Walking Tall
Cincinnati prides itself as a city of immigrants, celebrating its diverse communities and their rich histories with festivals, music, and art.
These elements combine for a special visit next week from Little Amal, a 12-foot puppet of a 10-year-old Syrian refugee girl who has traveled across 13 countries meeting more than a million people and watched by tens of millions more online. Her story celebrates the rich stories of refugees, immigrants, and displaced people, and the communities that welcome them
The Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra (CCO) in partnership with Cincinnati Compass and the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, is bringing Little Amal to downtown Cincinnati on Friday, Sept. 22 from 3 to 4:30 p.m.
Upcoming Workshops with Little Ama
Cincinnati Hamilton County Public Library
Saturday, Sept. 16 | 12:30-2 p.m.
Price Hill Branch, 970 Purcell Ave,
The program will consist of a story time and then a Zine making workshop led by Zinecinnati. The story is by Rojina Rai, “I Choose to be Courageous”. Rojina is one of Dr. Kate Currie’s students from Aiken who participated in the Illustrated Memoirs Project which are stories written and illustrated by young local refugees about their journeys here. Ren from Zinecinnati will choose one or two words or themes from Rojina’s story and lead teens and tweens in a Zine making workshop.
Ignite Peace/Immigrant and Refugee Law Center
Tuesday, Sept. 19, 6:30-8 p.m
Forest Chapel United Methodist Church
680 W. Sharon Road
Seeking Safety in Cincinnati. There is much to learn and understand about how immigration issues uniquely affect our community. Participants will learn the basics of how the U.S. immigration system works, hear about our asylum system and how it affects real people who now live in the Cincinnati area, and play an interactive board game simulating the immigrant experience.
Baker Hunt Arts & Cultural Center
Wednesday, Sept. 20, 5:30-6:30 p.m. or 6:45-7:45 p.m.
Baker Hunt, 20 Greenup St, Covington
Join Baker Hunt for a puppet making workshop to welcome Little Amal! People walking with Little Amal are encouraged to bring a companion for her, so they immediately thought of Sheppy! Sheppy was the companion to Baker Hunt’s founder Margaretta Baker Hunt. Receive step-by-step instructions on making this adorable dog puppet, or enjoy their puppet making station.
Ignite Peace/Immigrant and Refugee Law Center
Thursday, Sept. 21, 6:30-8 p.m.
Mt. Auburn Presbyterian Church
103 William Howard Taft Road
Seeking Safety in Cincinnati. There is much to learn and understand about how immigration issues uniquely affect our community. Participants will learn the basics of how the U.S. immigration system works, hear about our asylum system and how it affects real people who now live in the Cincinnati area, and play an interactive board game simulating the immigrant experience
This fall, Little Amal is making a journey of 6,000 miles across the United States in one of the largest free public festivals ever created – from Boston to San Diego, 35 towns and cities and more than 1,000 artists and arts organizations will create 100+ events to welcome her. Amal Walks Across America is produced by The Walk Productions in association with Handspring Puppet Company.
“Migration is key to human history. Cincinnati's location on the Ohio River was a symbol of hope, safety, and freedom for enslaved persons in the 19th century,” says CCO Associate Conductor Daniel Parsley. “Following Amal’s journey across the Ohio River, the Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra (CCO) will present a concert of hope for Amal.”
The concert will also feature Little Miami Select Choirs, Northern Kentucky University Choirs, and Thomas More University Choral Activities. The Well is commissioning local composer Sonia Morales-Matos to write a new piece for the occasion.
A number of artistic partners are hosting workshops leading up to the event, including ArtsWave, The Carnegie, Cincinnati Arts Association, Cincinnati Hamilton County Public Library, Contemporary Arts Center, Findlay Market, Hellmann Creative Center, ish, Kennedy Heights Art Center, Learning Through Art, Inc., and Wave Pool.
“Cincinnati continues to shine as a nationwide leader in the arts as evidenced by the vast number of partners engaged in this community-wide project,” says CCO Executive Director Evan Gidley. “Hosting Little Amal is an honor, and we are proud to serve as a leader in the music industry when it comes to using our artform to have a direct, positive impact on members of our community.”
To celebrate The Well’s partnership with the CCO and the arrival of Little Amal (which means hope in Arabic), The Well commissioned composer Sonia Morales-Matos to spend time with area refugee and immigrant families this summer in order to weave their hopes, dreams and resilience into a new three-minute piece of music. This new work will premiere the week preceding Little Amal's arrival as a listening experience for the more than 50,000 youth who participate in The Well’s “Mindful Music Moments” as well as a gift to Little Amal.