Justice, Equity and Diversity: Free all-ages activities on welcoming refugees and new community members hosted at the Annenberg Community Beach House
April 1, 2024 2:15 PM
SANTA MONICA, Calif. (April 1, 2024) — The Annenberg Community Beach House will host an afternoon of free activities to learn ways to welcome newly settled refugee families or new members to any community.
The Families Welcome event, a partnership with regional nonprofit Miry’s List, is a free day of activities to connect and welcome refugee families newly settled in the LA County region. The event will take place at the Annenberg Community Beach House on April 14 from 2-5 p.m. This city partnership helps advance the key strategic priority of Justice, Equity & Diversity, immersing participants of all ages in workshops and discussions centered around ways to welcome new community members.
Rabia Ahmadi, a mother and new Angeleno from Afghanistan, will share opening remarks, followed by a musical performance by Grammy-nominated singer/songwriter Kymberly Stewart.
Later, Miry’s List Founder Miry Whitehill will host a children’s book storytime and a family discussion on ways to welcome new community members.
All-day event activities include writing welcome letters, a free family portrait studio and friendship-bracelet and art-making workshops. The event will culminate with BREAD BREAD, a community dessert and teatime, where participants can break bread and exchange stories, fortifying new friendships through sharing food.
BREAD BREAD will feature Afghan desserts and tea provided by the Ashgary family, who are Miry's List program participants, and will be available while supplies last.
Attendance is free with a suggested donation of $10 per person. Donations will support Miry's List core programming. RSVP at the Eventbrite link.
Schedule:
- 2 p.m. Welcome by Rabia Ahmadi
- 2:10 p.m. Music by Grammy-nominated Kymberly Stewart
- 2:30 p.m. Welcomers training and storytime with Miry’s List Founder Miry Whitehall
- 3:45 p.m. BREAD BREAD Afghan desserts and teatime
- All day activities on the courtyard
Eagle Rock based nonprofit Miry’s List helps newly arrived refugees settle and connect to their new communities with crowdsourced support through volunteer networks, language immersion programs, job training and more.
The Annenberg Community Beach House is wheelchair accessible and ADA compliant. For disability related accommodations, please call Guest Services at (310) 458-4904. The Annenberg Community Beach House at Santa Monica State Beach is operated by the City of Santa Monica. The Beach House is made possible by a generous gift from the Annenberg Foundation, at the direction of Wallis Annenberg, and in partnership with the city of Santa Monica and California State Parks. Additional funding was provided by the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development.
For more information, visit annenbergbeachhouse.com.
Media Contact
Tati Simonian
Public Information Officer
Tati.Simonian@santamonica.gov