The NMU Refugee Outreach Collective will host an Art and Jazz Charity Gala on February 19 from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Northern Center, featuring live music, visual art, and storytelling to support refugee education initiatives.
Carter Hairston, a philosophy and political science major and president of the student organization, says the collective was founded last year with a dual mission: to educate the campus and broader community about the realities refugees face, and to take meaningful action in support of their goals. A primary focus is fundraising for the group’s Global Classroom program, which enables refugees to enroll in U.S. college courses at no cost.
Funds raised from the gala will support an educational facility serving students at Dzaleka Refugee Camp in Malawi. The collective is working to secure Starlink internet access for the site, addressing unreliable connectivity that currently makes it difficult for students to participate consistently in hybrid and online courses. Improved internet service would allow students to attend lectures and complete coursework more reliably.
Kurt Hauswirth spoke with Hairston about the Gala:
The February 19 event will feature live music from 906 Jazz, along with eight handcrafted oil paintings created by artists in Dzaleka. The works will be displayed as part of a silent auction and accompanied by short written narratives from the artists, offering insight into daily life in the camp. The evening will also include the “Voices of Matamoros” display, featuring interview excerpts from asylum seekers in Matamoros, Mexico.
The gala will take place in Peninsula Rooms I and II at the Northern Center. Hors d’oeuvres will be served, and attendees are invited to dress up for the occasion, though formal attire is not required.
Additional information about the Refugee Outreach Collective and opportunities to get involved can be found on the NMU Hub.
