Award winner helps international women and families adjust to life in Kansas

It's a small world after all. By Lou Ann Thomas Special to The Capital-Journal

2002 Jefferson Award winner Kathy Mulinazzi sits in her home in Lawrence. Mulinazzi won the award for her work with Small World, which teaches English as a second language to international women and their families.

LAWRENCE -- Kathy Mulinazzi has a long history of volunteerism. She has served as a Girl Scout leader and volunteer soccer and softball coach. But it is her work as director of Small World in Lawrence that has brought her recent recognition and the most satisfaction.

"Next to my family, this is the most rewarding thing I've ever done," Mulinazzi said. "I feel like I'm speaking for a segment of society that doesn't have a voice."

Mulinazzi has been a volunteer at Small World for 20 years and recently received the 2002 Jefferson Award in the literacy and education category.

Small World is a program designed to ease the transition of women and children moving to the Lawrence area from other countries by offering them education and information. More than 100 international women and their families are being served by the organization. The women come from all over the world, including Egypt, Argentina, Bangladesh, Korea, Nepal, Iraq, Iran, Japan, Turkey, Russia, Qatar and Saudi Arabia.

The program began in 1968 after several University of Kansas women returned from a sabbatical in Venezuela.

"They returned with an understanding of what it was like to be in a different country and not know the language or understand the customs," Mulinazzi said.

These women decided to create a program to extend a hand of friendship to international families living in the area. The First Presbyterian Church provided meeting space, and the program offered classes in cooking, crafts, sewing and rudimentary English. When the church moved to its new location on Clinton Parkway, Small World moved with it and now features several classrooms and an expanded curriculum.

Mulinazzi first volunteered at Small World as an English teacher in 1983. She grew up in a bilingual family -- her mother's family was from Spain and she grew up fluent in both Spanish and English -- and knew the importance of being able to speak and communicate with those from different countries.

"Fifteen years ago when English became the universal language, it became obvious to me we needed to do something more than teach sewing and cooking," Mulinazzi said. "These women needed to learn idiomatic American English, as well as learn more about our customs, holidays and traditions. I felt it was important to make our program more academic in nature."

So Small World began to offer more levels of English -- there are now five -- and to focus on offering practical resources for their students. Eighty percent of the participants in the program are affiliated with the university.

"Many of these women suffer from depression and cultural shock when they come here. They are often wives of men enrolled in the university and feel isolated and alone," Mulinazzi said. "But after they come to Small World and make just one good friend, it makes a world of difference and their depression lifts."

The emphasis may be on teaching and learning, but fun is never far away. Mulinazzi plans regular outings and celebrations for the women and their children. In October they go to a local pumpkin patch, pick out a pumpkin and then return to the classroom to carve it. During their winter celebration, Tom Mulinazzi, Kathy's husband and a professor of civil engineering at KU, dresses up like Santa Claus and everyone gets their picture taken with Santa.

Earlier this month, the Mulinazzis hosted a St. Patrick's Day party at their home.

"I do whatever it takes to get the ladies to enjoy themselves. I want them to feel it's more than a school, that they can come and find a home in our program," Mulinazzi said.

That is what Renu, from Nepal, found. In her Jefferson Award letter of support for Mulinazzi she wrote that "Small World is like a temple for me."

Mulinazzi's voice cracked with emotion as she read the letter.

"That touches me so deeply," she said. "That she found this a sacred space means so much."

Another Small World student, Hiromi Murakami, is scheduled to return to her native Japan on Monday. She said she will miss Mulinazzi and the school, but she believes the friendships and connections she has established there will live on.

Murakami also hopes to start a similar program in Japan.

"Now I have my dream. It is to spread Small World's policy in Japan," she said.

Susan Jones, assistant director of Small World, wrote in her letter of support that Small World might not exist without Mulinazzi's leadership.

"Her selfless work has made a difference in the lives of countless people, by giving them the ability to read, write and communicate, thereby making it possible for them to connect with others," Jones wrote.

Mulinazzi also helps her students connect with services they may need, such as prenatal care and other social and cultural services.

"That's important," Mulinazzi said. "That's not something they will find in a book. We often provide very practical information they won't find anywhere else. We try to meet whatever needs they have."

The university supports the Small World program, often referring people to the program. Joe Potts, Ph.D., director of International Student and Scholar Services, wrote in his letter of support that Small World is a source of education and assistance for international women and children.

"Kathy Mulinazzi's work has a global input in that she fosters an atmosphere that promotes cultural understanding and lasting, influential friendships among many cultures represented in her participants and volunteers and between women of our own community and nation," Potts wrote.

Mori Jahn, of Japan, is one of the original members of the Small World program, and agreed with Potts.

"There are many women around the world who have a better impression of this country because of their experience with Kathy and Small World," she said.

Mulinazzi said she feels good about the 40 to 50 volunteer hours she commits to Small World each week.

"I know it's worthwhile because the people in the program are having fun and learning," she said.

Mulinazzi credits her parents with instilling in her a spirit of volunteerism and the importance of giving back.

"I think my parents left me with a legacy of volunteering. They were very giving people and that's the legacy I'd like to leave my children," she said.

"We enrich our own lives so much when we help others."

Lou Ann Thomas can be reached at (785) 863-2425 or lthomas66066@yahoo.com.

Kathy Mulinazzi • Birthplace: Washington, D.C. • Age: 56 • Education: B.S. in elementary education, University of Maryland • Family: Husband, Tom; three children -- Teresa Kempf, 33; Christi Kruse, 29; and Matthew, 25 • Community involvement: Volunteer teacher at Small World since 1983

Last Modified: 11:35 p.m. - 3/22/2003