Event Recap: 47th Annual International Taste of Columbus
After months of preparation, the 47th Annual International Taste of Columbus went off without a hitch! On Thursday, August 26, members of the community gathered at the South Drive-In Theatre to celebrate the multiculturalism of Columbus. Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, US Together found a way to bring the community together while also keeping social distancing precautions in place. Attendees were able to learn more about refugee resettlement and support US Together while enjoying a fun summer movie night!
Guests began arriving at 8 PM, and as supporters checked in, they were given flyers, meal tickets, waters, and US Together bracelets. There were approximately 100 people in attendance, who all showed up to express their support for the New American community. US Together staff remained by a table full of information about our programming and migrants in Columbus, such as the newly published Gateways for Growth report. Attendees could also purchase T-Shirts which say “Welcome” in the following 20 languages: English, Irish, Kinyarwanda, Lingala, Spanish, Farsi, Nepali, Indonesian, Somali, Russian, Italian, Amharic, Hindi, Fulani, Swahili, Arabic, Igbo, German, French, and Bulgarian.
Supporters were treated to dinner from the Dos Hermanos food truck. First-time entrepreneurs Lisa and Vicente Gutierrez started Dos Hermanos in 2012, as they wanted to offer authentic Mexican food to Columbus residents. Vicente is from Oaxacan, Mexico, and all of their meals are based on recipes that came from his family. The spectacular dishes offered by the food truck was definitely a highlight of the night for many attendees!
US Together was extremely proud to have premiered its original short film, highlighting several women migrants in Columbus. Dr. Rosaire Ifedi was honored as the 2021 New American Champion, and you can read about her extensive community engagement by clicking here. The short film tells the stories of Dr. Ifedi, Norah Bagirinka, and Tatiana Kats. Norah is a former asylum-seeker from Rwanda who now runs her own non-profit, serving refugee women. Tatiana is the founder and creative director of Columbus International Children’s Choir. A big thank you goes out to Ramone Hardy of Ramone Hardy Productions for his involvement as editor. You can view the short film directly on this page by scrolling down.
Following the short film, supporters watched the 2014 movie, The Good Lie, which tells the story of several South Sudanese refugees as they are resettled in the United States. The actors who portray the refugees in the film were formerly refugees themselves in real life. While the experience of every migrant is unique, the movie displays some common challenges that are faced when one is forced to flee their home. We hope this inspires our supporters to learn more about the refugee resettlement process and how they can get involved.
Co-Founders and Directors Nadia Kasvin and Tatyana Mindlina speak to ABC 6.
US Together’s annual fundraising event even made its way onto the news! Co-Founders and Directors Nadia Kasvin and Tatyana Mindlina were given a chance to speak about the importance of supporting refugees at this critical time. While the humanitarian crisis unfolds in Afghanistan, organizations that serve refugees are receiving more attention as people are asking how they can support their new neighbors.
US Together cannot thank the community enough for attending this event and supporting refugees and immigrants in Columbus, Ohio!
