The public is cordially invited to join Serve2Unite Global Mentor Dydine Umunyana for a celebratory book release at Arts @ Large!

WHERE: The Arts @ Large Gallery, 908 S. 5th Street
WHEN: Thursday, December 15, 6:30-8:30pm

RSVP here: https://events.r20.constantcontact.com/register/eventReg?oeidk=a07edhampfgdb2347fc&oseq&c&ch

ABOUT DYDINE: Dydine Umunyana, survivor of the Rwandan Genocide of 1994, and Global Mentor for Arts @ Large’s Serve2Unite peacemaking program, has announced the release of her memoir, Embracing Survival (Genocide and War through the Eyes of a Child).

Embracing Survival tells the story of the 1994 Rwandan Genocide against Tutsis at the hands of Hutu perpetrators through the eyes of four-year-old Umunyana. The book’s cover artwork was created by Arts @ Large’s Serve2Unite Students from Washington High School of Information Technology.

Now 25 years old and living in the United States, Umunyana writes that, “I have learned that we cannot do for others what we cannot do for ourselves. By nourishing the light within ourselves, we find strength we never knew was there…I came to realize that one’s own life experiences are not theirs to keep but ours to share and learn from.”

ABOUT THE COVER ARTWORK: Serve2Unite Student Leaders at Washington High School of Information Technology studied dynamic global women of influence during the 2015-16 school year, including Ms Umunyana. Together with Arts @ Large artist educator Vanessa Andrews, they created fiber portraits of these women from denim jeans, in recognition of international Denim Day. Portraits included: Vivian Graubard, Queen Rania of Jordan, Dydine Umunyana, Emma Watson, and Malala Yousafzai.