to help us spread the
word – it is a pleasure to meet parents from all over
the globe, sharing cultural traditions old and new.
FRIENDSHIP FAMILY PROGRAM
This is the season when we start thinking about the
incoming class of international graduate students
to Providence, we reach out to our local membership families to engage them in the practice of serving as “host” to one of these students during their
time spent in their studies.
Dr. Cemal Ekin, Risa Gilpin, Aslihan Tokgoz Onaran
PRESCHOOL GROUP – GETTING TO KNOW YOU –
MONDAYS AT 10:00 AM
Parents and their young children are coming to
International House on a regular basis on Monday
mornings at 10:00 am. We have participants from
Japan, China, India, Poland and the USA. They are
led by Lindsay Shaw, Children’s Librarian at the
Providence Athenaeum (1st Monday of the month);
Jenny Graham, tutor at IHRI and a former public
Through our Friendship Family program, students
receive hospitality from an individual or family
that lives in Rhode Island or nearby Massachusetts.
American hosts, who are of all ages and of many
different backgrounds, may help the students get
settled, exchange customs and culture, rely on each
other as resources, as conversationalists and provide a “home-away-from-home” while the student
is here. Hosts may invite students to their home
for special events and holidays. (Please note that
students do not live with their host.) This program
emphasizes the goal of forging a continuing relationship between the student and his/her American
host. Although each experience is different, many
life-long friendships have resulted from this effort.
...through friendship, a world of understanding
If you want to participate in this program, please
contact us directly at 401-421-7181, or go to our
website www.internationalhouseofri.org fill out and
return the application posted there and return, via
e-mail to [email protected]
VOLUNTEER APPRECIATION PARTY –
JUNE 11, 2014
At our annual tribute to I House volunteers, we celebrated the contributions of 48 folks, paying homage to their talent and hard work - all coming from
the goodness of their hearts. THANK YOU!
Wen Jie Gao, Gil Mason, and Janet Germano
ORIENTATION BROWN INTERNATIONAL GRAD
STUDENTS – AUGUST 22, 2014
We will be welcoming over 200 new international
graduate students from Brown on Friday, August
22nd for lunch here at International House. It is
thrilling to meet these motivated students each
year and we are happy to welcome them to Providence and introduce them with our special brand of
hospitality.
SANTA MAMBA BAND – A NEW ATTITUDE IN
CROSS-CULTURAL HARMONY - SATURDAY,
SEPTEMBER 6, 2014 – DANCE PARTY OUTSIDE
IN OUR BACK PARKING LOT – 6-8 PM
Where many bands fall under the broad classification of “Latin” consist of musicians with a shared
ethnic heritage, Santa Mamba’s story is different.
They all come from different places and grew up in
different times. Some band members come from
small American towns where there was little access
to anything outside of mainstream pop culture.
Some grew up in American cities with strong ties to
Italian and Portuguese traditions. Some members
WERE born in Latin American nations – Venezuela
and the Dominican Republic. All band members
have a passion for music and an openness to it in
all varieties of expression. Over time they have
forged a sound that they call Latin Roots Rock,
taking a firm understanding of various Latin and
American musical tradition and giving them new
voice in a unique combination of styles and personalities, celebrating diversity and life. Their big
goal and chief ambition is to get the whole world
dancing.
What could come closer to aligning with our own
mission than this perfectly configured group of
talented musicians. Join us for this exceptional
dance party – Jake Rojas will bring his food truck to
the event as well. Parking will be tricky – just plan
ahead…
Students and members - $10.00; nonmembers - $20.00
MEMBERSHIP AND CLASSES
Help us to spread the good word about our
International House and it’s programs and classes.
Membership is open to anyone interested in other
countries and cultures. Call today and join our
global family – 401-421-7181. Please become a
member: $30.00 individual; $45.00 family.
Join now and save on our events.
Our ESL classes; foreign language classes and
clubs welcome new students at any time in the
semester. We offer sessions for Beginners, Intermediate, and Advanced conversation groups. Visit our
website at www.internationalhouseofri.org
INTERNATIONAL HOUSE OF RHODE ISLAND
a Manufacturing company in Rhode Island until
2000; presently she works for the Rhode Island Public Defenders office as a translator and Interpreter.
Vineet Venugopal and Kaushik Vijaykumar
FALL 2014
REMEMBER: beginning Sept 3 we will be staying
open on Wednesday nights until 9:00 pm. We’ll use
this time to create a Global Community program
- a chance for our international visitors and local
community members to share time together talking
about a range of topics. We will also be adding additional classes on Wednesday nights – stay tuned
for that.
On the FIRST Wednesday of each month, Program
Committee member (and International House
long-time member) Gladys Corvera Baker has created a series called “Rediscover Latin American
Literature - Through Astronomy and Word” - her
description:
For a woman astronaut
The planet Earth is a poem
Join us for a series of book discussions
On man’s quest for harmony and peace in
their inner and outer relationships
Through writings and storytelling ancient
and contemporary
Latin American voices speak
Wednesday, September 3, 7:00 pm - AMOR
EN LOS TIEMPOS DE COLERA; LOVE IN THE
TIME OF CHOLERA, by Gabriel Garcia Marquez,
Columbian novelist, short-story writer, screenwriter
and journalist, known affectionately as “Gabo”
throughout Latin America - presented by Pilar
Lorente, who is from Barcelona, Spain. Pilar graduated in Economics in Spain and was a co-owner of
Wednesday, October 1, 7:00 pm - LA
NOCHE; THE NIGHT, by Jaime Saenz, who is
arguably the greatest Bolivian writer of the twentieth century. His poetry is apocalyptic, transcendent, hallucinatory, brilliant. Presented by Forrest
Gander, American poet, essayist, novelist, critic and
translator. Born in the Mojave Desert, he grew up
in Virginia and holds degrees in both English literature and geology, and is involved in the Literary
Arts program at Brown University.
Wednesday, November 5, 7:00 pm - VIVIR
BIEN/BUEN VIVIR; GOOD LIVING/LIVING
WELL, by Fernando Huanacuni, Aymara (indigenous people of the Andes) official of the Foreign
Ministry of Bolivia - presented by Gladys Corvera
Baker, who is from Bolivia, and is the founder and
former president of the Centro Cultural Andino, a
RI based non-profit organization to promote and
preserve the Andean cultures. Ms. Corvera-Baker
was the owner and founding director of International Gallery for Heritage and Culture in Cochabamba, Bolivia, a gallery, and the Centro Holistisco
de Integracion Humana an organization dedicated
to helping people find peace within themselves and
to promote peace on the local and global scale.
Program Committee member Mary Mueller is
working to create a bimonthly poetry series with
Robbie English, Carol Kent, and Bili Mason
...through friendship, a world of understanding
global themes on the THIRD Wednesday bi-monthly.
We are thrilled that the first reading in September
will feature RI Poet Laureates. The schedule so far:
Wednesday, September 17, 7:00 pm - RI Poet
Laureates Tom Chandler, Lisa Starr, and Rick Benjamin, with Kara Provost
Wednesday, November 19, 7:00 pm – Readers from The Origami Poetry Project
Stay tuned for more innovative programs here at
International House. Be sure to join/renew your
membership in order to receive our newsletter and
our e-mail updates on a regular basis.
DONATIONS – MEMORIAL GIFTS
Thank all of our members who donate generously
to keep our organization afloat. We really and truly
appreciate your support and your belief in us!
We have had an outpouring of gifts in memory of
two folks who recently passed away:
In memory of Cassandra Jade, daughter of Board
members Dorothy and Sandy McCulloch
In memory of Board member Ellen Collis’ husband
Charles Collis (funds were sent to Hasbro Children’s Hospital, per the wishes of the family).
SEEKING VOLUNTEERS –
ARGENTINIAN OPEN HOUSE, SUNDAY, MAY 18
Argentinos en RI, a newly formed cultural group
We are always seeking volunteers to assist in our
mission of welcome and hospitality for international visitors. As we offer both classes for learners of
English as another language (for all level of abilities), and offer private tutoring opportunities for
folks with specific language learning needs, we are
always looking for additional volunteers to join this
group. As you read previously, we will be offering
bi-monthly workshops for our teachers and tutors,
offering tips and strategies for developing best
practices for these sessions. We also would like to
add to our classes (or tutoring) in Spanish, Italian,
French, Portuguese, Arabic, German, Chinese, or
any other language – if you have skills/fluency in
another language please consider volunteering to
share your abilities.
BROWN U. HOUSEHOLD LEASING SERVICE
We also have opportunities for folks who wish to
help prepare international meals, offer assistance at
our annual bazaar (December), and for our Friendship Family program, serving as personal support
(sharing a meal, watching sports, going shopping)
for a visiting international student, would love help
organizing projects for the preschool group, and
also seek folks who could offer walking tours of
interesting neighborhoods in Providence.
Run by the Women and Men of Brown University
this service rents used furniture and household
goods to international graduate students, postdocs,
and visiting faculty. Contact [email protected] for further information.
We are building working committees at the House
and would like to hear from you if you have expertise in fundraising, historical buildings, marketing,
legal issues, graphic design, website/social media
design, and outreach/community engagement.
that got its start here at our house, promotes the
traditions and beauty of Argentina, sharing their
rich traditions with us. This group hosted an open
house at International House, complete with traditional hot chocolate and pastries, and enchanting
guitar music and song.
INTERNATIONAL HOUSE OF RHODE ISLAND
NEWPORT TRIP – AUGUST 6, 2014
Join us on a special day trip to Newport, RI – an indepth journey for up to 12 participants, highlighting
the city’s origins as a haven for religious outcasts,
to its rise as one of colonial America’s most important seaports, to its transformation into the premier
summer resort of high society. Led by Tourmeister
Ed Brassard of Access Newport, we will be picked
up at International House at 9 am – we arrive in
Newport for a walking tour of the Point neighborhood, one of the oldest neighborhoods in town with
the highest concentration of colonial houses in the
United States (Nicholas Easton, one of Newport’s
founders, first settled in this area in the 17th Century).
Next we’ll take a walking tour of Newport’s Washington Square, where we will see the Colony House,
the 4th oldest statehouse still standing in the U.S.
(built between 1736-1739) and Touro synagogue, the
oldest surviving synagogue in the country, designed by colonial architect Peter Harrison. We will
also visit historic Trinity Church on Queen Anne
Square, founded in 1698, it is the oldest Episcopal
parish in the state.
Lunch will be on your own at one of the many eating establishments at Bowen Wharf.
In the afternoon we’ll take a driving tour of the
mansions and beaches along Bellevue Avenue and
Ocean Drive.
Cost - $55.00 members/students; $65.00 nonmembers
Caution: lots of walking on this tour – wear good
walking shoes! Like so many great cities, Newport
is best seen on foot…
NEW MEMBERS
STAFF: 401-421-7181
We welcome all our new friends to the
International House family:
Susanna Angelilo and
Salvatore Mancini
Dorothy Bocian
Carol Fay
Jennifer Graham
Peter Kammerer
Risa Gilpin, Executive Director;
[email protected]
Mary Mueller
Charley Otto and Carol Grant
Jean Plunkett
Therese Quigley
Kate Richardson
Janet Germano, Associate Director;
[email protected]
Linda Breslin,
Administrative Coordinator;
[email protected]
MAY – AUGUST NEWSLETTER
8 Stimson Avenue, Providence RI 02906
www.internationalhouseofri.org 401-421-7181
INTERNATIONAL HOUSE
OF RHODE ISLAND
PROVIDENCE, RI
PERMIT NO. 332
PAID
NON PROFIT ORG
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