Twin Cities ACTivities

After a very successful week of performances we continue to make new friends and fans of Refugee Nation. Amongst the new friends and fans were some who got to experience the fun and educational theater workshops and socials we were able to squeeze in. We call this community engagement, exchange and interaction. All in all the sharing that happens brings us all closer and deeper to better understand and appreciate each other as individual human beings. Audiences have been touched in so many levels which makes us realize the importance of our work and forever drives us. Within this week alone we have presented excerpts, had post-show discussions, and facilitated theater workshops at various institutions throughout Minneapolis-St. Paul including: Intermedia Arts, Lao Cultural Center, St. Cloud State University, John F. Kennedy High School, and University of Minnesota. I am continually amazed at the reach and impact we have on the community. We have had Lao families of every generation attend, we have had a young man awaken to his Lao identity and so affected by the play, see a reflection of his family in the play...the stories go on an on. Art does change everything, art does heal, art is essential to our lives.

Some recent photo memories:
Lunch with visiting fans from Des Moines, Iowa!
Beautiful and amazing playwright and teacher Ms. Kathy Haddad of John F. Kennedy High.
JFK: Getting the creative writing class ready for some thinking activities.
JFK: Reaching for the sky while warming up the body!
UofM: Participants at the University of Minnesota workshop. Thanks to AASAP & LSA
UofM: Lao Student Association and Hmong Student Association Reps welcoming participants.
Lao and Iranian-Guatemalan brothers-in-artistic-arms...Ova Saopeng and Robert Karimi
IA: Refugee Nation cast members Ova and Litdet hanging outside Intermedia Arts
IA: Lao-paparazzi after the Bao Lao Dala!
IA: The power of the arts lives within all generations...GO REFUGEE NATION!
SCSU: St. Cloud St. University brought us for a performance excerpt and discussion.
SCSU: Leilani in dialogue and conversation with students of SCSU.