The Afghan Women of Brattleboro

This tape-art mural at the Brattleboro train station was part of a collaboration between the ArtLords, an Afghan artist collective; a team of Boston artists; and the Brattleboro Museum & Art Center.

This tape-art mural at the Brattleboro train station was part of a collaboration between the ArtLords, an Afghan artist collective; a team of Boston artists; and the Brattleboro Museum & Art Center.

English classes, taught by alumni and former professors from the School for International Training, helped refugees from Afghanistan and other countries adapt to daily life in Brattleboro.

English classes, taught by alumni and former professors from the School for International Training, helped refugees from Afghanistan and other countries adapt to daily life in Brattleboro.

The tape-art murals, which appeared in Brattleboro in August 2022, recreated murals that originally had been painted by the Artlords in Afghanistan but were destroyed by the Taliban.

The tape-art murals, which appeared in Brattleboro in August 2022, recreated murals that originally had been painted by the Artlords in Afghanistan but were destroyed by the Taliban.

Students at Academy School in Brattleboro made and sold bracelets with the colors of the Afghan flag to help raise funds to support Afghan families arriving in southern Vermont in early 2022.

Students at Academy School in Brattleboro made and sold bracelets with the colors of the Afghan flag to help raise funds to support Afghan families arriving in southern Vermont in early 2022.

A handful of Afghan women started sewing together after they resettled in Brattleboro, and eventually made garments that were displayed in a community exhibit at the Brattleboro Museum & Art Center.

A handful of Afghan women started sewing together after they resettled in Brattleboro, and eventually made garments that were displayed in a community exhibit at the Brattleboro Museum & Art Center.

Kamila’s Kitchen is an Afghan food stand at Brattleboro’s Winter Farmers Market. Kamila is one of several Afghan women who started food businesses in town soon after they arrived.

Kamila’s Kitchen is an Afghan food stand at Brattleboro’s Winter Farmers Market. Kamila is one of several Afghan women who started food businesses in town soon after they arrived.

Behind Academy School—Brattleboro’s largest elementary school—is a mural painted by students showing all the nationalities represented at the school. Students at Academy speak 13 different languages.

Behind Academy School—Brattleboro’s largest elementary school—is a mural painted by students showing all the nationalities represented at the school. Students at Academy speak 13 different languages.

Afghan and American kids came together at a 2022 summer camp based at Brattleboro’s River Gallery School of Art. They painted, made crafts, and put on a dance performance.

Afghan and American kids came together at a 2022 summer camp based at Brattleboro’s River Gallery School of Art. They painted, made crafts, and put on a dance performance.

For many Afghans, the Nowruz holiday marks the Persian New Year and the beginning of spring. It’s a celebratory time, with offerings of nuts, fruits, and red-hued flowers.

For many Afghans, the Nowruz holiday marks the Persian New Year and the beginning of spring. It’s a celebratory time, with offerings of nuts, fruits, and red-hued flowers.

A sewing group started by and for Afghan women eventually expanded to include other refugee women who resettled in Brattleboro. They created furnishings for their homes as well as clothing.

A sewing group started by and for Afghan women eventually expanded to include other refugee women who resettled in Brattleboro. They created furnishings for their homes as well as clothing.

A tape-art mural takes shape outside Brattleboro’s Brooks Memorial Library in 2022. The town-wide exhibit was called “Honoring Honar,” which means “honoring art” in the Dari language.

A tape-art mural takes shape outside Brattleboro’s Brooks Memorial Library in 2022. The town-wide exhibit was called “Honoring Honar,” which means “honoring art” in the Dari language.

This mural at Foodworks, one of the food pantries in Brattleboro, shows a worker carrying "love and harmony," according to one of the ArtLords members who painted it.

This mural at Foodworks, one of the food pantries in Brattleboro, shows a worker carrying "love and harmony," according to one of the ArtLords members who painted it.

Photos by Elizabeth Ungerleider; Kelly Fletcher, courtesy of BMAC; Eduardo Melendez, courtesy of ECDC; and Jennifer Sutton