February 9, 2005: Headlines: Immigrants: Boise Weekly: Theresa Baird spent many years in the Peace Corps in Africa and many more years working with refugees and immigrants all over the United States

Peace Corps Online: Peace Corps News: Peace Corps Library: Immigrants and Immigration: February 9, 2005: Headlines: Immigrants: Boise Weekly: Theresa Baird spent many years in the Peace Corps in Africa and many more years working with refugees and immigrants all over the United States

By Admin1 (admin) (pool-151-196-48-182.balt.east.verizon.net - 151.196.48.182) on Saturday, February 12, 2005 - 1:56 pm: Edit Post

Theresa Baird spent many years in the Peace Corps in Africa and many more years working with refugees and immigrants all over the United States

Theresa Baird spent many years in the Peace Corps in Africa and many more years working with refugees and immigrants all over the United States

Theresa Baird spent many years in the Peace Corps in Africa and many more years working with refugees and immigrants all over the United States

Small World

Idaho CommUNITY Center of Idaho

by Erin Ryan

Culture is one of the most ambitious words in the English language. It is defined as "the totality of socially transmitted behavior patterns, arts, beliefs, institutions and all other products of human work and thought." Seven letters, two syllables, the identity of millions. When put this way, it is difficult to believe that so many individuals could stand under a single banner, yet we recognize others by the foods they eat, the music they listen to, the clothes they wear and the governments they follow or defy. Culture is just another word for way of life, and even in a city like Boise, our way of life is shaped by people from all over the planet.

Two such people are Theresa Baird and Azam Houle. They look nothing alike, but they share a love of cultural tradition that has colored their professional lives and brought them almost as close as sisters. Baird is a Minnesota born, University of Puget Sound graduate who spent many years in the Peace Corps in Africa and many more years working with refugees and immigrants all over the United States. Houle grew up in Iran before pursuing several degrees in the states and moving from Minnesota to New York to Massachusetts to Iowa to North Dakota to Texas and finally to Idaho, where she has happily served for eight years as Boise Public Library’s Youth Librarian. Baird has brown hair and blue eyes, Houle black hair and brown eyes, but they are both the face of a new nonprofit organization that invites all people to the table to celebrate diversity. It is called the International CommUNITY Center of Idaho (ICCI), and in less than a year it has laid the groundwork for a progressive forum that combats misunderstanding and conflict with education and friendship.

The project began in November 2003 with a grassroots meeting organized by Baird. She invited other community members whom she knew were interested in uniting local cultural groups, and ideas flew from there.

"There are great resettlement services available, but nothing that really represents and reflects the actual diversity here," Baird said. She explained that hundreds of refugees are placed in Idaho each year by organizations like the Agency for New Americans and that many of them struggle to preserve the cultures of their former homes. Some, like the Basques and Bosnians, have organized groups that pass down and share traditions through performances and festivals. Others, like the Afghanis, have trouble finding resources and time to congregate in the midst of getting settled. "When I was traveling through South and Central America I had the experience of being an illegal immigrant. I couldn’t afford a work visa, I didn’t know the language, I was sleeping on someone’s floor-at any moment they could have checked my papers and deported me," Baird said. "It taught me to empathize with someone coming to this country trying to slip into the system without a structure."

Baird’s empathy fueled her desire to work with refugees, and with the help of some of the people at that first November meeting, she went to work on the infrastructure of ICCI. Soon after that, one of the founding members invited Houle to a committee meeting, and she was convinced within the first few minutes.

"There have always been people sitting around thinking ‘wouldn’t it be nice,’" Houle said, "but Theresa is a doer. She got everyone together." Everyone includes Houle, who is the current president of ICCI, vice president Baird, treasurer Irene Bertsen, secretary Vyjayanthi Prasad, and three directors: Irvaz Husic, Floyd Bea and Yalda Stano. Two are Iranian, two are from the Philippines, one is Bosnian, one is Indian and one is American, an ethnic slice that represents the full pie of 71 members from 25 countries and 10 cultural partners including the Association for India’s Development (AID), Boise State Cultural Center, Filipino American Association of Idaho, Idaho Families with Children from Asia (IFCA), Idaho Returned Peace Corps Volunteers, Kawa Taiko, Mladi Behar and Herzegovina Cultural Center of Idaho, Inc., Murray School of Irish Dance, RiverStone Community School, Thistle and Ghillies Scottish Country Dance Group, Inc. and the International Club at Lewis & Clark Middle School. "We hope to educate our members as well as the community itself. It is good for people here to know that these people are contributing members of society and that they’re not just here to deplete resources," Houle said.

"It’s about perspective-they are not just eye candy either," Baird added, suggesting that too often an observer’s understanding of other cultures stops with the most superficial elements. For example, you can’t tell much about Ireland from Lord of the Dance, and mariachi bands in local Mexican restaurants hardly represent the whole of Latin America. She went on to say that if we delve no deeper into the identities of others, we unwittingly incite a cycle of misunderstanding and conflict that can lead to problems on a larger scale. "There are so many intricacies, and all of us need continuous education and promotion of awareness," said Baird.

March 2004, this vision was granted nonprofit, federal tax-exempt status and a chance to plan for the future.

"We want to get on the map. We want to have an actual center, but getting right into a building was less important than discovering our true mission," said Baird. That mission is stated as follows on the ICCI Web site: "To celebrate and preserve cultural and ethnic traditions with dignity, pride and recognition of all people through education, exchange and community-building." Putting this mission into effect involved many meet-and-greets and potlucks where members and their guests were able to form bonds and begin to understand each other. Many of the groups make it a habit to invite other groups to their social events, weaving the international threads people like Baird and Houle put through the eye of the cultural needle. ICCI also raised $6,000 for Tsunami Relief and is planning a large summer festival that will highlight many cultures. Called the International Village, the festival will feature food, drinks, crafts, information booths, music, dancing and other manifestations of culture from ICCI members.

Baird made it clear that "American" counts as one of those cultures and that she and the rest of the board welcome anyone to donate time or money to the cause or just participate in the process.

"This couldn’t be done without every single person here," she said. "We want more people to be involved and strengthen what we’re doing whether it’s helping with education, grant writing or networking. We find out about each other this way."

"It’s wonderful the way this group has brought so many cultures together," Houle echoed. "Ultimately, it’s what helps us understand the world."

For more information on how to become a member of ICCI and the ideals of organization, visit www.iccidaho.org





When this story was posted in February 2005, this was on the front page of PCOL:

The Peace Corps Library Date: February 7 2005 No: 438 The Peace Corps Library
Peace Corps Online is proud to announce that the Peace Corps Library is now available online. With over 27,000 index entries in 430 categories, this is the largest collection of Peace Corps related stories in the world. From Acting to Zucchini, you can use the Main Index to find hundreds of stories about what RPCVs with your same interests or from your Country of Service are doing today.
Bush's FY06 Budget for the Peace Corps Date: February 7 2005 No: 436 Bush's FY06 Budget for the Peace Corps
The White House is proposing $345 Million for the Peace Corps for FY06 - a $27.7 Million (8.7%) increase that would allow at least two new posts and maintain the existing number of volunteers at approximately 7,700. Bush's 2002 proposal to double the Peace Corps to 14,000 volunteers appears to have been forgotten. The proposed budget still needs to be approved by Congress.

February 5, 2005: This Week's Top Stories Date: February 5 2005 No: 420 February 5, 2005: This Week's Top Stories
Peace Corps swears in 12 new Country Directors 4 Feb
Kenneth Hawkinson studies oral traditions of Mali 4 Feb
Tony Hall urges politicians to bring religious faith to office 4 Feb
Dodd opposes Gonzales nomination 3 Feb
Dr. Robert Zeigler to head Rice Research Institute 3 Feb
Taylor Hackford going into television with "E-Ring" 2 Feb
President Bush's past promises in State of the Union 1 Feb
Moreigh Wolf says gays cannot volunteer with partners 1 Feb
Coleman to chair Peace Corps Subcommittee 1 Feb
Vasquez assesses need in Southeast Asia 31 Jan
James Bullington says Bush Inaugural speaks to PC 31 Jan
Allen Andersson creates foundation to promote libraries 31 Jan
Joseph Opala to film "Priscilla's Homecoming" 31 Jan
Donna Shalala embarks on aggressive UM expansion 31 Jan
Thomas Dichter says Poor Countries Need Smarter Aid 30 Jan
Alberto Ibargüen to head Knight Foundation 28 Jan
Helen Sheehy organizes "Endangered Peoples" exhibit 28 Jan

RPCVs mobilize support for Countries of Service Date: January 30 2005 No: 405 RPCVs mobilize support for Countries of Service
RPCV Groups mobilize to support their Countries of Service. Over 200 RPCVS have already applied to the Crisis Corps to provide Tsunami Recovery aid, RPCVs have written a letter urging President Bush and Congress to aid Democracy in Ukraine, and RPCVs are writing NBC about a recent episode of the "West Wing" and asking them to get their facts right about Turkey.
RPCVs contend for Academy Awards  Date: January 31 2005 No: 416 RPCVs contend for Academy Awards
Bolivia RPCV Taylor Hackford's film "Ray" is up for awards in six categories including best picture, best actor and best director. "Autism Is a World" co-produced by Sierra Leone RPCV Douglas Biklen and nominated for best Documentary Short Subject, seeks to increase awareness of developmental disabilities. Colombian film "El Rey," previously in the running for the foreign-language award, includes the urban legend that PCVs teamed up with El Rey to bring cocaine to U.S. soil.
Ask Not Date: January 18 2005 No: 388 Ask Not
As our country prepares for the inauguration of a President, we remember one of the greatest speeches of the 20th century and how his words inspired us. "And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you--ask what you can do for your country. My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man."
Coleman: Peace Corps mission and expansion Date: January 8 2005 No: 373 Coleman: Peace Corps mission and expansion
Senator Norm Coleman, Chairman of the Senate Subcommittee that oversees the Peace Corps, says in an op-ed, A chance to show the world America at its best: "Even as that worthy agency mobilizes a "Crisis Corps" of former Peace Corps volunteers to assist with tsunami relief, I believe an opportunity exists to rededicate ourselves to the mission of the Peace Corps and its expansion to touch more and more lives."
RPCVs active in new session of Congress Date: January 8 2005 No: 374 RPCVs active in new session of Congress
In the new session of Congress that begins this week, RPCV Congressman Tom Petri has a proposal to bolster Social Security, Sam Farr supported the objection to the Electoral College count, James Walsh has asked for a waiver to continue heading a powerful Appropriations subcommittee, Chris Shays will no longer be vice chairman of the Budget Committee, and Mike Honda spoke on the floor honoring late Congressman Robert Matsui.
RPCVs and Peace Corps provide aid  Date: January 4 2005 No: 366 Latest: RPCVs and Peace Corps provide aid
Peace Corps made an appeal last week to all Thailand RPCV's to consider serving again through the Crisis Corps and more than 30 RPCVs have responded so far. RPCVs: Read what an RPCV-led NGO is doing about the crisis an how one RPCV is headed for Sri Lanka to help a nation he grew to love. Question: Is Crisis Corps going to send RPCVs to India, Indonesia and nine other countries that need help?
The World's Broken Promise to our Children Date: December 24 2004 No: 345 The World's Broken Promise to our Children
Former Director Carol Bellamy, now head of Unicef, says that the appalling conditions endured today by half the world's children speak to a broken promise. Too many governments are doing worse than neglecting children -- they are making deliberate, informed choices that hurt children. Read her op-ed and Unicef's report on the State of the World's Children 2005.

Read the stories and leave your comments.






Some postings on Peace Corps Online are provided to the individual members of this group without permission of the copyright owner for the non-profit purposes of criticism, comment, education, scholarship, and research under the "Fair Use" provisions of U.S. Government copyright laws and they may not be distributed further without permission of the copyright owner. Peace Corps Online does not vouch for the accuracy of the content of the postings, which is the sole responsibility of the copyright holder.

Story Source: Boise Weekly

This story has been posted in the following forums: : Headlines; Immigrants

PCOL17014
12

.


Add a Message


This is a public posting area. Enter your username and password if you have an account. Otherwise, enter your full name as your username and leave the password blank. Your e-mail address is optional.
Username:  
Password:
E-mail: