Imagine having the     1     to sing together with hundreds of other people while you are at home alone. You can do this in a virtual choir. Virtual choir members record themselves while they perform alone on video. These videos are uploaded onto the Internet, and then they are put     2     into one video that you can see online—a virtual choir. Anyone can take part in a virtual choir from anywhere—all you need is a video camera and an Internet     3    . You do not even need a     4    . A virtual choir helps connect     5     people together. Many people do not have close friends or     6     who have the same interest in music. Many others do not have the chance to join a local choir. A virtual choir     7     them to add their voices to those of other     8     and become part of the global community. It has     9     to be a positive influence on the lives of many people. As one virtual choir member said, “Music helps me to … forget my problems. With music, I become someone     10    .”

Yours,

Li Hua

5 . Since 2017, AR Together has presented over 200 workshops, camps, events, and gathering spaces for immigrants to meet, connect, and build lasting connections in the community. Below are some of ARTogether’s past and present community workshops and events.

Water-coloring Workshop

Organized in cooperation with Story Center, Water-coloring Workshop is a free online channel accessible to immigrants. These Zoom workshops are a creative space for partcipants to paint, chat, listen to music, and share stories.

Y(our) Legacy: A Printmaking Workshop

This is designed to give high school partcipants a creative practice towards their personal journey of self-acceptance and healing. Led by artist Sen Mendez, participants gather at Oakland International High School and are given ten small blocks to create a visual story about themselves.

Women’s Craft Circle

ARTogether’s longest-running workshop series, the Women’s Craft Circle seeks to bring women together through the healing power of craft-making. In the Oakland Asian Cultural Center, participants are able to relax in a welcoming space, connecting through a love for art and shared experiences.

Expressive Art Class for Kids

At West Oakland Branch Library, kids aged 6-11 from immigrant backgrounds explore fun interactive activities such as free drawing. Painting, and free dance that will let youth appreciate art without pressure or strict rules. In each class, activity leaders follow the principle of guiding, not telling, which creates a stress-free environment that encourages creativity.

Economic development is necessary if we want     1     (improve) society but finding and keeping the right balance between progress and the protection of cultural sites can be a big challenge, which can sometimes lead to great solutions. Perhaps the     2     (good) example is shown by UNESCO,     3     runs a programme that prevents world cultural heritage sites around the world from     4     (disappear).

In the 1950s, the Egyptian government     5     (want) to build a new dam across the Nile, but the proposal led to protests because water from the dam would likely damage some temples and destroy cultural relics. Finally, the government turned     6     the United Nations for help.

A committee     7     (establish) to limit damage to the Egyptian buildings and prevent the     8     (lose) of cultural relics. The group asked for contributions from different departments and raised funds within the international community. Fifty countries donated nearly $80 million to the project.

When the project ended in 1980, it was considered     9     great success. As is shown, if a problem seems too difficult for a single nation, the     10     (globe) community can sometimes provide a solution.