Summer 2011- Week 5 (8/7/11)
Portrait of Jose Antonio Vargas
published with his June 22, 2011 essay.
published with his June 22, 2011 essay.
This week, we began our session with reflection on last week's talk on immigrant rights and advocacy, led by Christina Baal of the New York Immigration Coalition along with NYIC intern Emily and friend/DREAMer Chuck. As part of reflecting on what they learned, Mentees shared what rights they believe should be included in the DREAM Act or other new legislation if they were to be passed.
Next, we shared our impressions of the stirring and candid New York Times Sunday Magazine essay "My Life as an Undocumented Immigrant" by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Jose Antonio Vargas. We commented on how the frank recount of Vargas’s personal journey not only captured his readers’ attention, but also opened their ears to the message he had to share. With Vargas’s essay as a guide, Mentees were assigned their final project and asked to brainstorm how they may express their views on “Community” using the power of their own personal stories.
Next, we shared our impressions of the stirring and candid New York Times Sunday Magazine essay "My Life as an Undocumented Immigrant" by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Jose Antonio Vargas. We commented on how the frank recount of Vargas’s personal journey not only captured his readers’ attention, but also opened their ears to the message he had to share. With Vargas’s essay as a guide, Mentees were assigned their final project and asked to brainstorm how they may express their views on “Community” using the power of their own personal stories.
The Third Avenue El at the Bowery in the 1890s.
In order to get a closer look at Community and what makes a community a “community", we embarked on a tour of Chinatown to view not only key, historical sites, but also institutions that provide essential services to local citizens. Standing at the foot of the entrance to the Manhattan Bridge, we imagined what life might have been like in the past when Canal Street was actually a canal or when the Third Avenue “El” (elevated subway) ran along the Bowery and dominated the skyline. We then weaved our way through crowded streets experiencing bits of history hidden among the bustle of today’s modern Chinatown.
In the end, despite the majority of Mentors and Mentees having lived their whole lives in or around Manhattan’s Chinatown, everyone shared how they learned new facts about this neighborhood and how it has grown and shifted over time.
See the map below for some of the sites we visited and facts about these important places!
Thank You Daria Ng for providing additional site information!
In the end, despite the majority of Mentors and Mentees having lived their whole lives in or around Manhattan’s Chinatown, everyone shared how they learned new facts about this neighborhood and how it has grown and shifted over time.
See the map below for some of the sites we visited and facts about these important places!
Thank You Daria Ng for providing additional site information!
View Shared Stories: Chinatown, Manhattan, NYC in a larger map |
Homework Assignment:
Think back to the sites we visited on the tour of Chinatown, such as the CCBA Headquarters, the Chinese Manpower Building, Columbus Park, and the Chung Pak Mixed-Use Center. In a paragraph, pick one of these sites (or another place in Chinatown) and explain why it is important to the local community. Then, describe any similar institutions that exist or are needed in another community you belong to. Lastly, write down the experience you have chosen to talk about in your final project (see below). Do not think too much about grammar and mechanics: just write freely and get as many details as possible down onto paper. You should easily have at least a full page describing the moment you chose to retell by next session. |
Final Project Assignment: At the start of this session, you were asked to read the New York Times article, "My Life as an Undocumented Immigrant" by Jose Antonio Vargas. In this article, Vargas expresses his support for the DREAM Act by sharing the story of his life as an illegal alien. Notice that he includes facts and history in the article to strengthen his argument and to inform the reader.
The final project is an opinion piece modeled after the Vargas article. Like Vargas, you will express your opinion through your personal experiences and you should also support your position with facts and history. Your opinion piece should answer the following question and should draw connections to activities and projects you've done this session.
Describe a moment or instance when you or someone you knew was treated unfairly as an immigrant in America.
As a community advocate, what actions can you take to make sure that this does not happen again?
The final project is an opinion piece modeled after the Vargas article. Like Vargas, you will express your opinion through your personal experiences and you should also support your position with facts and history. Your opinion piece should answer the following question and should draw connections to activities and projects you've done this session.
Describe a moment or instance when you or someone you knew was treated unfairly as an immigrant in America.
As a community advocate, what actions can you take to make sure that this does not happen again?