Join us on Sunday, March 19, for a discussion addressing the reasons for migration, the personal and collective impact, societal responsibility, how art is transformed by the act of migration, among other topics. Kinan Azmeh, members of the Aizuri Quartet, and representatives from the Refugee Alliance of Central Iowa, the International Rescue Committee and Lutheran Services in Iowa will participate in a panel moderated by Lori Chesser.
Music and Migration
A conversation about migration and immigration
Thanks for those who were able to attend the panel discussion with the Aizuri Quartet and Kinan Azmeh! If you were unable to join that day, take some time and tune in here.
“Music and Migration” is a collaborative touring program offered by Syrian-American clarinetist and composer Kinan Azmeh. All five of us have different personal relationships to and experiences of migration, as do our families, and the music of this concert approaches the theme of migration in the broadest possible terms, both as a physical journey and state of mind, something that occurs both between and within countries. Stemming from a deep friendship between the Aizuri Quartet and Kinan Azmeh, and built around two new commissions from the extraordinary composers George Lewis and Layale Chaker, the music of this program, wide-ranging in style and approach, will include additional works for string quartet and clarinet by Azmeh, Michi Wiancko and Wang Lu, among others. – The Aizuri Quartet Website
About Lori Chesser
Lori Chesser is a preeminent immigration lawyer and advocate. With a degree in finance, she initially practiced corporate law. Recognizing the need for immigration services in Iowa, she developed that practice and has worked primarily in immigration law for more than 20 years.
Lori assists employers, business owners, and individuals as they navigate the complex U.S. immigration system. Her clients range from small businesses to Fortune 500 companies in sectors including healthcare, IT, insurance, agriculture, chemical, higher education, churches, and other non-profit entities.
The immigration process is often complicated and arduous for individuals and companies alike. When employers identify a foreign national as the best candidate for the job, they count on Lori’s guidance in navigating the immigration maze. Lori has assisted organizations in hiring scientists, investors, entrepreneurs, researchers, doctors, artists, religious workers, athletes, and other professionals to legally live and work in the United States. In addition to employers and their employees, she also represents entrepreneurs starting businesses in the U.S. and individuals sponsoring family members or wanting to naturalize.
Participating Organizations
RACI is a voluntary membership network of service providers, government agencies, religious groups, nonprofit organizations, and educational institutions that work together to better serve the needs of the growing refugee population in central Iowa. We provide targeted assistance in the areas of health, housing and transportation, interpretation, education, legal, along with advocacy at federal, state, and local government level.
The International Rescue Committee provides opportunities for refugees, asylees, victims of human trafficking, survivors of torture, and other immigrants to thrive in America. Each year, thousands of people, forced to flee violence and persecution, are welcomed by the people of the United States into the safety and freedom of America. These individuals have survived against incredible odds. The IRC works with government bodies, civil society actors, and local volunteers to help them translate their past experiences into assets that are valuable to their new communities. In Des Moines and other offices across the country, the IRC helps them to rebuild their lives.
“Welcome” is something LSI has been expressing to refugees since World War II. LSI’s Immigrant and Refugee Community Services continue to welcome Iowa’s newest neighbors by providing education, family services, and economic development programs to help them get started on their path to citizenship and building a new life in Iowa.`` - Lutheran Services in Iowa Website
