Source: The Alligator

As part of its mission to share the stories of refugees and immigrants, WeaveTales is hosting a six week long video series called Hearty Tables to immerse viewers in culturally diverse cooking recipes and authentic stories.

WeaveTales is a nonprofit organization based in Jacksonville that shares firsthand accounts of refugee and immigrant experiences from all over the world. It was co-founded by 34-year-old UF alumnus Seyeon Hwang and 34-year-old Basma Alawee, the Florida refugee organizer for the Florida Immigrant Coalition. Hwang, an immigrant from South Korea, and Alawee, a refugee from Iraq, said they wanted to expand the limited research on immigrants and refugees in North Florida.

“I have to make sure that my American-born child feels included in her community,“ Alawee said. “I [have been] a refugee in the state of Florida for the past 10 years. I hope things change in the best interest of everyone.”

Hearty Tables, starting on May 30, will allow viewers to virtually observe the guided cooking of immigrant chefs while learning about their upbringings and journeys to America.

“We’re trying to break down the cultural barriers among different immigrant groups and facilitate a good dialogue between the longtime residents and newcomers through this online cooking series,” Hwang said.

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