Sullivan Refugee Students Celebrate Thanksgiving at 6th Annual sponsored Holiday Feast
Nearly 100 people - a combination of students, parents, faculty, community members and alumnus attended Sullivan’s 6th Annual Thanksgiving Celebration - for some students, their first exposure to the most “American” of American holidays. Along with the traditional turkey and mashed potatoes (offered by local caterer Twilight Kitchen), some international foods provided by local restaurants: enchiladas provided by South of the Border; Ethiopian portions of dora wot and injera from Ethiopian Diamond and Middle Eastern kabobs from Habibi Grille in Evanston. Three Sullivan students expressed what it is for which they are grateful, including Hussein Bukele from Kenya, shown in this video
Roger C. Sullivan High School has a renown program for refugee and immigrant students - at times, Sullivan’s student body consists of students from over 40 different countries; and over 50 different languages spoken at the school.
The “English Learners” program is a source of great pride among the Sullivan community - as the “English Learning” staff is focused on addressing the needs and ambitions of these special students.
A four minute video prepared by English Learners social worker Josh Zepeda - prepared for Sullivan's 6th Annual Refugee Thanksgiving celebration, offers us a chance to learn more about these students: their pasts; their present; and their goals for the future, in their new homeland. In the spirit of Thanksgiving, learn about what it is for which they are thankful.
Video below: