Celebrate Black History month by exploring the history behind the Ethiopian community in Arlington. Ethiopians have been in Arlington County for at least 50 years. Our speaker, Kidist Ebenezer will shed light on the factors driving migration to the U.S. and to Arlington specifically. She will delve into the challenges faced by early immigrants, the journey of establishing a vibrant community, and the support provided by local institutions like churches, businesses, and nonprofits. Through personal stories, multimedia, and interactive elements, we’ll highlight the resilience, achievements, and contributions of Ethiopian Arlingtonians while addressing their hopes and concerns for the future.
Kidist Ebenezer has been in the U.S. for the last 15 years and she is a proud resident of Arlington. She works in the Ethiopian Community Development Council (ECDC) which is one of nine US-based organizations focused on refugee resettlement. Back in Ethiopia, her professional background was in journalism, but her work in the U.S. has shifted toward social services and supporting non-governmental organizations. Helping others has become her passion, and living in Arlington has allowed her to stay connected to the vibrant Ethiopian community that makes this area so special. She loves Arlington for its cultural diversity and the strong sense of belonging it offers to immigrants like her.
Attend via Zoom or In-Person
PREREGISTER FOR ZOOM ACCESS. You can attend this event on Zoom or in-person on the Marymount University Main Campus. If you want to attend this event virtually, please click HERE to register. Please register by Wednesday, February 12. Zoom access information will be sent to you on the morning of the event on Thursday, February 13.
DRIVING DIRECTIONS and FREE PARKING: Attendees planning to attend the event in-person should enter the Marymount University campus at the library gate on N. 26th Street. From Glebe Road going north, take a right onto 26th Street. Pass the intersection with Yorktown Road and then enter the campus through the next gate on your left. The library is to your left as you enter the campus. Free garage parking is just past the library at the bottom of the small incline. (Handicapped parking is immediately to your right as you enter through the gate onto campus.)
- If the university has lowered the garage gates, push the button and let them know you’re here for an Arlington Historical Society event in the library. To leave, push the button and they’ll raise the gate.
This event is one of the monthly series of free public programs sponsored by the Arlington Historical Society. This event is hosted courtesy of the Marymount University politics program’s American Heritage Initiative. For more information, please email: info@arlingtonhistoricalsociety.org.
