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In Photos: ThankLansing, A Celebration For Lansing's Newest Neighbors

ThanksLansing attendees sit around tables sharing food and stories while listening to music from all around the world

Mashed potatoes and pumpkin pies were replacd by a cornucopia of global foods like chicken schwarma and tamales  at the sixth annual ThanksLansing. The gathering hosted by Lansing’s Refugee Development Center drew together Lansing's newest residents with locals to take part in the holiday.  

Music from all over the  world  played over speakers while participants feasted on a non-traditional Thanksgiving menu at three large tables. Refugee Development Director Erika Brown-Binion says the event started because the RDC wanted to have a big community party to bring together long-time residents and Lansing's newest neighbors to break bread. 

“It’s really important to us that the community knows who their refugee neighbors are and gets to know them on a level with food and cultural artifacts and dance and music and it makes our community stronger.”

The annual event is popular every year according to Brown-Binion. "It draws a lot of support from the community citizens and companies alike," she said. 

"We believe in the fact that when you can sit down with one another and share food it brings people closer and our goal is to build bridges and to make sure our community comes closer and closer together,"  said Brown-Binion.

Flags made by refugees hang outside the entrance to ThanksLansing
Credit Alec Gerstenberger/WKAR-MSU
Flags made by refugees hang outside the entrance to ThanksLansing

Thang Mung, a staff member of the RDC and the Zomi people.
Credit Alec Gerstenberger/WKAR-MSU
Thang Mung, a staff member of the RDC and the Zomi people.

This job really changed my life and how I see my perspective on other cultures and other religions. To me now, it is all about love. If you really have love and care towards people every problem will go away.

Kids gather around the art table at ThanksLansing
Credit Alec Gerstenberger/WKAR-MSU
Kids gather around the art table at ThanksLansing

Artifacts and instruments of the Zomi people who brought the items to ThanksLansing.
Credit Alec Gerstenberger/WKAR-MSU
Artifacts and instruments of the Zomi people who brought the items to ThanksLansing.

Credit Alec Gerstenberger/WKAR-MSU
Members of the Zomi community get ready to pose for a picture

We are very lucky in Lansing because we are a welcoming space and we have seen an outpouring of support from folks as the resettlement program gets challenged and we have seen more volunteers. Our ThanksLansing attendance is always pretty awesome.

Credit Alec Gerstenberger/WKAR-MSU
Lansing residents listen to RDC Director Erika Brown-Binion speak about immigration and refugee issues during the ThanksLansing meal

Credit Alec Gerstenberger/WKAR-MSU
A refugee portrait series was showcased around the ThanksLansing event, highlighting the lives of various refugees and immigrants in the Lansing area
Credit Alec Gerstenberger/WKAR-MSU
Mabendo, a Congolese woman who has attended ThanksLansing the past four years

I love ThanksLansing because people of different cultures meet together they eat they have a good time, there is also the dance show. It reflects love and rituality.

Credit Alec Gerstenberger/WKAR-MSU
There were many activities at ThanksLansing, including a henna tattoo station

Credit Alec Gerstenberger/WKAR-MSU
Hannah Grindling, a senior studying Genetics at Michigan State University and RDC volunteer
It has been really fun to just meet different people and the adults that we work with are just the most amazing students and they are so driven to learn it has been very inspirational.

 

Credit Alec Gerstenberger/WKAR-MSU
At ThanksLansing many plates were emptied quickly after being filled

 

Alec Gerstenberger gathers news photographs and helps add online content to wkar.org.
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