DISCUSSION GUIDE
MORE AT www.Immigrant-Nation.com
CONTENTS GETTING STARTED ........................................................................ 2
The Caretaker DISCUSSION GUIDE...............................................4-5
What is Immigrant Nation?
The Mayor DISCUSSION GUDE ......................................................6-7
Why Immigrant Nation?
TELLING STORIES & EXPLORING Immigrant Nation ONLINE ... 8-14
Who is Immigrant Nation For?
Site Tools & Features .............................................................. 8
How to Use This Guide
What Makes a Compelling Story? .................................... 9-12
Immigrant Nation FILMS ............................................................... 3 About The Films Organizing a Screening 1 | Immigrant Nation | DISCUSSION GUIDE
Engagement Ideas for Individuals, Educators, and Community Organizations ..................................... 12-14 IMMIGRANT NATION TEAM & CONTACT INFO..................... 15-16
GETTING STARTED What is Immigrant Nation?
Why Immigrant Nation?
Immigrant Nation is a new project that uses personal narratives to explore our connections to migration, past and present, through storytelling. It consists of three components:
There is a simple idea at the core of this
An interactive, online experience where users can watch immersive
project: the United States is a nation shaped by immigration, and most families have a personal story about it. These stories, whether they happened a gener-
Who is Immigrant Nation For? • Individuals and their Families • Educators and Students • Immigrant and Refugee Integration Service Providers
stories about immigration, share their own stories, and explore the interconnectedness of these narratives.
ation ago or quite recently, are not often
• ESL and ELL Teachers
shared. Immigrant Nation seeks to bring
• Genealogy Enthusiasts
A series of short documentary films, each seen through the eyes of a dif-
personal stories to the surface, compli-
• Cultural and Religious
ferent subject in the midst of an unfolding immigration story. Live events in schools, museums, libraries, film festivals and other public spaces designed to engage diverse communities in sharing their collective immigrant story.
cating the notion of who is an immigrant and what the word means, while exploring the interconnectedness of immigration narratives past and present.
Organizations • Historical Preservation Groups • Oral Historians
HOW TO USE THIS GUIDE Immigrant Nation spans many platforms, from film to the web to live events. This guide is intended to walk you the different ways to participate--by watching the films, sharing stories, and starting discussions online and at live events. Each component of the project can be used independently of the others. Perhaps you will chose to engage in just one way, but it 2 | Immigrant Nation | DISCUSSION GUIDE
is our hope that you will explore the project more deeply. We have found that the different components of the project are complementary: the film experience inspires people to share their own immigration stories online, and compels them to browse the stories of others. Our hope is that this guide can help you decide how to use Immigrant Nation in the way that works best for you.
IMMIGRANT NATION FILMS
Haru Tsurumoto, High School graduation
The Caretaker (7 minutes)
daughter in the family, Celeste Hernandez, is
Joesy is an undocumented immigrant from Fiji
a top student in her high school. She is also
who works as a live-in caretaker for 95-year-
undocumented. After the State of Georgia
old Haru. Joesy has a deep bond with Haru,
adopts harsh anti-immigrant laws which make
who has lost the ability to communicate with
it criminal to drive or house undocumented
words. Though it is not always easy, Joesy
people, Mayor Bridges stands up for his com-
does everything for Haru as she declines,
munity, Celeste and the Hernandez family, at
making her feel safe and comfortable until
home, and on the national stage.
the very end.
Photo courtesy of Barbara Hayashi
The Immigrant Nation Film Series features eight short films, each exploring a contemporary immigration story, bringing emotionally rich content to audiences to cut through the politically charged headlines and polarizing narratives on the topic of immigration. Two films are currently available to the public, and the remaining will be released over the next two years.
Mayor Paul Bridges, Uvalda GA Photo by Theo Rigby
The Mayor (10 minutes) Paul Bridges, the Republican mayor of Uvalda, Georgia (population 594), speaks fluent Spanish and is integrally connected to Uvalda’s Latino immigrant community. This includes his close relationship with the Hernandez family, who live next door to him. The oldest
ORGANIZING A SCREENING
DVD screening copies of the films for educators and community organizations are free. We ask for a short report on attendance, type of screening, and any information you can share about the nature of the discussion and ancillary activities. Please email iNation outreach coordinator Roseli Ilano at roseli_ilano@yahoo.com for requests.
3 | Immigrant Nation | DISCUSSION GUIDE
WATCH THE FILMS Stream on Vimeo: http://vimeo.com/channels/ination
THE CARETAKER DISCUSSION GUIDE Joesy Gerrish was born in Fiji and came to the United States to work as a caregiver. She provides home-based domestic and medical support for her client, Haru, in her home in Sonoma County, California. Joesy lives with Haru and sends her earnings to Fiji to pay for Joesy Gerrish
her nieces and nephews to go to school.
northeast of New Zealand. Fiji has a population of 868,400 and according to the U.S. Census Bureau (2011) there are an estimated 39,800 people of Fijian ancestry living in the United States. JAPANESE-AMERICAN INTERNMENT: More than 110,000 Japanese Americans, many American Citizens, were interned during World War II after Japan’s attack on Pearl Harbor. On February 19, 1942, President Franklin D. Roosevelt authorized Executive Order 9066, forcibly relocating people of Japanese Ancestry living on the Pacific Coast and Hawaii. CAREGIVING:According to the National Domestic Workers Alliance, there are approximately 2 million
Photo by Theo Rigby
Featured Individuals:
FIJI is an island country in The South Pacific Ocean
Joesy Gerrish attending to Haru Tsurumoto
Haru Tsurumoto is 95 years old. She
Photo by Theo Rigby
domestic workers, which includes caregivers, childcare providers, and housekeepers, working in the United States, and the number of Asian and Pacific Islander women becoming caregivers is on the rise.
has lost the ability to communicate with
Excluded from the Fair Labor Standards Act, many
words, but she and Joesy share a strong
tions including overtime pay, regulated meal and
friendship. Born in California, Haru grew up in a large Japanese American farming family. During World War II, she and her
caregivers work without adequate worker protecrest breaks, and they are denied collective bargaining and labor rights. The need for caregivers is on the rise, with one American turning 65 years old every eight seconds and the elderly population projected to reach 71
family were sent to an internment camp in
million in 2030. According to the National Caregivers
Poston, AZ. After they were released, she
paid long-term care services in any setting (e.g., at
Alliance, By 2050, the number of individuals using
met her husband and raised her children
home, residential care such as assisted living, or
in the house she now shares with Joesy.
13 million using services in 2000, to 27 million people.
4 | Immigrant Nation | DISCUSSION GUIDE
skilled nursing facilities) will likely double from the
Discussion Questions: 1. In what ways did you see Joesy care for Haru? What were some of Joesy’s responsibilities noted on her task list? What do you think are the biggest challenges to caregiving and this type of work? 2. Joesy says, “In Fiji we take care of our elders because they took care of us.” How does Joesy think elders are treated in Fiji versus The United States? Do you agree? Why or why not? If you agree, what reasons do you think are behind this difference? Can you think of other examples of how elders are treated in other countries? 3. Both Joesy and Haru come from migrant families. What else do they have in common and what other values and experiences bring them closer together? 4. Joesy confesses her biggest fear. What is she afraid of, and how does her personal story challenge or uphold common stereo types and beliefs held about immigrants? 5. Joesy jokes about Haru’s children, “They said, ‘I don’t know how you’re going to get along with my mom.’ As soon as I walked in the door, we clicked.” Joesy and Haru have a special friendship and bond. Do you have a special intergenerational friendship or familial relationship with someone older or younger? Why is it important to you? 6. Have you ever been a primary caregiver for a friend or family member, or had to hire someone to take care of a loved one? Describe the experience, and what you think is the biggest misconception about this work. 7. Why do you think it’s important to honor and respect the professionals who take care of the elders in our community? 8. Give examples of negative portrayals or stereotypes about immigrants. How do you think Joesy and Haru’s friendship and the small glimpse we viewed of their lives positively defines the word “immigrant?”
RESOURCES National Domestic Workers Alliance http://www.domesticworkers.org/domestic-work
Letters From Japanese Internment http://www.smithsonianeducation.org/educators/lesson_plans/japanese_internment/
Fijian- Americans and Pacific Islanders http://www.census.gov/prod/2005pubs/censr-26.pdf
Japanese American Citizens League http://www.jacl.org/edu/SummaryofConstitutionalRightsViolated.pdf
Resources for Families Needing Care http://www.caregiving.org/
A Report on Domestic Work in the State of California http://www.domesticworkers.org/sites/default/files/HomeTruths.pdf
5 | Immigrant Nation | DISCUSSION GUIDE
THE CARETAKER DISCUSSION GUIDE Featured Individuals:
Mario Hernandez is Paul’s best friend,
Paul Bridges is the Republican Mayor of
a husband and father of three children.
Uvalda, a small, farming town in South-
Mario and his wife Patti work hard during
east Georgia. A farmer and educator, Paul
the day, but avoid going out when they are
changes his views on immigration in part because of his friendship with his neighbor, Mario. Paul becomes a cherished
not working due to their undocumented status. Celeste Hernandez is Mario’s teenage daughter who dreams of becoming an
member of Mario’s family, and helps his
immigration lawyer. With Paul’s help, she
daughter Celeste apply for Deferred Ac-
applies for Deferred Action For Childhood
tion For Childhood Arrivals (DACA).
Arrivals (DACA) which allows her to legally obtain a driver’s license.
H.B. 87: HOUSE BILL 87 is Georgia’s “Illegal Immigration Reform and Enforcement Act of 2011.” H.B. 87 authorized police to demand “papers” demonstrating citizenship or immigration status during traffic stops. Other parts of the bill created criminal penalties for Georgians who gave rides to undocumented individuals and made it difficult for individuals without specific identification documents to access state facilities and services. In 2013, a federal judge struck down certain parts of H.B. 87.
DEFERRED ACTION FOR CHILDHOOD ARRIVALS (DACA): On June 15, 2012, President Obama signed a memo for deferred action for undocumented young people who came to the U.S. as children and have pursued education or military service. This “deferred action” or temporary relief from deportation allows undocumented young people to apply for employment authorization, and according to state laws, apply for in-state college tuition and a driver’s license.
6 | Immigrant Nation | DISCUSSION GUIDE
Celeste Hernandez Photo by Theo Rigby AGRICULTURE Agriculture contributes more than $71.1 billion annually to Georgia’s economy (Georgia Farm Bureau). Because farms often employ immigrant workers, many worried about the impact of the bill on the economy. The Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association estimated that as a result of H.B. 87, Georgia’s agricultural economy could lose $391 million and 3,260 jobs.
Discussion Questions: 1. What industry is the economic driver in Uvalda, and other parts of rural Georgia? What community makes up this labor force and how do laws like H.B. 87 effect this workforce and their families? 2. Paul Bridges is a longtime, proud Republican. How does he describe the values of the Republican Party and how does he think the word “conservative” has been redefined? Do you agree? Why or why not? 3. Paul says “I really believe that if the people in our community were to open up their lives up to this other culture, it would open up their lives the way it did mine.” What did Paul Bridges originally think of the Latino immigrants moving in to Uvalda and how do his views change over time? What impact does Mario’s friendship have on his life? How does Paul and Mario’s friendship challenge stereotypes? 4. Celeste was born in Mexico and lived there until the age of four. She says “Mexico is like a legend,” and says “heart-wise” she does not remember much. What do you think this says about how we define “home?” Do you think where you come from is just as important as where you are? How are our identities shaped by the different places we have lived and called our “home?” 5. Celeste shares that her classmates and teachers only know her as a “top-student” and don’t know about her undocumented status. After she applies for DACA and her application is accepted, she says that she is no longer afraid of being stopped by police, or telling people she was born in Mexico. Have you ever kept a secret about your identity? How did it feel when you shared it? 6. Paul testifies in Congress against H.B. 87. What reasons does he give for opposing this law? Supporters of H.B. 87 believe the law will deter illegal immigration to Georgia, while opponents believe it is a breach on civil liberties and promotes racial profiling. Why do you think the issue of immigration is so hotly debated and is such a polarizing issue in this country? 7. Give examples of negative portrayals or stereotypes about immigrants from newspaper headlines and mainstream media. How do you think Mario and Celeste’s stories challenge those understandings and positively define the word “immigrant?”
RESOURCES Deferred Action For Childhood Arrivals (DACA) http://www.nilc.org/FAQdeferredactionyouth.html
Comprehensive Immigration Reform http://www.immigrationpolicy.org/comprehensive-immigration-reform-2013
Information for Immigrant Women and Their Families http://www.webelongtogether.org/
The Dream Act http://unitedwedream.org/
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TELLING STORIES & EXPLORING IMMIGRANT NATION ONLINE Site Tools & Features
WATCH A FILM: This immersive video experience engages the viewer through short, thematically rich clips of The Caretaker and The Mayor. After each clip, the viewer is prompted with a question that sparks dialogue and conversation online.
MENU: From this pop-up menu, users can view all stories, watch films, edit and view previously uploaded stories, edit and view their profile, and learn about the Immigrant Nation team.
MY PROFILE: From this view, users can deactivate an account, change a password, or logout.
ABOUT: Read the biographies of the team behind Immigrant Nation and our Privacy Statement. Immigrant Nation respects privacy and will not sell personal information.
ADD YOUR STORY: To begin, a user must create an account by logging in through Facebook, email or can choose to log-in anonymously. We encourage users to login via Facebook or email to utilize social media sharing and to be able to access stories for editing in the future. To share a story, the user must have two photos available for upload from their computer, flashdrive, or from Facebook.
Screenshot of Immigrant Nation Beta Site
VIEW ALL STORIES: Users can interact with The Wave, a timeline of migration to the United States beginning in 1820 to present time. The Wave highlights key laws and historical moments that affected the ebbs and flows of migration, and statistics of immigrants by country of origin fed by (Harvard, US Census). Each node on The Wave represents a story. Hover over a node to learn more and click on the pop-up dialog to watch a story.
MY STORIES: From this view, users can edit previously uploaded stories by changing text or photos.
TAGGING: tags are keywords that allow a story to be sorted by event, theme, year, or country. Each user may select keywords that will help a story be grouped for easy searching in the future.
SEARCH/QUERY FIELD: This tool allows users to find stories by tags, which can include year, theme, country of origin, or a tag that you create for yourself, or for your organization.
Projected Launch: January 2014
www.beta.immigrant-nation.com Immigrant Nation is in a beta testing period with a projected launch of January 2014. The site features multiple ways to explore and share stories. Once a user uploads a story on the interactive timeline, he or she can tag the story by year, country and theme. At the heart of the project is the notion that most Americans have an immigration story, whether it’s passed down or experienced first-hand. The platform offers us a way to look back at where we come from, engage, connect with each other and start a new kind of conversation.
8 | Immigrant Nation | DISCUSSION GUIDE
What Makes A Compelling Story?
•
today, where does your story begin? Does it start with your parents, or
Stories are at the heart of human expe-
your grandparents, or perhaps even
rience and we learn about ourselves and
farther back?
others by sharing stories. Storytelling cre-
•
ates opportunities to make connections A Drawing of ‘My Family’
preserving a link to the past, across cul-
serve as metaphors. Stories can also be funny and make us laugh. What makes a story compelling is its ability to reach beyond difference and tap into universal emotions such as happiness, love, pride,
What are the many ways you define your identity? Are there people in
between the personal and historical by
tures and eras. Stories can be poetic and
When you think about who you are
your life who help you feel connected
Photo by Theo Rigby
to your identity? Are there foods, cus-
the myriad ways immigration affects you
toms, or traditions that you describe
personally and in your community.
as part of your identity? •
What are push and pull factors that
Gathering Ideas
contribute to migration? Make a list of
•
Take a look at old family photos.
economic, social, and political factors
Is there a person in these images
that might cause someone to leave a
with an immigrant/migration story
country or region and bring them to
to tell? Do you see a family member
a new country or region. Do any of
who knows and shares stories about
these factors apply to your own fami-
your heritage? Is there an image that
ly’s story?
loss, friendship, and achievement. An Immigrant Nation story should not be limited to the moment when you or your relatives arrived in the United States, but rather we invite you to explore the themes that transcend single moments to look at identity, poetry, humor, and 9 | Immigrant Nation | DISCUSSION GUIDE
makes you feel connected to another place or time?
•
There are many kinds of journeys. Physical journeys can be from rural
to urban, from an old school to a new
tion story. There are a number of ways to
opinions, and beliefs. Ask yourself: How
school, or take place in an airplane or
approach telling a story in two parts. The
did this experience make me feel? What
on a boat. Emotional journeys can be
tone can be linear (starting in the past
did I learn? What do I want others to
about growth, overcoming loss, and
and then ending in present time), poet-
know about my experience?
experiencing something for the first
ic, humorous, or historic by stating facts
time. What are some physical and
about how your story relates to a larger
Gathering Details
emotional journeys you have taken,
historical context).
•
and how did they make you feel?
We recommend users browse the site and search the following words to get
Sensory Details: What was seen, heard, smelled, tasted or touched?
•
Reflective Details: What was thought
Telling A Story in Two Parts
ideas and the breadth of tones on the
To get started, users should have two
site: love, family, war.
photos that represent their personal im-
The most compelling stories are ones
was the manner in which they did
migration story, or their family’s immigra-
that reveal emotion, feelings, personal
these actions?
and felt about the experience? •
Siblings at Different Stages of Life Photo by Theo Rigby
•
Actions: What did people do? What
Dialogue: What did people say to each other? What was the tone of their words?`
What Does the Word “Immigrant” Mean? To immigrate means to move from one country or region to another, where one 10 | Immigrant Nation | DISCUSSION GUIDE
Read the following quotes and see if you can guess the time period. “We should build a wall of brass around the country.” “The enormous influx of alien foreigners will in the end prove ruinous to American workingmen, by reducing the wages of labor to a standard that will drive them from the farms and workshops altogether.” “Now, what do we find in all our large cities? Entire sections containing a population incapable of understanding our institutions, with no comprehension of our national ideals, and for the most part incapable of speaking the English language.”
was not born.
to focus less on the word and its defini-
The word “immigrant” and attitudes to-
tion, and more on the broader themes of
ward immigrants have been debated and
movement, family history, identity, and
contested in the United States for gener-
heritage.
ations.
•
Descendants of migrants (first, second generation, and so forth), and
A Nation of Migrants:
people who are many generations
Inclusion and Recognition
removed from their ancestors’ migra-
of All Experiences
tion may be searching to learn more.
Since the founding of the nation more
What are questions you have about
than 55 million migrants from every con-
your own family’s migration to the
tinent have come to the United States.
United States?
With the exception of Native Americans,
•
Migration can take place within bor-
The above quotes span more than 250 years. The first quote is from 1750, by John Jay the first Chief Justice of the Supreme Court in regards to the large influx of Catholic immigrants. The second quote is from 1854, taken from an opinion piece written in the Philadelphia Sun newspaper. The third quote is from 1924 by Representative Grant Hudson.
everyone living in this country is either an
ders. There are defining journeys that
immigrant or the descendent of volun-
have been undertaken within the
tary or involuntary immigrants who were
United States that profoundly shape
forced to come to this country during
cultural identity. For example, in the
slavery or as refugees. Immigrant Nation
African American community, The
Do these quotes resonate with popular sentiments heard today? What does the word immigrant mean to you? Sharing personal stories about immigration is a powerful way to counteract these narratives.
seeks to be a space for all experiences.
Great Migration, or the movement of
Not all people identify with the word “im-
6 million people from the rural south
migrant” and we welcome participants
to the urban north after the signing
10 | Immigrant Nation | DISCUSSION GUIDE
•
of the Proclamation of Emancipation
How To Engage with
through the 1960’s, is one such jour-
Immigrant Nation Online:
ney. Another example is the Dust Bowl
Individuals
Migration as the Great Depression,
Whether you are a genealogy enthusiast
drought, and dust storms forced thou-
or someone who simply wants your fami-
sands of farmers form the Great Plains
ly’s immigration history to be included as
states to California to find work. Has
part of a living online archive, Immigrant
movement within the United States had
Nation can help you share your personal
an effect on you or your cultural identity?
experience and discover other compel-
Every wave of immigration in the Unit-
ling stories.
ed States has faced fear and hostility,
•
especially during times of economic
Sample Activities:
hardship, political turmoil, or war. Has
•
Share your family’s story in episodes:
your family or community experienced
Users can upload as many stories as
exclusion similar to immigrant commu-
they choose. Ideas for episodes in-
nities?
clude: generations, different sides of
Reflect on a time you went on a physical
the family, and different parts of the
journey or emotional journey and write
journey.
encourage your family members to
Share your story and get the whole
share their stories by tagging them.
family involved: By signing in through
Instruct each member to tag their sto-
your Facebook account, you can
ry with the same word, such as com-
a poem in two parts about the experience of going from point A to point B.
•
12 | Immigrant Nation | DISCUSSION GUIDE
Arriving in America Family Photo
•
•
mon surname to archive the stories
How To Engage with
under a single search term for future
Immigrant Nation Online:
browsing.
Educators
to interview an elder in the commu-
Commemorating a Loved One: Hon-
Immigrant Nation provides a free, us-
nity and help share their story on the
or a family member or friend by shar-
er-friendly tool to build media literacy,
platform. Ideas include a grandpar-
ing his or her story.
oral history skills, and explore historical
ent, a neighbor, a coach, a faith lead-
Common Queries: Using the search
and contemporary immigration issues
er, or family friend.
tool, look up the same year, country
through a personal lens. Educators can
of origin and themes as your own sto-
show the Immigrant Nation films to spark
How To Engage with Immigrant
ry. What other stories come up? Do
dialogue, or utilize the storytelling plat-
Nation Online:
you notice similarities or differences,
form in their classrooms.
Community Organizations
trends or convergences? •
differences. •
Interviewing an Elder: Invite students
Immigrant Nation is a resource for community or-
Reflect on a time you went on a phys-
Sample Activities:
ganizations to communicate member stories and
ical journey and write a poem in two
•
Sharing Stories: Invite students to
impact to the public, create a member archive
parts about the experience of going
share their own immigration expe-
of stories, and a vehicle for advancing campaign
from point A to point B.
riences or the experiences of their
work and messaging. One of the strongest as-
family as related to a teaching theme
sets of an organization are the individual stories
(Sample Units include The Great
of the community members that come together
Depression, The American Dream,
for a collective action. The Storytelling Platform
Ellis and Angel Island). Share stories
provides a fast and easy way to collect member
as a class and discuss similarities and
stories, and share them in a compelling way.
13 | Immigrant Nation | DISCUSSION GUIDE
Sample Activities: •
Sharing and Bonding: Invite members to share their stories for the group, discussing similarities and common-
•
holders to meet your members and
newsletter or social media campaign as a
learn about their migration stories.
way to provide a lens into real people in
Connecting to a Campaign: Link to
your organization and the reasons they be-
member stories in an email
lieve in the organization’s mission and work.
alities in experiences. Was there a similar push or pull factor that inspired migration? Has their definition of the “American Dream” changed? Why did they join the organization and are there similar reasons across the board? •
Member Story Session: Invite members to share their personal immigration story online. Instruct each member to tag their story with the same word, such as the name of the organization or the name of a campaign to archive the stories under a single search term for future browsing.
•
Sharing for the Public: Stage an open house for funders or community stake-
14 | Immigrant Nation | DISCUSSION GUIDE
Whethered Family Photos Photo by Theo Rigby
IMMIGRANT NATION TEAM & CONTACT INFO Project Director - Theo Rigby
Project Producer - Kate McLean
Theo Rigby is a documentary filmmaker based in San Francisco who has focused his work on immigration in the United States for the past decade. His last film, Sin PaĂs (Without Country), won a Student Academy Award and was broadcast on POV in 2012. Theo's Great Grandmother Rachel came to the U.S. from Latvia in 1910 and married Michael, who had recently come from Russia. They settled in the Catskill mountains of New York and planted crops--after they discovered the soil wasn't fertile, they started taking in boarders to make ends meet. Eventually they opened 'Trojan Lake Lodge', which became a popular Borscht Belt Hotel and summer retreat for the Jewish community to escape from New York City.
Kate McLean is a writer and filmmaker living in San Francisco. In addition to Immigrant Nation, she is also producing a new documentary about three exonerated men who are learning to become detectives to try to find other wrongfully convicted people still in prison. Kate’s ancestors came to the U.S. from Scotland a long time ago. As a child, she believed they were notorious sheep thieves, apprehended by the authorities and sent away to America for their crimes. As it turns out, this was a tall tale told to her father by someone working in a tourist trap in Edinburgh. She wishes it was true.
Community Outreach Coordinator - Roseli Ilano
Murmur pioneers interactive storytelling experiences. It empowers audiences to create and connect across platforms. The company develops original projects and also collaborates with filmmakers, artists, media companies and adventurous brands. Murmur's partners are descendants from a wide swath of immigrants all of whom made the long voyage across the Atlantic at varying points over the last four centuries: they include passengers on the original Mayflower, Jewish peasants fleeing persecution in Romania and Russia, and others from England and the European mainland whose stories have been lost in the passage of time.
Roseli Ilano has a decade of experience as a community organizer,educator, and as an outreach strategist. As National Community Engagement Coordinator at The Independent Television Service (ITVS), Roseli oversaw the flagship documentary screening series, Community Cinema, and implemented dozens of outreach campaigns for documentary films. She is the daughter of Filipino immigrants, who were part of the fourth wave of migration from the Philippines beginning in 1965. Her mother was recruited to help fill the nursing shortage in the United States and continues to train the next generation of nurses.
15 | Immigrant Nation | DISCUSSION GUIDE
Platform Design/Development - Murmur
IMMIGRANT NATION TEAM & CONTACT INFO (CONT’D) Social Media Maven - Gloria Morán Gloria Morán is a filmmaker and transmedia artist. On her maternal side, Gloria’s great-great-great grandmother, Marcela Lucero was a Ute Indian born in 1872 near Las Vegas, New Mexico. Marcela was native to New Mexico with her family lineage dating back to when it was New Spain, which became a territory of Mexico, and later, after the Mexican-American war, annexed to the U.S. with the signing of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo in 1848. In 1896 she married Francisco Garcia a New Mexican (also with long family ties to New Mexico) from her neighboring town and together they had lots of Nuevo/New/Mexican-American/Chicano babies.
Discussion Guide Layout & Design - Aaron Joseph Aaron Joseph is a web and print design professional based in Oakland, California. Aaron freelances for his company, adj.Media (www.adj-media.com), teaches web design at the Bay Area Video Coalition, and designs ads and layouts for the SF Media Company. Aaron’s maternal Great Grandparents–Ludmilla and Emils Elstins–and Grandparents–Tamara and Janis Sinats–arrived in the U.S. after fleeing the Nazi occupation of their home country of Latvia (or Latvija if you ask Granpa Janis) and the surrounding Eastern European nations. Aaron’s paternal family is African-American with a bit of Native American ancestry.
CONTACT
For more information contact: info@immigrant-nation.com @inationproject facebook.com/immigrantnationproject 16 | Immigrant Nation | DISCUSSION GUIDE