Little Amal Workshops
Learning Through Art, Inc.
Friday, July 29 | 4-7pm | Findlay Market (1801 Race St, Cincinnati, OH 45202)
Guests of Findlay’s Night Market are invited to participate in our collaboration through the creation of their own quilt square. The process of making art will create opportunities for participants to describe their own experiences or stories, to be unified into a singular quilt relating to the topics of displacement, home, and hope. Following her historic walk across the Roebling Suspension Bridge on September 22, 2023, Little Amal will be gifted this extraordinary quilt for her rest at the Freedom Center. She will find comfort and strength through the power of our stories and our collective bravery to share them.
The quilt will then be donated to our friends at Findlay Market for permanent display in gratitude for their support and to encourage future conversations and discussions for all who travel and pass through the joyous global community of Findlay Market.
ArtsWave
Thursday, August 24 | 3-5pm | ArtsWave Offices (20 E Central Pkwy, Cincinnati, OH 45202)
Led by artist Michael Thompson, the workshop will draw parallels between the migration of birds and the power of collective action and group movement with the refugee experience and the Walk with Amal. Participants will make small birds to either keep or to be used in Michael’s upcoming installation as a collaborative act with the community.
Kennedy Heights Art Center
Saturday, August 26 | 12:30-2:30pm | Kennedy Heights Art Center (6546 Montgomery Rd, Cincinnati, OH 45213)
Join us in creating a “Comfort Companion” for Little Amal as she makes her journey. Led by artist Robin Hartmann, participants will create unique sock puppet creations using a variety of materials. Each maker will create a note for Amal that their companion will carry. This session of art making will ask participants to consider, “what brings you comfort in times of uncertainty and transition?” and “How can we show up for others in a meaningful way?” This making session is for all ages.
Wave Pool
Saturday, September 2 | 3-5pm | The Welcome Project (2940 Colerain Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45225)
Participants will create an oversized drawing (or sign) for Amal (3 options) 1. Draw some object or memory from your past that you still carry with you today that you love. 2. Draw a picture for Amal. She is a young child, traveling the world alone searching for her family. What do you think would make her feel safe or at home? 3. Write Amal a message of hope, welcome, love and or friendship!
They will also create oversized flowers of Ohio, Kentucky and Syrian varieties. Individuals able to attend the gathering for Amal will be wearing a single-color shirt with welcoming words printed on the front.
Cincinnati Hamilton County Public Library 1
Wednesday, September 6 | 4-5:30pm | Forest Park Branch (655 Waycross Rd, Cincinnati, OH 45240)
The program will consist of a story time and then a Zine making workshop led by Zinecinnati. The story is by Rojina Rai, “I Choose to be Courageous”. Rojina is one of Dr. Kate Currie’s students from Aiken who participated in the Illustrated Memoirs Project which are stories written and illustrated by young local refugees about their journeys here. Ren from Zinecinnati will choose one or two words or themes from Rojina’s story and lead teens and tweens in a Zine making workshop.
The Carnegie
Saturday, September 9 | 1-3pm | The Carnegie (1028 Scott St, Covington, KY 41011)
In partnership with Kentucky Refugee Ministries, local refugee families will gather to participate alongside members of the public. Participants will design and decorate windsocks/ paper lanterns that demonstrate a personal journey, a symbol celebrating where one came from, and/or the benefits that come from a diverse population.
Prompts include constructing with the colors of a country in your ancestry; cover it in pictures depicting a story of struggle or drastic change in your own life.; cover it with warm welcomes to Amal and those like her; pay homage to friendships forged between a displaced person and a local.
Center for Great Neighborhoods/Kentucky Refugee Ministries
Sunday, September 10 | 1-4pm | Hellmann Creative Center (321 MLK Jr. Blvd, Covington, KY 41011)
Kentucky Refugee Ministries will lead a panel of 2-3 refugee clients with Kelsi Sievering moderating the conversation. At the end of the panel, Charlotte Reed from Art Equals will lead a response art project for the general public.
Cincinnati Arts Association
Monday, September 11 | 5-7pm | Aronoff Center Stage Room (650 Walnut St, Cincinnati, OH 45202)
Local multi-talented artist and puppet-maker, Pam Kravetz, will be conducting a puppet-making workshop that will encourage all participants to join Little Amal on her journey to the Freedom Center. Pam will lead the “puppet-makers” to delve into their creativity to build pieces that can be worn. Participants will be encouraged to turn themselves into puppets and wear these pieces to the ceremony as Little Amal makes her way to Cincinnati. No experience is necessary, just an imagination and a sense of adventure.
ish
Tuesday, September 12 | 5:30 – 7:30pm | ish garage (4089 S Langland St, Cincinnati, OH 45223)
Workshop with the theme of ‘Creating spaces for connection and acceptance – through melody, rhythm, and ritual.’ In this workshop, Birds of a Feather, a Cincinnati-based community building organization, will foster a safe and inclusive environment for individuals to explore the power of music, rhythm, and ritual in fostering connections and create a niggun (melody or Jewish tune) for Amal as she crosses the bridge. They bring their expertise in nature-based Jewish practices and encourage participants to co-create an intimate circle of trust and belonging. Through interactive activities such as group singing, drumming, and discussions, participants will have the opportunity to experience the unifying and healing potential of these practices. Additionally, ish’s collaboration with Jews of Color Sanctuary, a local organization dedicated to providing support for Jews of Color, will bring diverse cultural perspectives and insights to the workshop.
Cincinnati Hamilton County Public Library 2
Saturday, September 16 | 12:30-2pm | Price Hill Branch (970 Purcell Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45205)
The program will consist of a story time and then a Zine making workshop led by Zinecinnati. The story is by Rojina Rai, “I Choose to be Courageous”. Rojina is one of Dr. Kate Currie’s students from Aiken who participated in the Illustrated Memoirs Project which are stories written and illustrated by young local refugees about their journeys here. Ren from Zinecinnati will choose one or two words or themes from Rojina’s story and lead teens and tweens in a Zine making workshop.
Ignite Peace/Immigrant and Refugee Law Center
Tuesday, September 19 | 6:30-8pm | Forest Chapel United Methodist Church (680 W Sharon Rd, Cincinnati, OH 45240)
Seeking Safety in Cincinnati. There is much to learn and understand about how immigration issues uniquely affect our community. Participants will learn the basics of how the U.S. immigration system works, hear about our asylum system and how it affects real people who now live in the Cincinnati area, and play an interactive board game simulating the immigrant experience.
Baker Hunt Arts & Cultural Center
Wednesday, September 20 | 5:30-6:30pm or 6:45-7:45pm | Baker Hunt (620 Greenup St, Covington, KY 41011)
Join Baker Hunt for a puppet making workshop to welcome Little Amal! People walking with Little Amal are encouraged to bring a companion for her, so they immediately thought of Sheppy! Sheppy was the companion to Baker Hunt’s founder Margaretta Baker Hunt. Receive step-by-step instructions on making this adorable dog puppet, or enjoy their puppet making station.
Ignite Peace/Immigrant and Refugee Law Center
Thursday, September 21 | 6:30-8pm | Mt. Auburn Presbyterian Church (103 William Howard Taft Rd, Cincinnati, OH 45219)
Seeking Safety in Cincinnati. There is much to learn and understand about how immigration issues uniquely affect our community. Participants will learn the basics of how the U.S. immigration system works, hear about our asylum system and how it affects real people who now live in the Cincinnati area, and play an interactive board game simulating the immigrant experience.