Idaho Conference on Refugees - Creating Connection
Photos: Christina Birkinbine & Jessica Ferguson
A heartfelt thank you to the more than 600 attendees of the 2023 Idaho Conference on Refugees! We enjoyed making deeper connections, hearing your stories, and learning together.
Any attendee who would like to provide feedback is invited to fill out our post-conference survey.
If you would like to receive continuing education credits for your participation, please learn more here.
Thank you to our co-hosts, Boise State University.
We hope to see you again in 2024!
Any attendee who would like to provide feedback is invited to fill out our post-conference survey.
If you would like to receive continuing education credits for your participation, please learn more here.
Thank you to our co-hosts, Boise State University.
We hope to see you again in 2024!
SPONSORS
WORKSHOPS
Thank you to the more than 60 presenters who led engaging workshops to build community capacity and expand cultural awareness.
KEYNOTE
New York-based artist and illustrator Jane Chu led a beautiful keynote presentation and a Q&A alongside Palina Louangketh, founder of the Idaho Museum of International Diaspora. Palina's mother, Phouthasinh, who fled Laos with her two children when Palina was just 3 years old, was an honored guest during the presentation.
Jane is the former chairperson of the National Endowment for the Arts, has traveled the country to share the stories of refugees and immigrants. Her work is inspired by the journey her own mother took at a young age, leaving behind all she knew to find a life of safety and opportunity.
Jane is the former chairperson of the National Endowment for the Arts, has traveled the country to share the stories of refugees and immigrants. Her work is inspired by the journey her own mother took at a young age, leaving behind all she knew to find a life of safety and opportunity.
- Jane's feature story on Palina was published Feb. 6 in the Smithsonsian Folklife Magazine: What We Keep: A Single Mother’s Escape from Laos
- Learn more about Jane in this wonderful Q&A in the Idaho Press
- Hear Jane's interview with George Prentice on Boise State Public Radio's Morning Edition.
PERFORMANCES
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The Lao Folkloric Performers performed a series of dances reflective of Lao culture and heritage, wearing the traditional Lao costumes - "sinh" dresses - and dancing to traditional folkloric music. The dancers are from the Idaho Lao community in the Treasure Valley. The Idaho Lao community was established in the mid-1970s during the Vietnam War era, when Idaho resettled refugee families from across Southeast Asia. Today, the Idaho Lao community is made up of approximately 400-450 people.
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The Makatas Dance Team is a free mentorship program for young girls ages 8-16 through dance. The group promotes cultural diversity through music and arts. Among many others they contribute to their community through various volunteering opportunities.
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Interactive Bosnian Dance: Maya Duratovic has been working with Mladi Behar - The Bosnian and Herzegovinian Cultural Center of Idaho for 23 years. Her family moved to Boise in 1997 when she was 11 years old. In the early 2000s they started a dance group to share their culture with their new growing community. The group has done performances all over Boise, from on the ice at a Steelheads game to the Boise Airport and raised enough funds to take a group of dancers to Bosnia to perform! When she is not organizing music festivals, cooking classes and dancing, Maya is the School Manager at Boise State's School of Materials Science and Engineering.
Pascal Bispas is a former refugee who transforms tragedy to comedy. He has been a member of the Refugee Speakers Bureau since 2018 where he’s told stories for the Moth and the World Village Festival. Pascal currently works as a Peer Specialist and an Uber driver. His daily comedy audience consists of his riders, who always leave his car with a smile on their face. He is writing a book about his Uber Funny Stories.
EVENING RECEPTION
Recent Boise State theater graduate Nya Nyapamba performed a powerful one-person play she wrote called The Act of Overcoming.
DEBRIEF WITH SWITCHBOARD
This final plenary of the conference offered an opportunity for reflection and the incorporation of information and inspiration into actionable steps. What did you learn and how will you take it with you into your work and life? A large group debrief with breakouts, plus a Q&A for workshop presenters and fellow participants, aka your colleagues! Connect the dots. This session will be facilitated by Switchboard, a one-stop resource hub for refugee service providers in the United States
EMCEES
Moses Mukengezi came to Boise from the Democratic Republic of Congo in 2007; it was through soccer that he first felt connection to the community. He went on to play for Boise State where he earned a BA in Sociology. Following his degree, Moses worked for several years in refugee resettlement youth programs, with youth experiencing homelessness at the Idaho Youth Ranch, and led the development of Economic Opportunity’s Men’s Mentorship program. Moses has enjoyed seven years of coaching refugee youth through Nations United Soccer and speaks six languages; he is especially fond of French. Moses joined the TOK Commercial team in 2022 as a Broker, and loves to learn about the Treasure Valley, Idaho, and America.
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Bernadette Nyirabariyang, born in northern Rwanda, resettled in Boise in 1995 and graduated in 2007 from Borah High School. Her time in a sorority at the University of Idaho solidified her love of philanthropy and community engagement. She’s worked for the City of Boise’s Parks and Recreation Department, the Treasure Valley YMCA, and Ballet Idaho. In 2017 Bernadette joined The GK Folks Foundation and became Assistant Program Director of Miss Africa Idaho. One year later, she became co-captain of the Makatas Dancers and joined the Global Village Festival, which promotes the diverse cultures in Idaho. Bernadette is also apart of the Cultural for Change Foundation, engaging youth through educational programs which encourage culture, arts, and financial sustainability.
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TABLING ORGANIZATIONS
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Neighbors United
Primary Behavioral Health Body & Mind Just Serve Humans of Idaho Brighter Future Health City of Boise Ada County Sheriff's Office Valley Regional Transit Bareroots Collective Envision Idaho Lions Vision Clinic American Red Cross |
Treasure Valley Family YMCA
Boise Public Library Ada Community Library Idaho Immunization Coalition Makatas Heart Foundation Idaho Department of Labor Artisans for Hope Switchboard One Refugee InterpreLink Saint Luke's Tidwell Services |
People have long been coming to Idaho to seek refuge and freedom, as well as build better lives. Our entire country is stronger when everyone feels safe and connected enough to fully participate in community life. We have the opportunity to work together to build welcoming communities where all people are valued, and where everyone can thrive.
All of this starts by creating connection.
All of this starts by creating connection.
