2018 has been an incredible year – thank you for all your support!
Art Club Hits the Road in Clarkston
Contributed by Maddie, one of our New Expression volunteers
At New Expression Clarkston, we like to give the kids a chance to do whatever activities they think best expresses who they are. For me personally, art is a way I express myself, so I’ll work with a lot of the young girls who like art too!
In art club is has been so amazing to experience new things to and be with the kids. We’ve been doing a lot of field trips lately. I have taken girls in the community to different places like the library, nature parks and playgrounds. It has been amazing to see them each weekend jump into the car so excited for the new adventure.
As we’ve been adventuring out of our normal meeting space, we have also met new people in the community. One of my favorite memories recently is when we went to one of the Dekalb libraries and taught the girls how to knit and make bracelets. Different kids would come through and just sit down and participate with us. The girls would help each other and encourage each other in making scarves, hats and bracelets. Everybody felt so welcome to talk and jump right in!
We have loved taking art club out to the community!
Slime and Singing: First Moments at NXP
Post By Abbey Mattson – an Alternative Break alumni and preschool teacher who now volunteers for Something New in her free time.
I am a preschool teacher, and when I see a kid do something for the first time, it’s like Christmas! The first time they tie their shoes, button their coat, or cut a straight line are some of my favorite moments. Right now, my kids are learning their shapes – circles, squares, and triangles, just to name a few!
Just 45 minutes away from my house, over 1,500 refugee kids arrive in the United States each year. The moment they step off the airplane, their lives are filled with first moments! They may stare straight upward at the skyscrapers in Atlanta’s skyline for the first time, or they might hear new words being spoken all around them. For the first time, they might walk into a school building with hundreds of other kids who look different from them, wear different clothes, and eat different foods.
Another first that only a few kids experience is their first time walking into New Expression Clarkston. While some first moments may be tough and challenging, this is a first full of overwhelming joy, freedom, and fun! They will see kids dancing, laughing, and making musical instruments. They’ll hear music from all over the world, and listen as kids stand up and proudly share what New Expression means to them. They’ll paint, draw, capture the flag, kick a soccer ball, and maybe even make some multi-colored slime!
At NXP Clarkston, every week is a chance for us to celebrate life and share a first moment. Some of the moments we share are happy – the freedom to dance, run around and play soccer, or the pure joy of singing at the top of your lungs. Some of the moments we share are deeper – being able to express what it feels like to go to a new school where you don’t speak the language, or making a new friend who takes the time to truly get to know you. At New Expression, everyone celebrates first moments all the time – whether we are in preschool or 35 years old.
Giving Schools A New Way
Family.
That was the top value that students at the International Student Center chose during their New Way training in Spring 2017. The students had spent time individually choosing from a list of 40 different values a person could have, ranging anywhere from “love” and “spirituality” to “hard work” and “ambition”. When the results were compiled at the end it was nearly unanimous that “family” was the top value among the group. Suddenly, all the things that made us different didn’t seem to matter any more.
New Expression Fayetteville
Traiga a toda la familia! Actividades divertidas para niños y sus padres! Juegos, arte, baile, música, comunidad.
Bring the whole family! Fun activities for kids and parents! Games, art, dancing, music, community.
New Expression Fayette meets once a month for Family Fun Days! From dancing to facepainting, soccer to frisbee, tag to moonjumps there is something in store for everyone! Bring the whole family or drop off the kids from 1pm-3pm.
New Expression Fayette also focuses on outreach to the Spanish speaking community. With volunteers who are fluent in Spanish, we love embracing and adding to the diverse Fayette County community!
Want to volunteer or join NXP Fayette? Contact Amanda@somethingnew.org
New Expression Clarkston
With its high population of recently resettled refugees, Clarkston, GA is a vibrant community—rich in diverse experiences, cultures, and by extension—foods. It is truly the melting pot of all melting pots. It’s also the home to New Expression on Saturdays from 10am-12pm.
Fifty percent of Clarkston’s population is foreign-born and 85% of local businesses are owned by that same population. While the refugees’ experiences are incredibly diverse, they share two common attributes – they have all gone through the most rigorous screening process of any immigrant and they all share a hope for a brighter future.
NXP Clarkston provides a safe place for the youth in Clarkston to come together. With an Art Club, Music Club, Dancing Club, and Sports Club, NXP not only becomes an intersection for kids from different cultures but also a place for students to express their different interests.
Here are some highlights from Something New Volunteers:
“I have loved spending time with Art Club at NXP Clarkston. I’ve love the art projects, but what I have loved the most is the opportunity to get to know some incredible families in Clarkston. It has been such a gift to learn from them, and shown me that love really is the universal language.” -Emily
“When I walk into the gym and hear the kids playing I laughing I can’t help but smile! Art club has been so much fun and we’re jus
t getting started. I like seeing a consistent group(sprinkled with a few new ones) come and get messy. So far it’s been less about the end product and more about the process of creating something. My favorite part is asking them what they’d like to do in art club. I’ve heard from ice cream to watching Moana. The possibilities are endless and we won’t just stay in an artsy box. Our next adventure is fluffy slime!” – Cora
t getting started. I like seeing a consistent group(sprinkled with a few new ones) come and get messy. So far it’s been less about the end product and more about the process of creating something. My favorite part is asking them what they’d like to do in art club. I’ve heard from ice cream to watching Moana. The possibilities are endless and we won’t just stay in an artsy box. Our next adventure is fluffy slime!” – Cora
“One of my favorite highlights at Dance Club was probably last week doing the African dances with Sadi. Then also dancing Love Makes The World Go Round with Dashika and seeing her be able to get the freedom and be able to have a ton of fun. Being with everybody and seeing ones that have been there since the beginning start to lead and be themselves is definitely another highlight.” – Shania
“The best part of NXP Sports Club is the diversity of games we play and the people that play together. You never know what we will do and who will be there. Boys, girls, older and younger. It feels like a family day at the park with a couple of your best friends. So much fun!” -Clint
Want to join New Expression Clarkston or volunteer? Contact Amanda@somethingnew.org
Festival Festivities
Meet Cynthia
Cynthia is a volunteer with Something New whose heart to serve is driven by her love for teaching. In this time of travel bans and uncertainty, Cynthia roles out her classroom’s welcome mat everyday hoping to provide a safe place for her students. She contributed this Blog.
I have hope. Despite the heart-wrenching, divisive talk happening every day across our country, I have to believe we are so much better. Just step into my classroom and you’ll see why.
The Potluck Party by Onur
Every month New Expression hosts a potluck in Clarkston as an effort to get to know our neighbors and build community. Onur attended our last potluck and was amazed by the event. He is a student of NXP volunteer Cynthia Gibson, and wanted to share his thoughts about the party.
We went to a party which is called as “potluck”. I was not familiar with that term at all. As far as I learnt, it would be a party where immigrants and volunteers come together and share their foods with each other. We had lots of fun and talk with the other parents at the party. I always admire those people who leave their problems aside and spend their time and effort to help to others. I also feel myself close to them as long as I believe that they are sincere.
Something To Fight For
Yesterday, as a new U.S. President took the oath of office and throngs of protesters gathered in the nation’s capital and across the country, I had a sweet reminder of how important and rewarding it is to have something to fight for, not just something to fight against.
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