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ArlinArlingtonTheThe gton Connection HomeLifeStyleHomeHomeLifeStyleLifeStyle Pages 10-11 Cora Sehardt, 2 and a half years old, sits on thethe floorfloor atat thethe endend ofof thethe crawlcrawl throughthrough tunneltunnel thatthat isis partpart ofof thethe obstacleobstacle coursecourse forfor thethe SuperheroSuperhero Training Day at Shirlington Library. She sits amidst a roomroom fullfull ofof K-5thK-5th graders attending the Jan.Jan. 3131 event.event. Classified, Page 14 Classified, ❖ Entertainment, Page 8 Devastating Past, Uncertain Future Superhero News, Page 3 Constructing Bigger And Better ‘Bridges’ Training Day News, Page 3 News, Page 6 Helping Feed Those in Need News, Page 2 Photo by Shirley Ruhe/The Connection www.ConnectionNewspapers.comFebruary 8-14, 2017 online at www.connectionnewspapers.comArlington Connection ❖ February 8-14, 2017 ❖ 1 News Empty Bowls Raising funds to help feed those in need. By Mary Dempsey For some, attending Empty Bowls has The Connection become an annual tradition. “I’ve been coming as long as I can remem- or the fifth year, area ceramic stu- ber,” said Arlington resident Wes dios and restaurants joined forces MacAdams. “I come for the fellowship, the with the Arlington Food Assistance great food, for the cause. You get to help F by Mary Demps Photo Center (AFAC) for its annual yourself by doing good.” Empty Bowls fundraising event. The Many others had come for the first time. fundraiser took place at St. Andrew’s Epis- Laurel Glenn of Alexandria came to the copal Church Sunday, Feb. 5. event after hearing about it from a friend AFAC’s Empty Bowls event, like many who volunteers with AFAC. around the nation, is based upon the con- “I hope it’s the first time of many times,” cept of using art as a way to connect with Glenn said. “It’s a wonderful organization. those in need. Specifically, the hand-crafted They provide food for the people who need ey/The Connection ceramic bowls serve as a reminder that there it.” are those in the community who cannot al- While food drive donations are a boon to ways afford to fill their own bowls or those the services provided by AFAC, the funds of their family members. derived from events like Empty Bowls and According to Puwen Lee, AFAC’s associ- AFAC’s upcoming spring gala, “A Light Ex- ate director of programs, the bowl serves ists in Spring,” are essential to providing dual purposes. for the roughly 2,200 residents who are “It’s something that [attendees] can take served by the nonprofit. Volunteers from H-B Woodlawn High School served up the soup, home and love, but they also have the bowl “About 40 percent of the food is donated,” which was provided by local restaurants such as the Carlyle, Leba- as a remembrance,” Lee said. Lee said. “The rest needs to be purchased. nese Taverna, and Whitlow’s on Wilson. On Sunday, approximately 250 members We can purchase food at a much lower cost.” of the Arlington community and beyond Lee added nutrition is also another major While the primary goal of Empty Bowls nated by local high school and college art traded a pre-purchased ticket for an origi- factor and that by purchasing food, AFAC is to benefit those served by AFAC, the event departments, including those at Washing- nal ceramic dish made by area artists which is able to better monitor the nutritional recognizes the work of area ceramic artists ton-Lee High School, Episcopal High School they could then fill with hot soup provided value of the food distributed. It is also nec- as well. Studios such as Lee Arts Center, and Marymount University. by local restaurants. They then got to sit essary for them to purchase almost all per- Alexandria Clay Co-op and Thomas “Empty Bowls helps us to focus on a com- down at community tables and enjoy a meal ishable food such as meats, dairy, and fresh Jefferson (TJ) Community Center Art Stu- mon goal,” said Steven Muñoz, director at with friends, family, and neighbors. vegetables. dio provided the bowls. Work was also do- See Raising Funds, Page 7 2 ❖ Arlington Connection ❖ February 8-14, 2017 www.ConnectionNewspapers.com Arlington Connection Editor Steven Mauren News 703-778-9415 or [email protected] Devastating Past, Uncertain Future Arlington’s Syrian refugees shocked and dismayed by recent executive order. By Vernon Miles tack, you call everyone you know to see if Frid Mosa (right) The Connection they’re safe.” speaks to Mahmoodi said that the vetting process Arlingtonians at for her immigration was extensive. kbal Al Zoubi and his family es- the ECDC com- “It took me two years from the time I ap- caped death. In a war that has munity forum plied to when I got a visa. There are 15 killed at least 400,000 people, Al E with the help of steps, from a medical screening to inter- Zoubi and his family are a few of translator Ahmed views, and every refugee goes through this the 15,479 Syrian refugees to make it into Altamimi (left). process. Many wait much longer.” the United States in 2016. Yen Le, representing Boat People SOS, “We escaped the war in Syria,” said Al was a refugee to Arlington County from the Zoubi, “The government there is killing in- Vietnam War. Le said the executive order nocent people for demanding their rights.” has had a broader impact on refugees than Al Zoubi said that while his family were Photo by just those in the outlined Muslim countries. fleeing from the government and living in Vernon Miles Le said a man the organization works with the refugee camps, their focus remained on The Connection was jailed in Vietnam for protesting. He left trying to move into the United States. for Thailand and has been trying to flee to “I heard a lot about the United States Trump signed an executive order banning refugees. the United States, but has been in limbo before I came here,” said Al Zoubi. “We were persons from seven “terror-prone” coun- “We came here seeking safety, but now since the executive order limited the num- told it was a land of freedom and opportu- tries, including Syria, from entering the we are very uncertain,” said Al Zoubi. “Re- ber of refugees received by the United nity. We were told America was a country United States. The order’s legality has been cently, we’ve seen the United States work- States. of law, and that the government doesn’t care challenged in courts and its implementa- ing against people demanding their rights Representatives from Senators Tim Kaine what your political or your religious beliefs tion remains in question. While Al Zoubi’s and freedom.” and Mark Warner and U.S. Rep. Donald are.” immediate family is safe, others in the room At the forum, refugees from Syria shared Beyer attended the event, saying that the But for Al Zoubi, and many others at the still have family members seeking asylum their stories with refugees from other cri- local members of Congress are opposed to Community Forum hosted by the Ethiopian in the United States. Many also expressed ses. the executive order and have been working Community Development Council, Inc. on concerns that the ban could affect the way “These families want a normal life,” said to help refugees stuck at Dulles Interna- Feb 2, there is a rising fear that the America tional Airport. Noah Simon from Beyer’s they escaped to may not be the one that Syrian refugees are viewed by the public or Fazela Mahmoodi, a refugee from Afghani- was promised. On Jan. 30, President Donald could lead to more actions taken against stan. “They never feel safe. After every at- See Uncertain Future, Page 5 Arlington, Alexandria Construct Bigger and Better ‘Bridges’ Alexandria out of homelessness and into Bridges client Local safety net stable, independent futures. “They miss Amina Amir time with their families to help families stands with organization helped they’ve never met before, generous with Executive Direc- their time and their help; they remain our tor of Bridges 500 people last year. family,” she said. Sam Kelly to talk It seemed like family, Monday night. about what it By Eden Brown Former U.S. Rep. Jim Moran, who was a meant to her to The Connection founding board member 30 years ago when get the support the organization was called the Arlington- she needed a few ike any other Alexandria mother, Alexandria Coaltion for the Homeless years ago. LAmina Amir was bursting with pride (AACH) was there. “I started working with that her daughter would be gradu- an Episcopal priest, Rosemari Sullivan, Photo by ating from high school this spring, with whose vision it was to create this,” Moran Eden Brown plans to go to college, and that her son is in said. The Connection the U.S. Navy in California. But unlike most Lars Flori interjected: “It was Jim Moran Alexandria mothers, Amir is a domestic vio- who arranged for an earmark of a House lence survivor. She was taken out of her Bill to enable AACH to purchase their origi- networks people need to become and re- member Kris Finney’s favorite thing was the home a few years ago by a detective who nal building at 932 North Highland St., main self-sufficient. In 2016, Bridges served running program she manages. They have referred her and her 13-year-old daughter which is one of the reasons we can raise nearly 500 individuals in Arlington County about 20 youths, the children of clients, who and 17-year-old son to Bridges to Indepen- capital today.” and the City of Alex- run together.