This event will use the language of stitching and sewing to welcome new members of our community and allow friendships to unfold!

The workshop is an opportunity to meet and collaborate with folks from the Refugee and Immigrant Support Services of Emmaus. The event will start with creating a simple pillow cover top. Then we will have a conversation about what really matters to us and distill this ideal down into a single word such as: kindness, love, freedom, etc. The women from RISSE will translate this word into their native language. All participants will hand embroider their word on their pillow cover in English and in the language/script of the immigrant woman they have just met. The women from RISSE look forward to practicing their English and making new friends. All materials provided. No prior experience necessary, just a desire to be a part of a community!

The workshop is geared to teens and adults. Please register here to attend.

This event is part of Stitching Exchange, an artist led project created by Melissa Sarris. She worked with RISSE community members, using sewing and stitching techniques as an informal and hands on way to practice learning English. Learn more about their progress on instagram: @stitchnexchange We will also be joined by two other local groups using sewing as a common language with immigrant women: Rensselaer International Crafters and St. Andrews Church sewing group (LVORC).

This project is made possible with funds from the Decentralization Program, a regrant program of the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Legislature and administered by The Arts Center of the Capital Region.