Our first local classes served newly arrived Bhutanese refugees in the Madison area. The excitement was palpable as people came together to sew in a local community center. Conversations were about sewing, to be sure, but even more, when gathering to sew, participants were problem solving, and soothing the shock of a new home country and city. The depth of community was unmistakeable.
Other center clients leaned into doorways, asking how they could learn to sew too? So we finished up with our Bhutanese friends and moved on to other clients of the center. Since then, we’ve offered sewing machines and education to clients Centers designate, sharing practical tools and a vehicle for building community.