Refugee Outreach Collective: Art Gala with Live Jazz Performance

About The Event

The Refugee Outreach Collective at Northern Michigan University is hosting a free Art Gala featuring live jazz by 906 Jazz. This special event directly supports refugees at Dzaleka Refugee Camp in Malawi — the same community featured throughout this archive.

Carter Hairston, President of the Refugee Outreach Collective at NMU, launched the chapter last year to support education opportunities in Dzaleka. As he explains: “People spend their entire lives in the camp. Having an education, and one in which you can prove that you have, is a huge asset to getting out of the camp.”

Art Auction for Dzaleka

The gala will feature an art auction with original artwork created by refugees from Dzaleka. All proceeds go toward purchasing a Starlink System for the camp, which will help students attend virtual classes despite frequent power outages.

906 Jazz member Todd Noordyk was moved to join the cause after meeting with Hairston: “These eight pieces, very unique. How nice would that be to have at the office, or at the hospital when people come in.”

Event Details

• Date: Thursday, February 19, 2026
• Time: 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM EST
• Location: Northern Center, NMU
• Admission: FREE
• Live Music: 906 Jazz

Why This Matters

This event creates a direct bridge between the NMU community in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula and refugees in Dzaleka, Malawi. By supporting education access through technology, attendees help students pursue virtual learning opportunities that can change their futures.

Registration

Registration is required to attend. Sign up through The Hub at NMU to receive location details and event updates.

Contact

For more information, contact the Center for Student Enrichment at cse@nmu.edu.

More Information

• Refugee Outreach Collective on The Hub
• News Coverage: WLUC TV6