February Supper Club 2/24

Join us at Masala for Soft Landing Missoula’s February 24th supper club! This month we are excited to showcase the talents of guest chef Dr. Shabnam Qureshi.

The Soft Landing Missoula Supper Club aims to introduce the incredible culinary talent of Missoula’s newest neighbors and international residents, whose rich and flavorful cooking traditions provide a cultural bridge and enrich our shared community.

Outside of this Supper Club, Professor Qureshi teaches at the University of Montana and offers cooking classes around town to share a bit of Pakistani culture and generosity with Missoula. For this supper club she will prepare an array of savory and sweet dishes with options for vegetarians.


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Where: Masala, 206 W Main St, Missoula, MT

When: Sunday, February 24th. Doors at 5:30 pm and dinner at 6:00pm

CostEat: $40/person Give: $60/person Love: $80/person

When you pay you will have the option to: 

Eat: $40 for a delicious family style dinner, where a portion of the cost covers ingredients and staff time, and the rest goes to the guest chef. 

Give: $60 gets you the same delicious dinner, but with an additional $20 going directly to the guest chef. 

Love: $80 gives an additional $40 directly to the guest chef to collectively make this an unforgettable evening!

All levels are welcome and appreciated!

How: To make a reservation call Masala at (406) 926- 6444

***Please let us know if anyone in your party would like a vegetarian meal and we will do our best to accommodate this.***

BSDFF 2019

The Big Sky Documentary Film Fest (BSDFF) is……

For the 3rd year in a row, Soft Landing Missoula will be sponsoring films for this great event. This is always a fun opportunity to promote a great community event that showcases so much diversity while supporting the arts!

This year, our films will be:

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The Interpreters:

Sofian Khan, Andres Caballero, 2017, USA — 74 minutes
Sunday, Feb 17th @ 9:00 pm –Elks Lodge 

Afghan and Iraqi interpreters serve as a crucial bridge between American soldiers and local nationals.  But as a result of their work with the U.S., many have become targets.  In the chaos of their war torn countries, these loyal allies now struggle to find a way out for themselves and their families.

All films for this screening:

The Trial and The Interpreters

*** Soft Landing will make an introduction to this film and have invited Andrew Person, a Missoula veteran with direct experience working with SIV Interpreters, to also share a bit about his story before the film. We will also be available after the film for comments and questions.***

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Lifeboat:

Skye Fitzgerald, 2018, International waters, Malta, Tunisia, USA — 35 minutes
Sunday, Feb 17th @ 1:00 pm –Wilma

Volunteers from a German non-profit risk the waves of the Mediterranean to pluck refugees from sinking rafts pushing off from Libya in the middle of the night. LIFEBOAT puts a human face on one of the world’s greatest contemporary, global crises and provides a spark of hope surrounding how civil society can intervene in the refugee crisis in a meaningful way.

All films for this screening:

Freedom in the Devil’s GarbOsama and AymanSteve is Undocumented,  Girls SectionAfter the Fire, and Lifeboat

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Learning to Swim:

Ruth Grimberg, 2017, UK — 10 minutes

Saturday, Feb 23rd @ 4:15 pm –MCT Center for the Performing Arts
Sunday, Feb 24th @ 3:45 pm –Elks Lodge 

In the quiet world of a quintessentially English town and amidst the fear and uncertainty of immigration and terrorism, Ingrid offers shelter to Ahmed, a Syrian refugee who has left everything behind in his search for a new life.

All films for Saturday screening:

Learning to Swim, All on a Mardi Gras DaySmall Family, Happy Family

All films for Sunday screening:

Learning to Swim, Heroin HearseThe Black MambasSunyi (Silence)Enforcement HoursSwatted 

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For more information on all of the films, see the full calendar here and the individual listings here.

Giving Tuesday 2018!


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It’s that time of year!! This year Soft Landing Missoula will be participating again in the national day of giving, #GivingTuesday!

2018 has been a jam-packed year full of incredible refugee families and generous Missoulians. We have held countless events to bring refugees and Missoulians together including Welcoming Week, Supper Clubs, lectures, community talks, and the World Refugee Day Soccer Tournament. SLM has increased our existing programs and direct services for Missoula’s over 240 refugees including drivers education twice a week, one-on-one English tutoring, and our brand new Teen Program to help refugee teens build connections in their new homes and new community. Our Community Resource Center has flourished into a thriving hub with nearly 500 visits from refugees, volunteers, and community members in October alone!



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On November 27, we encourage you to make a gift to Soft Landing Missoula to help us reach our goal of $5,000!

On November 27, we encourage you to make a gift to Soft Landing Missoula to help us reach our goal of $5,000! Your support will impact our programming, events in the community, and resources here in the office. We are so grateful to have friends like you who have helped Missoula be a welcoming community we can all come home- we couldn’t do this without you!

To make a gift online, go to www.softlandingmissoula.org/donate or text “GIVE2SLM” to 44-321! You can also drop off a check at our office, 939 Stephens Ave Suite C, any time between 8:30 am – 4:30 pm on Tuesday, November 27! You can RSVP to our Facebook event here.

Mark your calendars for November 27th to support SLM on #GivingTuesday!


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Thank you Gallatin Refugee Connections!!

Last week, Gallatin Refugee Connections held their 2nd annual drive for the International Rescue Committee and Soft Landing Missoula to collect Welcome Kits that provide new and like-new household supplies and warm clothes for refugees arriving in Missoula.

Bozeman showed up in huge numbers and provided Missoula’s refugees with a 20’ truck and a 12’ trailer FULL TO THE BRIM with over 200 Welcome Kits!!!! We are still in awe and shock at how kind and generous the residents of Bozeman are.

Once the entire truckload of items arrived in Missoula, the IRC, SLM, and members of the St Francis Xavier church got to work and hauled everything up 5 flights of stairs where the incredible members of St Francis are allowing us to store them. This amount of Welcome Kits could last the International Rescue Committee up to a year!! The winter clothing donated all came to Soft Landing and refugee families are now able to grab the needed items to keep toasty warm this winter.

Thank you to the IRC, St Francis church, Gallatin Refugee Connections, and the incredible people of Bozeman. We are so grateful for the growing community of kind and welcoming people here under the Big Sky.

Thank you, thank you, thank you.

P.S. Here’s an article that Daniel Duensing from the Montana Kaiman wrote about the unpacking!

April 5th Supper Club- Iraqi Lunch at the University


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We are excited to announce that our April supper club will be in the form of an affordable lunch and open to everyone, no reservation necessary! Thank you to the University of Montana Food Zoo for reaching out and wanting to have a turn!

The Soft Landing Missoula Supper Club aims to introduce the incredible culinary talent of Missoula’s newest neighbors and international residents, whose rich and flavorful cooking traditions provide a cultural bridge and enrich our shared community.

This month we are honored to showcase the culinary talent of Ammar Omar.  You may recognize him from his popular food stand at last summers Farmer’s Market! At the Food Zoo, you will find some of his most popular dishes:

Ammar’s Famous Beef Shwarma

Falafel Sandwiches

Moutabel

Hummus

More info available here.

If you are unable to make it to the upcoming lunch, don’t fear, Ammar will have a stand at this summer’s Clark Fork Market!

Where: University of Montana Food Zoo 

When: Lunch will be available between 11:00 am and 1:30 pm on April 5th

Cost: $11.00 Cash

How: Show up to the University Food Zoo anytime between 11:00-1:30 for a delicious lunch!

Parking: Paid parking is available on the South side of the Lommasson center and other locations on campus. If you do park in the neighborhood surrounding the University, make sure you park West of Hilda Ave to avoid a ticket! 

Please direct any further questions to megan@softlandingmissoula.org

 

Iraqi Cuisine at SLM’s March Supper Club!


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Join us at Masala on March 11th for another wonderful night full of culture and delicious food! 

The Soft Landing Missoula Supper Club aims to introduce the incredible culinary talent of Missoula’s newest neighbors and international residents, whose rich and flavorful cooking traditions provide a cultural bridge and enrich our shared community.

This month’s supper club will feature Iraqi food made by the incredibly talented Guest Chef Wasan! 

Iraqi cuisine often combines Ancient traditions with modern influence from neighboring regions. Savory slow cooked meats with nuts, vegetables, and rice, are paired with outstanding sweet and decadent desserts. Herbs and spices set Iraqi food apart with flavors including cinnamon, mint, and dried lemon. Wasan’s menu comes from the Babil region of Iraq and embodies the ancient recipes of Babylon. Delve into this delicious food and deep into Iraqi culture. 


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After the success of the Eat, Give, Love model at last months supper club, we have decided to do it again. Payment will be collected after the meal, but when you pay you will have the option to: Eat: $40 for a delicious family style Afghan dinner, where a portion of the cost covers ingredients and staff time, and the rest goes to the guest chef. Give: $60 gets you the same delicious dinner, but with an additional $20 going directly to the guest chef. Love: $80 gives an additional $40 directly to the guest chef to collectively make this an unforgettable evening! All levels are welcome and appreciated!

A major thank you to Masala for hosting supper club again. We are beyond grateful for the hard work Masala puts in to showcase these incredible chefs! 

Where: Masala – 206 W. Main St., Missoula

When: Sunday March 11th.  Doors open at 5:30pm and food will be served at 6:00pm

CostEat: $40/person Give: $60/person Love: $80/person

How: Call Masala at (406) 926-6444 to make a reservation

Please direct any further questions to megan@softlandingmissoula.org

Announcing February Soft Landing Supper Club!


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The Soft Landing Missoula Supper Club aims to introduce the incredible culinary talent of Missoula’s newest neighbors and international residents, whose rich and flavorful cooking traditions provide a cultural bridge and enrich our shared community.

This month, we are honored to introduce guest chef Farida Khinjani and her delicious and traditional Afghan cuisine.

Book your reservation quickly, as space is limited and we tend to sell out fast!

The meal will be served family style at Masala. We are so grateful to Masala to be hosting a supper club for the second month in a row! 

This month we are presenting our new Eat-Give-Love model! Payment will be collected after the meal, but when you pay you will have the option to: Eat: $40 for a delicious family style Afghan dinner, where a portion of the cost covers ingredients and staff time, and the rest goes to the guest chef. Give: $60 gets you the same delicious dinner, but with an additional $20 going directly to the guest chef. Love: $80 gives an additional $40 directly to the guest chef to collectively make this an unforgettable evening! All levels are welcome and appreciated!

Where: Masala – 206 W. Main St., Missoula

When: Sunday February 25th.  Doors open at 5:30p and food will be served at 6:00p

Cost: Eat: $40/person Give: $60/person Love: $80/person

How: Call Masala at (406) 926-6444 to make a reservation

Please direct any further questions to megan@softlandingmissoula.org

Big Sky Documentary Film Fest 2018


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Every year since our birth (ok, that is just 2 years!) we have been lucky to be sponsors for beautiful, heart-wrenching, uplifting, and important films during the Big Sky Documentary Film Fest. Soft Landing Missoula was catalyzed from photos and film and we firmly believe in their power to show truth and create positive change in the world.

This year- year three- we are honored and in so much awe of the selection that we have the privilege of sponsoring.  These films are very near and dear to our hearts. From the moment the “New Neighbors Project” came to us with a proposal to teach interested new arrivals in Missoula how to document their own experience, to flip the lens that had been placed on them, through all of the hard work that it takes to make a full feature film and multiple shorts a reality, we knew this was going to be incredible.  We are so proud of the refugee film makers that created these films and endlessly grateful that they have chosen to share these powerful stories with us.  Getting into the BSDFF was never a “given” for this project, but speaks to the amazing craftsmanship, talent, and guts of the filmmakers and the New Neighbors crew. 

Please check out the New Neighbors Website for the trailer for the full length film, filmmaker bios, and info on how to get tickets.

Schedule (click to read more about each film from the BSDFF website):

Tuesday Feb 20th, 6p, MCT

Renga for the West (New Neighbors full feature)

Never Give Up While You Are Still Alive (Short by Joel Kambale)

Sunday Feb 25th, 8:15p, MCT

This is Congo (not part of the New Neighbors project but looks incredible and we are still proud to sponsor it!)

Kuwezesha Wanawake (Short by Justine Binwa)

 

Please join us for these transformative films and share the privilege of getting to hold these stories in your heart forever.