Five refugee women are stepping into new creative and economic opportunities after graduating from a weaving training program at Stitch Buffalo.

The celebration, held Saturday, marked the completion of a 10-week paid training program where participants learned weaving skills while building toward independent work as textile artists.

During the program, the women learned everything from basic hand looms to more complex tabletop weaving techniques.

"What is a community?" This Forever Young article explores how refugees make our city even greater, featuring the story of one of our artisans, Hkawng, who has been a part of Stitch Buffalo for nearly a decade!

Additionally, East Aurora resident Dawne Hoeg and Stitch Buffalo, the Buffalo-based nonprofit she founded back in 2014, that focuses on empowering

On Wednesday, April 1 (4:00–6:00pm), people of all backgrounds, ages, and skill levels are invited to visit Stitch Buffalo and contribute to this project by making their mark on the Community Fabric Project.

Stitch Buffalo, 284 Plymouth Avenue, Buffalo, NY.

Dawne shares the story behind Stitch Buffalo's founding and the heart that fuels its mission: creating pathways to economic independence while honoring cultural traditions…

See how we teamed up with Buffalo Bills legend Thurman Thomas to surprise Therese Forton-Barnes, the creator and force behind the Water Buffalo Club, our manufacturing client and a great friend of the studio.

“…It started as an embroidery workshop attended by one refugee woman. Today, over 200 refugee women and families receive free sewing equipment, supplies, and training each year...“