NEW YORK – An embroidery workshop brings immigrant women together in the South Bronx to share their shared experiences.
For every stitch made, a new moment is created. They are moments of raw truth and honesty, told in a safe space, with a table full of listeners and other women who share similar struggles. They all talk while doing the art they like.
“Everyone has a story that we need to share,” said participant Sandra Brooks. “We share our stories and then offer suggestions on what we can do.”
For over a year, Brooks has joined these women twice a week to create embroidery with the help of the nonprofit Transnational People’s Network.
“It relieves stress, it helps people with high blood pressure,” she said.
She explains that the women in the workshop migrated to the United States at some point in their lives and faced similar challenges, such as language barriers. Some of them had to learn Spanish and English because their mother tongue is an indigenous language. Brooks, originally from Honduras, says the group gives her some peace.
“We’re very united. We’re sisters. We love each other,” Brooks explained.
Euphemia Neri has been embroidering since she was 5 years old in Mexico and is considered the teacher of the group. She explains what this group means to her.
“Every time we embroider and are together, we are very happy with what we do,” Neri said in Spanish.
Brooks hopes more women can feel the unity and love when they join the group.
“I want them to feel the same way I do: good, great, I’m grateful,” Brooks said.
The embroidery group will present their work at an art show in Queens next month.
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