New publication hosts student stories about international residents
— Today, Global Ties Akron launched the first edition of the Global Threads online magazine at a celebration at the Akron Art Museum.
The event included entertainment from the Himalayan Music Academy and Gum-Dip Theatre, along with Nepali food and some Serbian desserts.
The online magazine features articles, photos and videos created by local college students, and the stories focus on resettled residents who own businesses and operate local cultural institutions, among others.
“Working with Global Ties as a student journalist, I felt that my ability to reach out to colorful individuals and craft thoughtful stories was tested,” said Angelo Angel, a Kent State University student who was selected as a Global Ties Citizen Citizen Journalist for the project. “As an immigrant myself, I understand how uncomfortable it can be to share your story; a simple ‘Where you’re from?’ can be tasking. Global Ties presented me an opportunity to ask that question and do it tactfully. It allowed my subject, Abi Bhandari, to trust me with his story and to photograph candid moments in his kitchen. I feel fortunate to have been able to work with Global Ties.”
“My experience as a student journalist has been completely and utterly fulfilling to say the least,” said Brittany Rumple, a Global Ties Citizen Journalist from the University of Akron. “Listening to these refugees’ stories and seeing the pain in their eyes when they talked about their struggles they faced in the camps and then seeing those eyes change when they talked about America and what this country is allowing them to do was nothing short of heartening.”
Rumple also was selected to go to Serbia as part of the program. “I am excited and cannot wait to further this journey that has touched my heart in so many different ways.”
Global Threads is co-designed by Global Ties Akron, a local nonprofit organization that promotes corporate, organizational and personal ties between Northeast Ohio and the world; and Creative Economy Group Serbia, a non-governmental organization focused on cultural heritage preservation and the economic impact of creative business throughout Serbia.
The project is in partnership with World Learning as part Communities Connecting Heritage SM (CCH) and is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State.
The Global Threads project is one of six global teams to be selected as an awardee of the inaugural CCH World Learning program.
The Global Threads team from Serbia and World Learning CCH director visited Akron to celebrate the launch.
To check out the online magazine, visit http://global-threads.world/.
