March 22, 2023
Welcoming new neighbors Welcome Neighbor STL hosts Big Supper Club event where refugee chefs cook dishes from their home countries
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By Wendy Todd Iman Alkrad fled the war in Syria and landed in St. Louis along with other refugees. Currently, her daughter is still in Syria and Alkrad hasn’t seen her in 12 years. But in spite of the longing she feels for her daughter every day, she’s still done her best to create a life here – with the help of Welcome Neighbor STL. The nonprofit began in 2016 by Jessica Bueler after she created a call-to-action when learning that some Syrian boys had been attacked in North St. Louis. The marketing and public relations professional used the NextDoor platform to ask for assistance for the boys and received an overwhelming response. This show of community support prompted Bueler to initiate a more formal avenue to help immigrants in need of resources. The organization partners with refugee and immigrant families to connect them with people and opportunities to empower them to build their lives in St. Louis. One way the nonprofit provides resources is with the annual Big Supper Club event, happening on March 29, which features refugee chefs from multiple countries including Afghanistan, Syria, India and countries in West Africa. They cook 11 dishes from their countries and also desserts to be served at the fundraiser. Since 2017 there have been 218 Big Supper Club events that have served 15,930 people and raised $426,898. Proceeds from the supper go back to the chefs. Alkrad is one of the chefs who will be participating in the upcoming supper on March 29. “Since my childhood, I loved to cook
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Submitted photo The annual Big Supper Club event features refugee chefs from multiple countries including Afghanistan, Syria, India and countries in West Africa.
a variety of dishes and share my culture with other people,” she said. “Welcome Neighbor STL helped me to let people know more about my delicious cooking and teach me how to work with people in the United States.” Along with food, music and conversation, attendees three families will be sharing about their experiences as refugees in St. Louis and working with Welcome Neighbor STL via video.
Alkrad received vital assistance when transitioning to the United States, of which now, five years after her application, she and her family have received citizenship. “When I arrived to America, the International Institute found a house for me,” she said. “After a while, my husband and my sons found a job and started working. And I got to know Jessica. She was the first See ‘NEIGHBOR’ page 2
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