The first sessions address the general tasks of the beginning stage of all groups: making introductions, orientating the group to the purpose and to each other, establishing norms and sowing the seeds of cohesiveness by rec- ognizing commonalities (Kurland & Salmon, 1998). Participants “warm up” to each other by playing icebreaking games. Two entire sessions were spent on one beginning stage exercise, the “Cultural Special Object.” Participants were asked to bring in a significant object that reflects their identities, cultural backgrounds, or values. This was an activity that often moved the group to tears as members accessed deep emotions during the session. One member in particular related a story of how her grandmother used to brush her hair with an antique comb. Now, she explained, she brushed her own daughter’s hair with that very same comb, all the while telling her child stories about her grandmother. Other members plaintively explained how the transit to the United States made it impossible to bring things from home. Those that crossed rivers had their possessions swept away. One member had to carry her baby the entire way. She only had enough strength to carry a container of milk for the child.