Issue I Fall 2022
Caz to Afghan Family: Welcome! By Miranda Hamilton and Madison Lee
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his summer, Cazenovia welcomed a family from Afghanistan into the community. In partnership with Cazenovia College, an organization called Cazenovia Welcomes Refugees was one of many collaborators involved in the process of helping the family start their new lives in their new home at 43 Lincklaen St. The family came to the United States following the August 2021 withdrawal of U.S. armed forces that ended the 20-year war, according to The New York Times. About 82,000 Afghans, many of whom had worked with Americans during the war as translators and drivers, were evacuated to the United States. At least 200 Afghan evacuees have settled in the Syracuse area with help from
local agencies, according to local news reports. The Afghan family living in Cazenovia — mom, dad and four children — said through representatives they were too overwhelmed to speak with The Quad. Cazenovia Welcomes Refugees is a community-based initiative dedicated to working directly with people who were resettled refugees as they integrate into American life. Formed in 2016, the organization works in partnership with the community, other private organizations and programs such as Interfaith Works of Syracuse. “A group of people in Cazenovia got together and asked, ‘How can we impact this global issue of refugees?’” said Kathy Bice, one of the
Cazenovia College President David Bergh, left, stands with partners who helped welcome a family of evacuees from Afghanistan settle into a house at 43 Lincklaen St. (Courtesy of Cazenovia College)
co-facilitators at CWR. “Caz College had this property and it was previously being used as storage,” Bice said of the Lincklaen house. “The deal we made, all three organizations coming together, was Caz College would allow us to renovate the property in order to move in another family.” The college once used the building for student housing, according to the college’s website. Bice said the house has undergone significant renovation. “If you’d seen it from the beginning, you’d have an appreciation of what kind of shape it was in,” she said. “It was not an easy process.” COVID-19 protocols limited how often and how many volunteers could work on the house. “It slowed us down,” Bice said. Local companies helped out. “We worked with a construction company that was interested in what we were doing with refugees. He agreed to work on the house at a discounted price,” Bice said. “We basically gutted the house and had to completely rebuild the kitchen.” Some Cazenovia College students contributed to the project through the interior design program. “Students from one of the classes there drew up some designs for us,” she said. “They were very helpful.” This is the second family CWR has helped resettle a family. In August 2018, they helped a family from Iraq move to Cazenovia. Bice said the family now rents a house in Cazenovia that was purchased from them by a member
Cazenovia Public Library screens global film fest shorts By Miranda Hamilton
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he Manhattan Short Film Festival has blossomed from a side-of-the road venture created by Nicholas Mason to a widely attended event ranging across six continents and more than 500 cities. The village of Cazenovia has its own special connection to the festival that spurred a change in how the films would be shown. It also helped to showcase the importance of community and culture. Thanks to the Cazenovia Public Library, the festival — in its 25th year — has expanded to libraries nationwide. The Manhattan Short Film Festival finals takes place simultaneously at multiple locations over 10 days and invites viewers to vote for best film and best actor awards at each participating venue. Votes will be tallied and
a combined worldwide to elect global winners. “The Cazenovia Library and what they are doing is amazing,” Mason said. “Libraries are not the first place you would expect to be involved with a film festival, let alone show outstanding reception. We are really impressed with the numbers.” More than 60 U.S. libraries, including Cazenovia’s, are participating this year. Mason attributes the large turnout and engagement to the library’s assistant director, Elisha Davies. Davies was eager to take part in this event and felt that the library would be a perfect way for the community to become involved. “Libraries are not just about books, libraries are community centers,” Davies said.
of the Presbyterian church. “I think it has worked out well for them,” she said. Bice said the Afghani family is adjusting well to their new lives in Cazenovia. “It is a big adjustment, culturally, and to learn about Cazenovia,” she said. “They are still learning about our customs. It just takes time.” Bice said the family’s four children have had a positive experience in their new home so far. “Two of them have started school and had bikes donated to them,” she said. “I think they are very happy to be able to go out and play.” CWR has checked in with the family often and has invited them to local events such as the Fourth of July celebration. Bice said they also helped them with navigating the town. “We let them know where things are like where to get groceries, little things like that,” she said. CWR’s single goal is to make sure the new family is comfortable in Cazenovia. “The only thing we’re focusing on right now is working on this family and getting them settled, oriented, feel welcomed and at home, and making sure they are getting their needs met,” Bice said. “Eventually we would love to settle in another family.” Bice said there are ways people can get involved in Cazenovia Welcomes Refugees through volunteer opportunities and community outreach programs or organized events like their annual “Extending the Table” community dinner in October. To learn more about Cazenovia Welcomes Refugees and how to get involved, visit their website, cazwelcomesrefugees.org or contact them at cazwelcomesrefugees@gmail.com.
Staff Abigail Wilhelm Co-editor Carrie Farmer Co-editor Haley Shattuck Layout designer renee K. Gadoua Adviser
The Cazenovia Public Library will host a showing of short films in the Manhattan Short Film Festival. (Courtesy of Manhattan Short Film Festival) Continued on page 2
Miranda Hamilton Madison Lee Valona WhiteHead Melissa Place Other Contributors