We wrote earlier this summer about Welcome to Shelbyville, a multimedia project that chronicles a southern town as its residents – whites and African Americans, Latinos and Somalis – grapple with their beliefs, their histories and their evolving ways of life.  Now the project has a new 30 minutes video, "Hawo's Dinner Party", and invites everyone to host screenings and discussions around the anniversary of September 11.  They write:

"With tensions mounting between the U.S. and the Muslim world, integrating newcomers from those countries raises a whole set of sensitivities and challenges. This September 11th, host a screening of “Hawo’s Dinner Party: The New Face of Southern Hospitality,” a 30 minute video module that tells the story of Hawo -a former nurse from Somalia, now refugee- who has come to work in a chicken processing plant in a small town in Tennessee. The video module is a tool designed to support community leaders — including educators, clergy, law enforcement, public officials and employers — who are helping to integrate newcomers from Muslim-majority countries, often against considerable obstacles. It was developed to deepen discussions, break the ice around difficult issues, build-bridges across faith and culture and enhance cultural competency among service providers. There are many resources to help you, from a Discussion Guide to Event Planning Toolkit or recipes for a low-key dinner gathering. To learn more, visit: http://www.shelbyvillemultimedia.org/modules/ or to request a copy to use for your very own screening event, fill out this form."

You can also watch the module in its entirety here:

“Hawo’s Dinner Party: The New Face of Southern Hospitality" from Active Voice on Vimeo.