“Hawo’s Dinner Party” Video

“Hawo’s Dinner Party” is a resource to support conversations and actions around building bridges between refugees from Muslim majority countries and receiving communities in the U.S. in the lead up to the 10th Anniversary of 9/11. This 30-minute DVD will serve as a tool for service providers, grassroots community groups and employers nationwide that are helping to integrate newcomers with unique needs, often against considerable obstacles.

Adapted from the film “Welcome to Shelbyville,” directed and produced by Kim A. Snyder and executive produced by BeCause Foundation, in association with Active Voice, “Hawo’s Dinner Party” highlights the experiences of several Somali residents in a small Southern town — Shelbyville — including Hawo, a former nurse who now works at a local poultry processing plant, and Mohamed, the local imam. The module puts a human face on the complex issues we face in this time of increasing globalization. By following Hawo through ESL classes, a tense meeting with the local reporter who has little knowledge of the community he’s reporting about and, most importantly, into her living room as she reflects on her flight from civil war, what it feels like to live in such a radically different culture and her vision for making this small town her permanent home, the viewer is invited to take a walk in her shoes. These scenes, as well as interviews with longer term residents, will provide the context necessary to address the growing distrust of Somalis and the role of low-wage employers in constant search of new workforces.

Available through Active Voice, “Hawo’s Dinner Party” comes with resources like Discussion Guide and Facilitation Toolkit to help you make the most of your screening event.

You can learn more here: http://www.shelbyvillemultimedia.org/get-involved/modules/ or send an email [email protected]

–

This resource was submitted using our Add-to-Resource-Center form at www.ncdd.org/rc/add by Sahar Driver of Active Voice. Active Voice uses film, television and multimedia to spark social change from grassroots to grass tops. Visit www.activevoice.net or contact [email protected] to learn more.

Original post