Threads of Independence: Immigrant Women Build Skills and Find Community

On July 30th, the Asian Center’s space came alive with vibrant color, proud smiles, and joyous celebration as community members, staff, and volunteers gathered to honor the graduates of our Women’s Sewing Class. Across months of steady effort, these inspiring women transformed our classroom into a center of determination, creative expression, and mutual support.

What makes this class so transformative is the holistic approach that defines the Asian Center’s work with newcomers. Technical sewing instruction was woven together with essential financial education, health and wellness guidance, and dedicated mental health support. In addition to sewing skills like pattern reading, machine operation, and garment construction, participants gained valuable tools like family budgeting, stress management, and preventive healthcare.

Arabic-speaking team members from the Asian Center, including Women’s Program Manager Kahmisa Abdalla, Middle Eastern Community Advocate Samia Ahmed Abdel Mawla, and Program Assistant Ommohal Koko, used their experience and training as advocates and community health workers to create a holistic class that offered support for participants’ emotional, physical, and economic needs in one space.

“I didn’t expect I would make friends in this class. I came to learn to sew, but now I can sew and I have friends,” one graduate shared with tears in her eyes.

Navigating language and cultural barriers and managing household and family responsibilities while adjusting to life in a new country is overwhelming. In this midst of all this, these women arrived each week determined to build new talents, cultivate independence, and shape brighter futures for their families. The practical skills built in this class can empower graduates to reduce household expenses, create custom clothing, and generate additional income through alterations or micro-businesses.

"We need to empower women across different cultures so they can grow in confidence and build their own futures," says Khamisa. "When women learn these practical skills along with health and financial education, they are not just making clothes—they are opening doors to financial independence, supporting their families, and realizing their own power and potential."

As we celebrate alongside our graduates, we’re reminded that together we can continue building a community where every immigrant and refugee woman has the tools, resources, and support to thrive.