What's Up - Your guide to what's happening in Fayetteville, AR this week!
Issue link: http://www.epageflip.net/i/1426238
NOVEMBER 7-13, 2021 WHAT'S UP! 11 FYI Expanding Outreach Two designers featured in Interform's "The Collective" film are part of the organi- zation's Marshallese and Congolese sewing classes. The classes were established near the beginning of the pandemic as part of the former Arkan- sas Arts and Fashion Forum's programming, as a means of community outreach as well as professional development for these two populations. "Since we are located in Springdale, and Springdale has a large Marshallese commu- nity, we wanted to provide not only services but skills in order for the community to use and be paid for," explains Interform communications coordinator Rochelle Bailey. The classes began with mask-making and contributed to the thousands of cloth masks the Interform (formerly AAFF and NWA Fash- ion Week) network produced early in the pandemic. "We saw a need and we acted quickly, and we invited the Marshallese and Congolese community to learn a new skill set." The classes are led by Demo- cratic Republic of Congo native Abwe Abedi, Interform director of sewing operations, as well as Basana Chhetri, senior direc- tor of fashion design & apparel education with Interform. (Courtesy Photo/Interform)