Betsy Renfrew is a practicing studio artist, an experienced ESOL teacher and the director of ESOL at Montagnard Dega Association. She is a former college fine arts teacher and department head, and a trained folklife documentarion. She has spent almost two years researching the Montagnard and other refugee communities in the area and for the past year has worked with two master Montagnard weavers, organizing exhibition and sales events and press coverage. She has completed several artists' residencies in the past two years (Vermont Studio Center and Penland School of Crafts) and has received grants from the Center for Folklife Documentation Institute and from the North Carolina Arts Council for her work documenting Montagnard weavers. Summary of Projects 2009-10 
Pastor Y Hin Nie of United Montagnard Christian Church has been a long time activist and respected spokesman for the Montagnard community. He is the Montagnard Outreach Coordinator at Senior Resources of Guilford.
Sister Gretchen Reintjes, CSJ is a well-known advocate for refugees and immigrants in our area. She has supported weaving women through small grants to buy supplies and large amounts of encouragement. For years, she has been the recipient of many beautiful backstrap woven items from grateful women.
Andrew Young is an artist, writer, educator, game designer and technology specialist. He has assisted Montagnard Dega Association as an ESOL teacher and employment specialist. He developed the census campaign for the Montagnard community which included text and video translation of the census form. He has developed guidelines for the translation of Montagnard languages and overseen translation projects for health and US Citizenship.________________________________________
We work with many organizations such as... (more)
________________________________________ A History: Why Backstrap Weaving Matters Here
Having suffered war, relocation and theft of their ancestral lands for decades, many Montagnard Dega in Vietnam can no longer continue to practice their traditional weaving or other cultural activities. As their culture is assimilated unique knowledge is being lost. In North Carolina continuing cultural practices such as weaving can help tell the story of the Jarai, Bunong, Koho, Bahnar, Rhade and other Central Highland tribes... (more)
