Refugee Portrait Project

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 12, 2017

Contacts:
Tim Close Latasha Ware
Director of Development and Communications Outreach Coordinator
(253) 383-3951, ext. 229 (253) 383-3951, ext. 254
tclose@tacomacommunityhouse.org lware@tacomacommunityhouse.org


Tacoma Community House partners with local portrait artist, Jonathan Hanks, to shed light on refugee migration stories

TACOMA, WA – Tacoma Community House is pleased to announce a partnership with local artist Jonathan Hanks, who will conduct interviews and paint portraits of refugee community members who wish to share their stories. Participants will receive a free, professionally printed copy of their portrait.

The goal of the project is to highlight refugee migration stories through art. Refugees enter the United States because of fear of persecution due to race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or membership in a particular social group. Once USCIS determines that the individual is facing persecution in their country due to discrimination, the individual may enter the United States with refugee status. If permitted to enter the country, they face trials such as learning the English language and securing employment by a deadline of six months. The transition is often traumatic. Through this project, Tacoma Community House and Jonathan Hanks hope to assist those who have experienced the complexity of migration to retell their stories of adversity and perseverance, and assist others in becoming knowledgeable of the struggles refugees face on a day-to-day basis.

If you know any refugees who may be interested in this innovative project, please forward the below contact information.

To schedule an interview with Jonathan, please contact Latasha Ware, TCH Outreach Coordinator, at Lware@tacomacommunityhouse.org or at 253.383.3951.

About Tacoma Community House
As one of the longest, continuously operating social service agencies in Washington State, TCH has improved the lives of generations of immigrants, refugees, and other (predominantly low-income) community members through the four cornerstones of Education, Employment, Immigration and Advocacy.

Founded by Methodist women in 1910 in the small room of a private home in Tacoma’s Hilltop neighborhood, TCH originally served a couple dozen neighborhood children. Today, TCH is a nationally respected, community-based multiservice center providing 3,700 program services to 2,700 adults and youth from the U.S. and over 90 other countries.

TCH's service area of Pierce, South King, Kitsap, Thurston, and Mason counties represents a growing population of 1.7 million individuals, 11% of whom are immigrants. TCH is the only organization that provides a full range of services to immigrants and refugees between Portland and Seattle.

Learn more at www.TacomaCommunityHouse.org

Tacoma Community House | (253) 383-3951 | www.TacomaCommunityHouse.org
1314 S. L Street, Tacoma, WA 98405

“Tacoma Community House creates opportunities for immigrants and other community members in the Puget Sound region through comprehensive services focused on self-sufficiency, inclusion and advocacy.”