For April’s issue, we’re featuring stories of refugees—those who have fled their homes due to conflict and persecution. Sheri Blaylock, a member of the Portage & Area Refugee Coalition, writes about the sponsorship journey of a Syrian family, who landed at Richardson International Airport on December 8, 2021.
But first, RLN Reporter at Large, Hannah Foulger, interviews Andrea Shalay, the MCC (Mennonite Central Committee) peace engagement coordinator for Europe. A Winnipegger of Ukrainian ancestry, Shalay and her fellow staff were forced to evacuate Ukraine in the wake of Russia’s military operations.
Finally, can performance art save us from war? “Over fifty years ago, a great artist named Yoko Ono dared to imagine this,” writes Jane Barter in her review of Peter Jackson’s documentary series The Beatles: Get Back, released back in November 2021. Barter draws our attention to Yoko Ono’s performance art of the late 60s and points to its abiding significance.