With support from the California Arts Council, ERITREAN COMMUNITY CENTER will conduct traditional Eritrean cultural activities for all and relieving acculturation stress for new arrivals. The funds will be used for cultural activities including traditional coffee ceremony, art training, cultural celebrations and festivals, language, traditional dancing, singing and poetry classes.
ECC has offered many arts activities, programs, and services. It offers a number of programs and workshops for the community, including traditional dance, singing, poetry, cooking, cultural celebrations, language classes, music, film viewings and much more. Specifically, adult members of the Eritrean community teach various traditional art forms to the Unaccompanied Refugee Minors (URMs) to help preserve the authenticity of our culture as well as to support their mental health in a challenging transitional time.
The workshops will continue within the current community’s schedule of events monthly with focus on the arts. Resettled refugees, immigrants & friends of the community from various ethnic backgrounds also participate. Experience demonstrates that art acts as a therapeutic treatment and immigrants integrate better in such a condition. At a recent event, the URM foster children were encouraged to present a short poem or story with the broader community.

