Celebrating 20 Years of Iskashitaa!

For 20 years, Iskashitaa Refugee Network has been creating opportunities for UN refugees in Southern Arizona, while educating the public, strengthening the local food system, reducing local food waste, and increasing food security.

Join in the celebration by participating in our virtual silent auction of specially curated items donated from Friends of Iskashitaa, restaurants and businesses, celebrating 20 Years of our work in Southern Arizona. We are grateful for the local restaurants, local businesses, other nonprofits and artists who are supporting us in this auction. We hope you will take this opportunity to learn more about refugees in our communities, their culture, their crafts and how Iskashitaa Refugee Network works hard to provide opportunities for these global friends.

Monies raised will help us continue our work of welcoming and assisting UN Refugees in the Tucson area, as they settle into their new home.

Iskashitaa Refugee Network (IRN) is an intergenerational network of Tucson volunteers and UN refugees from Africa, Asia and the Middle East, who locate, harvest, and re-distribute locally grown fruits and vegetables which would otherwise go to waste. IRN's goal is to empower recently arrived refugees by connecting them with a wide variety of resources and opportunities to interact with the community. Through gleaning activities, refugees are introduced to local farms, hydroponic and aquaponics operations, farmer’s markets and other community festivities as well as backyard and community gardens. IRN teaches community members about sustainable food systems and fruit tree identification, harvesting techniques and seeks to increase food security and improve self-sufficiency among refugee households and other families in need. Refugees from ~30 ethnic groups learn the geography of Tucson, gain valuable life skills, improve their English, develop a US work history and access to healthy foods and food preservation techniques.

Iskashitaa operates the only year-round gleaning program in Southern Arizona and educates on the multiple uses of traditional and nontraditional, native and non-native fruits, nuts, pods, seeds, and even flowers. Harvests include over 20 types of citrus and an additional 50 of food products from trees, herbs, and cacti.

IRN builds bridges in the community toward increased cultural competency and diversity awareness. All of Iskashitaa’s community relations have the underlying goal of increasing awareness and action for pressing human rights issues both locally and globally through direct contact with individuals and organizations in the Tucson community and beyond.

Iskashitaa Refugee Network is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
EIN 45-5067244

Look for the 5 Special Auction items that will be available for viewing and bidding at this ticketed event:

GUT! Presents: Global Flavors Fall Festival October 1st, 5-8 pm
Join us for a fun-filled day at the Tucson Village Farm! The chefs of GUT and our partners at Iskashitaa Refugee Network and Tucson Village Farm are joining forces to bring you an evening of celebration and delectable delights.
The chefs of the Gastronomic Union of Tucson will be preparing fantastic fall fair foods for sampling, using ingredients harvested at Tucson Village Farm. Select teams of GUT chefs will also team up with cooks from around the world representing Iskashitaa Regugee Network to bring bold global flavors.
Live music, DJ BigNut, a silent auction, carnival games, dunk-a-chef, aguas frescas, and adult beverages will all make for a fantastic evening to kick off the fall!

For ticket pricing and additional information:

link https://bit.ly/GUTGlobalFlavorsofFAllFestival