Celebrate Black History month by exploring the history behind the Ethiopian community in Arlington in this ZOOM ONLY event. 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 this vibrant community, and the support provided by local institutions like churches, businesses, and nonprofits. Through personal stories, multimedia, and interactive elements, she’ll highlight the resilience, achievements, and contributions of Ethiopian Arlingtonians while sharing 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.
This a ZOOM ONLY Event
PREREGISTER FOR ZOOM ACCESS. You can attend this event on Zoom. If you want to attend this event, please click HERE to register. Zoom access information will be sent to you on the morning of the event on Thursday, February 13. 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.
