Find out what's happening at Global Friends

October 2019
Global Friends Coalition is educating, empowering, and embracing New Americans!

Tom Wogsland serves watermelon at the Community Picnic. / Photo credit: Marko Kojic and Marina Kojic-Zepackic.

Celebrate Community!

Dear <<First Name>>,

To me, picnics are better with watermelon. And, it was a hit! Both the watermelon and the Community Picnic were enjoyed by all! It's a time to come together, to celebrate welcoming and our community.

What I love about the picnic is visiting with people, which I honestly didn't get to do enough. It was an absolute delight to see the children playing games, learning about the fire truck, and squealing with delight as they splashed in the splash park. It was definitely warm enough for the splash park and the kids took advantage of it! I saw people reconnect with each other--a couple of people got to visit who had attended Global Friends' English classes together. Another family reconnected with former neighbors in Grand Forks, before they moved to another part of town. People were snapping photos of each other and simply enjoying each other's company! And, lucky for me, I got a chance to dance--which I don't do very often and hardly ever in public.

New to the picnic this year were students from UND's School of Medicine. The medical students had recruited a couple of physicians to help them administer blood pressure and glucose level checks. 200 people took advantage of this important medical check. One person's glucose levels were so high that the team of medical support recommended they head to the emergency room. Talk about important!

The rain that had poured down on Saturday, flooding many homes and areas in Grand Forks, had stopped. We were all relieved that we could be outside, enjoying the food, the games, the people, and the park itself. We appreciate our sponsors who helped put on this picnic. They include Retrax, Hugo's, the Grand Forks Herald, the Salvation Army, Steer's, New Flavors Food Truck, French Taste, and the Grand Forks Park District.

Board president Lisa Gibson announced our new campaign, the Path to Thriving Citizenship, at the picnic. Global Friends offers English and citizenship classes, driving lessons, and we will be trying some new class initiatives over the next nine months. All gifts to the campaign are doubled, thanks to a matching grant from the Otto Bremer Foundation. If you'd like to contribute to our Path to Thriving Citizenship campaign, please visit our website to donate online, or mail in your donation to Global Friends at 600 Demers Avenue; Suite 406A, Grand Forks, ND 58201. Your gifts help your neighbors become thriving citizens.

Sincerely,

Cynthia H. Shabb
Executive Director

UPCOMING COMMUNITY EVENTS

Grand Forks Public Library
Drop-in Tutoring
Wednesdays
6:00 - 7:30 PM
Tutors will be available to help with homework (K-12), reading, English learning, practicing social conversations, studying for citizenship tests, studying for driver’s license exams, and filling out job applications.

East Grand Forks Campbell Library
After-school Tutoring (K-12)
Wednesdays
3:30 - 5:30 PM
Free tutoring for students of any age. Bring your study materials and homework.

Pre-Halloween Activities
Black Cat Bash
Tuesday October 29th (5:30 - 7:30 PM)
First Season Community Center
(Purpur Arena)

Family Voices of North Dakota
Trunk or Treat
Sunday, October 27th (1 - 3 PM)
Lincoln Park
Trick or treating for children with with disabilities and sensory issues - but all abilities are welcome!

Grand Forks Indigenous Peoples Day
October 14th
5:30 - 8:30 PM
Fire Hall Theatre (412 2nd Ave N.)
Celebrate Grand Forks' first annual recognition of Indigenous Peoples Day at the Fire Hall Theatre! Free Indigenous food samples, remarks by Jamie Azure and University of North Dakota Indigenous Faculty, and music by RedEagle Drum Group & Thomas X.

Halloween Activities
Rydell Cars Trunk or Treat
Thursday, October 31st (4:00 - 6:00 PM)

Halloween Event at Cabela's
Thursday, October 31st (5:00 - 8:00 PM)

Trunk or Treat at Sharon Lutheran
Thursday, October 31st (5:30 - 7:00 PM)

Trick or Treat at Scheels!
Thursday, October 31st (5:30 - 8:00 PM)

GLOBAL FRIENDS CLASSES
Call us at 701-746-8233 for more information or if someone is in need of a ride.

Want to learn English?
Come learn and practice basic and conversational English skills.
Mondays & Tuesdays from 5- 6 PM
Kvasager Learning Center
(1802 Continental Drive)
Free childcare provided.

New American Social Hour
Exercises + Socializing = Fun!
Thursdays from 1 - 2 PM
Sharon Lutheran Church
1720 South 20th Street (use Door #1)

Citizenship Classes
Prepare for your US Citizenship interview and test.
Wednesdays from 5 - 6 PM
Kvasager Learning Center
1803 Continental Drive
Free childcare provided

Learn how to sew!
2nd Tuesday of each month (10/8, 11/12, 12/10)
1 - 3 PM
Sharon Lutheran Church
1720 South 20th Street (use Door #1)

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