By Kate Vanskike

Two of my favorite things are Christmas and traveling. Interestingly, I’ve only combined the two once – on a trip to Belize with my daughter. I’m hoping the years ahead include experiencing Christmas around the world. 

For now, I’ve combined those passions in a holiday display in my office at Gonzaga University. In years past, I’ve done some ridiculous exhibits on The Grinch and Whoville, but this fall, after the U.S. presidential election and knowing that the incoming administration promised mass deportation, I wanted to do something to celebrate the richness of diversity we enjoy thanks to our refugee and immigrant communities.

It was a bit too late to make a meaningful pitch to many refugee and immigrant communities, but a couple of organizations helped to make my hastily planned display relatively easy. While I awaited the projects promised by Refugee and Immigrant Connections Spokane, I began bringing in ornaments I’ve collected from travels, and focused on acquiring more decor from fair-trade sources.

Every fall, First Presbyterian Church hosts its Jubilee Fair Trade Marketplace, where artisans and supporters of world-wide artisans sell their wares. Between First Pres and several Catholic parishes, there are a number of churches connected to Mayan communities in Guatemala, and when parishioners aren’t physically in Guatemala, they’re still championing causes like health and education. For an example, check out Resilient Threads Guatemala, run by Sandi Thompson-Royer. I purchased several fabric stars to benefit remote libraries there. 

Ganesh Himal Trading is a Spokane operated trade shop (owned by Denise Attwood, Ric Conner and Austin Zimmerman) supporting artisans in Nepal. I’ve seen Ganesh Himal booths at so many events, I honestly thought it was a chain and was pleasantly surprised to learn otherwise. The beautiful multicolored paper buntings bring the creativity of Nepal here to my hallway, thanks to Ganesh Himal. 

Kizuri – my favorite Spokane shop – is 100% fairtrade, and owner Jillian Joseph is 100% invested in supporting the health of communities across the globe AND Spokane. She comes by it naturally: Her father was one of several Spokane cardiologists who provided free care in Rwanda for years through Healing Hearts Northwest. Jillian helped me find just what I wanted (and more): handcarved wooden tree from India, carved soapstone tree from Kenya, some fun star ornaments crafted out of gum wrappers by Nepali women,intricate quilled paper wreath from Vietnam, and my very favorite item: a beautiful handcrafted Angel of Light, made from sisal and banana fiber in Kenya. 

I did purchase a couple of items from Ten Thousand Villages (not local, but fair trade) to include items from India and Bangladesh. Beyond that, the remaining items on display are from my own travels to the Philippines, Mexico, El Salvador, Guatemala and Holland. 

Supporting Refugee and Immigrant Communities

Refugee & Immigrant Connections Spokane (RICS), a Spokane nonprofit, supports families and youth who have relocated here from places around the world. Its Elders Services program offers basic ESL classes and activities to help adults adjust to life here. Refugee Kids Connect is a free afterschool program for children ages 5-18, offering activities for kids from families who have come to the U.S. as refugees or immigrants. The program encourages building friendships, confidence, future-thinking, and leadership skills through activities with a focus on arts, sports, outdoors, and academics. RICS also helps with English language skills and homework. Students from Iraq and the Marshall Islands crafted garlands from fabric representing the colors of their respective flags. (Many thanks to Renee Kenney for supporting this idea!) The completed garlands hang inside and outside my office in GU’s Marketing & Communications department.

^{An Iraqi child assembles a garland with the colors of an Iraqi flag.}

^{Marshallese youth assemble garlands with the colors of the Marshall Islands flag.}

Next year I’ll start earlier and attempt to grow the display – and the awareness of important internationally focused groups in our community, such as Latinas en Spokane, Asians for Collective Liberation, Thrive International, and others. 

Because Christmas is just brighter and better with a bit of connection to others around the world.