Celebration of Congolese song and dance

by Adam Hendrickson

Join SLM and Unity Dance and Drum for a celebration of Congolese song and dance!

World-renowned Congolese artist Mabiba Baegne will be teaching dance, drum, and song classes in Missoula January 12-14, 2017.  Unity Dance & Drum, with help from Soft Landing Missoula, will also host a gathering and potluck (bring a dish to share!) from 11am-2pm on January 14, complete with African food, an informal dance class, singing, presentations, and socializing to honor and welcome our newly resettled Congolese families. You will need a ticket for the gathering but IT IS FREE (we have limited space)–we are suggesting a donation of $5 to $50. You can get tickets at any of the workshop classes or at the door!

All events will be at the Missoula Senior Center. Classes are $20/person/class.

Class Schedule
Thursday, January 12
4:30-6:00pm dance
6:00-7:30pm drum
Friday, January 13
4:30-6:00pm drum
6:00-7:30p dance

Saturday, January 14
10:00-11:00am song
2:00-3:30pm dance
3:30-5:00pm West African Drum class
(We need 10 people minimum to hold this class! Please call 549-7933 or email tarn.ream@umontana.edu to register, prior experience suggested!)

Saturday, Jan. 14 gathering from 11am-2pm is FREE with a ticket (space is limited) donations of $5 to $50 encouraged. Tickets will be available at all workshop classes and at the door.

Volunteer as an English Language Tutor

by Adam Hendrickson

Missoula County Public Schools (MCPS) is in need of volunteers for their ELL department to work with English as a second language students in school. They are seeking volunteers who are available to meet their assigned student at consistent times throughout the week for an extended period of time throughout the school year. Volunteers will meet with one student or a small group of students and work on developing their English skills and learning about the culture of American schools. Tutors will be provided with resources to use when working with the students – either from the teacher or from the ELL Department.

To Become a Tutor

Step 1: Fill out an MCPS volunteer application and background check if you haven’t done so already. Please fill out the “unsupervised volunteer” application.

 Step 2: Fill out the MCPS Volunteer ELL Tutor Application

 Step 3: Attend a tutor orientation. The ELL Department will contact you to set up an orientation time once your application has been reviewed.  Volunteers working with ELL students are required to attend a tutor orientation prior to working with students.  

 Step 4: Become an active volunteer tutor and receive an assignment! You will be assigned a school, student and time to meet.  We will provide our volunteers with materials, resources, and support.

What if I don’t get a call or assignment right away?

The ELL Department will work as quickly as possible to set up assignments for volunteers. However, due to school schedules, the application process, and students’ needs, it will take some time to put volunteers in place.  We will work as efficiently as possible as we process the applicants and make assignments.

Questions?

Questions regarding assignments should be directed to Shirley Lindburg (MCPS ELL Coordinator) salindburg@mcps.k12.mt.us
or Aria Peters (MCPS ELL Specialist) apeters@mcps.k12.mt.us.

Winter Donations Needed

by Adam Hendrickson

Because of your generous clothing donations, we have been able to help all the recently arrived refugee families to stay warm. But we need to replenish our supplies for newly arriving families. While we are no longer able to accept donations of everyday clothing, we are still in need of the following winter outerwear:

For Adults and Children 2-17
New or gently used:
• Winter coats
• Hats, gloves, scarves
• Winter boots
• Fleece jackets
• Snow pants (Youth only)
• Flip flops (not for winter, not outerwear, but we need ’em)
• Warm socks
• Long underwear

For Children under 2
New or gently used:
• Hats and mittens
• Ones-ies
• Snowsuit

Diapers in size 4 and 5 are always needed and welcome.

For the month of December, we will have drop-off hours at Soft Landing Missoula (939 Stephens) on Mondays and Wednesdays, 12 – 2 pm. Can’t make it during these times? Email Donate@softlandingmissoula.org to schedule an alternative drop-off time.

Thank you!

Come Party with Us! 10/12/16

by Adam Hendrickson

Hello!

Come party with us!  SLM is having a “Mid-way” party for our Crowdrise Campaign and we would love to see you!
The party will be this Saturday the 15th from 4p-7p at Imagine Nation Brewing– 
1151 W Broadway St, Missoula, MT 59802

Check out and SHARE the event on FB.

There will be a free beer (and stickers!) for everyone who has already donated or anyone that donates that day.  There will be computers set up and folks there to help you navigate through the Crowdrise site if it is new to you 😉 We will also be raffling off a pair of graciously donated Indigo Girls tickets and any Crowdrise Donation is a qualifying entry- past or present!

We started out super strong with this campaign- raising just about half in only 3 days.  Donations have slowed a bit and we really NEED your help to ensure the success of this campaign.  Not only to donate, but to SHARE it! Please go to:

https://www.crowdrise.com/soft-landing-missoula/fundraiser/softlandingmissoula

1) Donate what is meaningful to you.

2) Call or meet with 5 friends or family members to ask them directly to donate what is meaningful for them.

3) Share, share, share- we will be live for a month.  Can you re-share this campaign with your own social media network 3 times over this month? Can you email your friends and family? Share it with members of your congregation? Can you share it with people outside of Missoula? Outside of Montana? Outside of the US? Let’s take this global!

4) Please leave a comment to let others know how important this is to you. We also love to read these and they fill our cup!

5) Attend our “MID-WAY” party at Imagine Nation Brewing on October 15th from 4p-7p.

Soft Landing Missoula has always relied on your amazing support and generosity. Let’s knock this one out of the park!
 

Crowdrise Launch! 10/4/16

by Adam Hendrickson

Hello!

TODAY we are OFFICIALLY launching a Crowdrise Campaign for the month of October! 

https://www.crowdrise.com/soft-landing-missoula/fundraiser/softlandingmissoula

Thank you so so so so much for all of the time and energy every one of you has already contributed. This campaign will help us launch a Community Resource Center to foster connections between refugees and the greater community, as well as ensuring the sustainability of our organization with the addition of one full time and one part time staff.

Our ask for this campaign is:

1) Donate what is meaningful to you.

2) Call or meet with 5 friends or family members to ask them directly to donate what is meaningful for them.

3) Share, share, share- we will be live for a month.  Can you re-share this campaign with your own social media network 3 times over this month? Can you email your friends and family? Share it with members of your congregation? Can you share it with people outside of Missoula? Outside of Montana? Outside of the US? Let’s take this global!

4) Please leave a comment to let others know how important this is to you. We also love to read these and they fill our cup!

5) Attend our “MID-WAY” party at Imagine Nation Brewing on October 15th from 4-7 (more info to follow).

Soft Landing Missoula has always relied on your amazing support and generosity. Lets knock this one out of the park!