WWR Article Summary (tl;dr) " The Refugee Artisan Initiative" helps refugee and immigrant women by providing sustainable work in sewing and handcrafting products. Greater Seattle Area I am the sewing project manager for the Seattle based non-profit Refugee Artisan Initiative. Each of these recycled-fabric flower necklaces is unique, made by local refugee women. She helps refugees build on skills they already have while creating and building a local market for jewelry and other goods. Refugee Artisan Initiative's mission is to transform lives of refugee and immigrant women by providing sustainable employment in sewing and hancrafting products. It also helps them assimilate by helping them find English classes. Ming-Ming Tung-Edelman understands that isolating experience because she lived it. Hired by Refugee Artisan Initiative (RAI), a local nonprofit, to make fashionable clothing and jewelry, she was one day asked to make something special. “From first time voters finally of age to senior citizens, we can all be advocates for voter turnout. The high demand for personal protective equipment (PPE) has created a severe shortage locally and around the world for caregivers on the front lines of the fight against COVID-19. Sep 2019 – Present 1 year 1 month. When the crisis hit, the organization was bombarded with many messages about there being a shortage of face masks. Visit website The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees also runs a craft-based initiative, Made51. Refugee Artisan Initiative Maker's Space Open House Refugee Artisan Initiative Maker's Space Lake City Wed Dec 4, 4–7 pm All Ages Refugee Artisan Initiative | seattle, washington “One month ago, Refugee Artisan Initiative was making kitchen and home sewn products. When the lockdown went into effect, Ming-Ming Tung-Edelman, the founder of RAI, put many of the RAI women to work producing cloth masks from home. 10am to 1pm – Sewing Class with the Refugee Artisan Initiative and Artisan Julie from Burma. View the Wholesale collection. Refugee Artisan Initiative. Jan 1998 – Present 22 years 9 months. Instructor Edmonds Community College. I come from Taiwan. Inspired by her example, Chang’s granddaughter Ming-Ming Tung-Edelman is transforming the lives of women from around the world with her organization Refugee Artisan Initiative (RAI). You don't understand the language. I come here when I was 15, 16 years old, and my background is that my grandmother was a seamstress, and able to raise my mom and my two other uncles as a single mother, so I understand the power of tools, plus skills can transform lives. Give jewelry that makes a statement in more ways than one. The Syrian Refugee Art Initiative Transforming Lives Through Public Art As the Syrian War rages on, desperate civilians continue to pour across the borders into neighboring countries. Ming-Ming Tung-Edelman, founder of Refugee Artisan Initiative (RAI), heard the call and is responding with a nimble pivot that saves lives… And the rest is history, the RAI x … Refugee Artisan Initiative has teamed up with medical professionals and clinics to design and produce, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) such as masks, gowns and other protective gear to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 infection. CityStream: Refugee Artisan Initiative. Imagine moving to a distant land. In Seattle, the Refugee Artisan Initiative (RAI) helps refugee and immigrant women find employment. Ming-Ming Tung-Edelman understands that isolating experience because she lived it. Impact lives. So I started Refugee Artisan Initiative about, in 2016. While they have escaped the death and destruction of war, many refugees now find themselves in desolate refugee camps across the region. 415 likes. At Refugee Artisan Initiative, our mission is to transform the lives of refugee and immigrant women by providing sustainable work in sewing and handcrafting products. “But it had lights, it actually had light bulbs woven into the fabric, so when you put it on, it was not only warm, but really bright.” You have few job skills, and the customs are confusing. Now she's helping others in the same predicament by teaching them valuable skills to earn a living. As part of the Refugee Artisan Initiative, we: •Hire and train immigrant women with sewing skills. I'm an immigrant myself. Refugee Artisan Initiative is an organization near and dear to our heart at CURA. Refugee Artisan Initiative's mission is to transform lives of refugee and immigrant women by providing sustainable employment in sewing and handcrafting products. Due to the demand in PPE we pivoted overnight. Seattle's Refugee Artisan Initiative founder Ming-Ming Tung-Edelman works to cut elastic material for masks with a volunteer March 24, 2020, who will deliver them to … Late last year, I was approached by RAI to advise on a complicated production order for a team of immigrant and refugee women artisans here in Seattle. * Transform the lives of refugee and immigrant women by providing sustainable employment in sewing and handcrafting products. You have few job skills, and the customs are confusing. The women of the Refugee Artisan Initiative pivoted from making potholders to making masks and face shields for healthcare workers during the coronavirus outbreak. Lynnwood, WA. refugeesarts.org The Refugee Artisan Initiative has been asked by the City of Seattle and King County to make and deliver 11,500 masks to them within 2 weeks. 20% of proceeds from their black lives matter and vote masks will go to the ACLU. •Enable artisans to work from home in an enterprise that needs little space. Refugee Artisan Initiative is a non-profit 501c3 organization with the mission to transform the lives of refugee and immigrant women by providing sustainable work in sewning and handcrafted products while paying them competitive wages. Two art teachers from Bellevue school district picked up our extra fabric scraps to turn them into at-home art kits for their students! As part of the Refugee Artisan Initiative, we: Hire and train immigrant women with sewing skills. Refugees & Immigrants Make Gear Against COVID-19. Greater Seattle Area. That's reality for many refugees living in Seattle. 12/6/2018 6:51. The women of the Refugee Artisan Initiative have been making masks to donate to health care workers and teaching others to do the same.. The amazing team at the Seattle nonprofit, Refugee Artisan Initiative are making masks and other PPE for the healthcare community and those who need them most. Aung, Stapleton and Tuli recently launched Atma: The Refugee Artisan Initiative, a program designed to empower refugees in Lancaster through craft workshops led by F&M students. While their focus was on producing fabric jewelry and home goods -- now its all about masks and battling the coronavirus. MADE51 is brought to life by UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, a global organisation dedicated to saving lives, protecting rights and building a better future for refugees, forcibly displaced communities and stateless people. Refugee Artisan Initiative, Seattle, Washington. You don't understand the language. The Refugee Artisan Initiative is selling their masks in Seattle Metropolitan Markets and on their website. Imagine moving to a distant land. It partners with local groups around the world to help artisan refugees … Washington state is one of the top 10 states for refugee resettlement in the United States, and the Puget Sound region is home to thousands of refugees. Refugee Artisan Initiative provides recent refugees and immigrants with the skills to become self sufficient. “Wearing a mask and voting are two of the most important duties of a U.S. citizen today, no matter your age,” RAI said. Ming-Ming Tung-Edelman, executive director of Refugee Artisan Initiative, was selected to receive the Puget Sound Business Journal’s Community Champion award at this year’s Health Care Leadership Awards. Have escaped the death and destruction of war, many refugees living in Seattle Markets. United Nations High Commissioner for refugees also runs a craft-based Initiative,.! 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