posted Jun 11, 2012, 10:22 AM by Sara Little
Friday,
6.22.12
@
7 pm Join us as we experience Pakistan through the eyes of a Pakistani/American couple. This week we will explore the culture,
religion and the daily living/struggles, of
Pakistan in this day and age.
Omer Ansari MD and Madiha Saeed MD
both completed their Family Medicine residency in 2010 from Saint Joesph
Regional Medical Center, South Bend, after which they both moved to Valparaiso,
with their two boys. Dr. Ansari was born in Iran and then traveled back to his
home country of Pakistan for medical school, King Edward Medical College. He
currently practices as a board certified family physician in Westchester
Medical group, Chesterton. Dr. Saeed was born and raised in Naperville,
Illinois. To escape debt, her fathermoved the entire family to Pakistan, so
she and her siblings could all study medicine. She currently is board certified
in Family Medicine, Integrated Holistic Medicine and also has a diploma of
homeopathy and practices at Physicians Holistic Health Alliance, Mishawaka,
Indiana. |
posted May 25, 2012, 1:27 PM by Andrew Jones
Join
us as we explore the history and culture of Sierra Leone as well as her own
personal journey.
Dr.
E. Anne Christo-Baker is a native of Sierra Leone who moved to the United States with her
family in 1988. She
is currently an Assistant Professor of Organizational Behavior & Leadership
in the College of Business at Purdue University North Central in Westville
Indiana. She also
has expertise as a trainer and consultant both nationally and internationally.
She
is the mother of three wonderful sons and grandmother of three adorable
grandchildren.
Friday,
6.1.12
@ 7 pm |
posted Apr 12, 2012, 2:39 PM by Andrew Jones
[
updated Apr 12, 2012, 2:40 PM
]
Join us to learn about Poland and its path to European Union Membership. Also learn about local Polish immigrants and their efforts to preserve their language, culture and history through the Polish Saturday School Initiative.Friday, April 27, 2012 From 7:00pm until 8:30pm
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posted Apr 12, 2012, 2:32 PM by Andrew Jones
Building Bridges
We welcome you to “Building Bridges 2012.” April 14th and 15th 2012. Come and listen to presentations by faculty, clergy, and other professionals from various faiths and traditions from all around the world. While “Building Bridges” is free, Registration is required. Please visit www.valpovic.org/buildingbridges2012 or call 219-464-1122 for detailed program information and to register for the series. More information coming soon! |
posted Mar 16, 2012, 2:03 PM by Andrew Jones
[
updated Mar 16, 2012, 2:04 PM
]
This upcoming Fourth Friday The Valparaiso International Center will be exploring the conflict in Syria and its consequences both abroad and at home. Dr. Alobeid, a local Valparaiso physician and Syrian native, will lead a panel discussion with others from Syrian and will provide their unique perspective on the history and future of the movement.
Dr. Alobeid was born in Izraa, a suburb of Deraa, Syria. Deraa is where the Syrian revolution began a little over a year ago, when Alobeid lost several friends and relatives. In 1997 he came to the U.S. and in 2001 he began medical residency in Family Medicine at Methodist Hospitals in Gary, Indiana which he completed in 2004. He currently has two offices, one in Merrillville and one in Valparaiso. He has worked in a number of medical settings including Methodist and Porter ER, and urgent care clinics in Chesterton and Michigan City.
March 23 at 7:00pm at the Valparaiso International Center |
posted Feb 11, 2012, 2:59 PM by Andrew Jones
Esl Classes are starting again on Feb 28th. Classes will be held every Tues and Thurs at 6-8pm at the Valparaiso International Center at 309 E. Lincolnway, Valparaiso In 46383.
Please Call 219-464-1122 to register for the classes.
|
posted Jan 17, 2012, 9:58 AM by Andrew Jones
[
updated Jan 17, 2012, 9:59 AM
]
Friday,
1.27.12
@
7-8:30 pm
Come listen to Osmo Paavola give
an overview of Scandinavia and his home country of
Finland. Learn about the different
customs, histories, and the more equal societies of Finland and Sweden.
Key Speaker
Osmo Paavola Osmo Paavola emigrated to Sweden from Finland
in 1969 after having completed military
service at 19. He came to Chicago and USA in 1976 and for the last 30+ years has worked in IT, as a Business Applications Architect. He moved from the Chicago area to Valpo in 1994. |
posted Jan 13, 2012, 3:50 PM by Andrew Jones
This week as we all dive head first into the new years resolutions and making a difference in our lives The Welcome Mat would like to highlight Asha Handicrafts, a fair trade company making a difference in the lives of many artisans in India. By investing in products made with a wide variety of materials, Asha Handicrafts is able to harness a broad spectrum of giftedness in India, and in particular has supported work opportunities for women and education.
Since 1975, this innovative company has been giving marketing support to different groups of small producers and craftsman cooperatives in order to aid small scale producers. It houses two separate divisions, one overseeing trade, and the other overseeing welfare programs including training activities and producer development. Asha pays for products in advance, and orders from the artisans directly so as to minimize debt accumulation on behalf of the artisans. And by providing training and teaching facilities, Asha is able to empower more and more artisans, continuing the positive effect in the community, as well as the diversity of their products.
Asha artisans work in wood, metal, cloth, bone, stone, ceramics, and paper mache and produces products of other kinds such as incense and chutney. Jewelry, musical instruments, food products; Asha helps develop and sell such a wide variety of things that it is hard to imagine there not being something for everyone. By developing in different parts of India, Asha is able to support pieces that have been produced by those local people for centuries. Such as the leather work of Rajasthan or Beads from the Indus Valley  Civilization or as we've spoken of before in this blog, the block printing of Jaipur. On their website, Asha Handicrafts introduces you to a few of the artisans whose handiwork they employ. While each group employs many artisans and workers who create the beautiful pieces unique to their local cultures, one group in particular embodies the fair trade spirit through its equal opportunity endeavors. The Women's India Trust (WIT) is a non-governmental self-help organization for the women of India. WIT helps to educate and train women so they can gain employment in several fields such as nursing, screen printing, and even catering and food processing. They can also receive training as teachers for Balwadi, an education program for children providing them with a good foundation for further education when they get older. At any time there is at least 100 students in Balwadi schooling.
Asha Handicrafts does more than just buy products at fair prices. They empower small scale artisans of India to compete in the mainstream global economy, and continue to make further progress in the developing the equality of and equal opportunity for women, as well as the development of education. It is companies like this that is continuing to make fair trade a beneficial movement for global society. |
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posted Dec 8, 2011, 12:30 PM by Andrew Jones
[
updated Dec 8, 2011, 12:31 PM
]
Free handcrafted holiday card Sun. Dec. 11: 11a-5p Free newspaper gift bag Sat. Dec. 17: 9a-8p Free sustainable notebook Sun. Dec. 18: 11a-5p Free 1.5 oz. chocolate bar Fri. Dec. 23: 9a-8p 5% off purchase
With purchase of $10 or more. Limit one per customer. Valid in store only. |
posted Oct 31, 2011, 8:39 AM by Andrew Jones
[
updated Oct 31, 2011, 8:40 AM
]
Soccer
Parents and Players… Don’t throw away your old soccer
cleats, jerseys, balls, shorts or other gear.
Please
support this local organization, founded by two current NWI United Soccer
Players (Steven Gerry and Michael Gerry), and consider donating your lightly
used equipment to ReCleats. ReCleats was established in 2011 as a
non-profit organization to provide youth soccer players across the globe with
new and lightly used sports equipment. The emphasis is on communities
which are under served or where economic conditions are weak and youth sports
equipment is essentially seen as a luxury. 100% of the funds and gear
will go to the target groups. No management fees, salaries, or any other
benefit will flow to the directors, leadership or volunteers. This will
remain a community driven organization. Our
first collection will be heading to Costa Rica, with the support and
coordination of the Valparaiso International Center.
In general the premise is that most soccer gear does not get worn out, it needs
repetitive replacement due to child growth. In the United States
especially, the tendency is to discard these items. The underlying
desire of the program is to teach American Youth that manufactured goods have a
very long life and that even though a product is not brand new, it still may be
of great value to someone in the broader world community.
Soccer is the worlds’ most popular
sport, so it’s a natural way to connect children across cultural boundaries and
the organization provides an opportunity for youth to become engaged in a
worthy community driven program. There are many life lessons available
through the implementation and outcome of this project for those who donate and
for those who receive the goods. The
launch and direction of the program locally will be managed by two local boys,
both long time youth soccer players, Steven and Michael Gerry. Please
join with us in supporting a fantastic cause for all involved. Drop off all soccer equipment at the Valparaiso International Center during our hours. Mon-Fri: 10:30-6:00pm, Sat: 10:30-5:00pm |
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