Refugee Culture Night 2014
On November 15, Institute of Public Life (IPL)
and Omaha Together One Community (OTOC)
collaborated with 10 refugee groups to organize
the 3rd
Annual Refugee Culture Night—a
celebration of food, dance, music and song
from Omaha’s refugee Communities. Despite a
heavy snow fall prior to and during the
performance, over 300 people attended the
lively and entertaining evening. The event
raised $3000 in donations that were distributed
to the refugee dance groups so they can
continue their cultural performances.
Bhutanese girls danced to a Nepali song
about the dreams of teen age girls
Myanmar Ethnic Association started the
evening with performers from each of the eight
major ethnic groups from Myanamar (Burma).
Refugee Culture Night 2014
The Burundian Choir sang and danced two
rousing praise songs in English and Kirundi
Men of Darfur performed their traditional
dance which involves leaping high in the
air...
The Karen Community danced in their
traditional dress and unified movements.
…and amazing the audience with their
athleticism.
Refugee Culture Night 2014
Karenni Youth danced with agricultural
tools…
Acholi girls danced to a song which
celebrates the birth of a first born child…
Kachin Youth wear their colorful traditional
clothes and dance a joyful and interactive
dance.
and told the story of their traditional labors.
…and wowed us with the energy of their
dance.
Refugee Culture Night 2014
Bhutanese Youth from the Thrive Club at
Central HS danced…
Rakhaing Dancers closed the formal
program with a stately dance.
The Organizing Committee took a bow for
their work together.
to the sizzling hot rhythms of modern Nepali
music.
Twenty refugee leaders worked together
across language and ethnicity for several
months to organize this event.
Refugee Culture Night 2014
Many people made new friends and learned
about each other’s cultures.
Thanks our supporters who made the
evening possible:
Our Underwriters $200 or more
Heartland Family Services
Nebraska Family Collaborative
Anonymous Corporate Citizen
Our Sponsors$100 to $199
UNO Service Learning Center
UNO History Department,
Sam Frances Fried Fund for Holocaust
Genocide Studies
Friends $50 to $99
Asian Family Market
Linda Duckworth
Precision Auto Works
New Strength Foundation
And many participated in a closing
community dance at the end of the
program!!!