CCYA Immigration Toolkit

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www.nyhumanities.org/conversations

Immigration


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Thank you for hosting aCommunity Conversation forYoung Adults!

Overv iew Community Conversations are stand-alone, text-based discussions led by a facilitatorfrom the local community. Each toolkit includes a text that tackles an importantaspect of American life and encourages community dialogue.

Structure Your Community Conversation should last between 60 and 90 minutes withoutinterruption. Discussions should be guided by a facilitator and focused on the textand the theme.

Hold your conversation in a room where a group of 10-30 participants can hear each

other clearly. Use the tips sheets for host sites and facilitators included in this toolkitfor ideas about how to encourage everyone to participate in the discussion.

Faci l i tator A good facilitator is the key to making a Community Conversation successful. Thefacilitator should be someone in your community who enjoys working with people, isinterested in what others have to say, and believes in the merit of conversation-based programs. The facilitator does not need to be someone with an advanceddegree in the humanities, but rather someone who has some experience leadingopen conversations and who is enthusiastic about learning how to facilitate. Weencourage all prospective facilitators to attend one of the Councils free facilitationwebinars* to learn more about best practices for guiding successful and meaningfuldiscussions.*Facilitators at featured sites must attend a facilitation webinar.

Inc luded inthistoolk i t :

The New Colossus by Emma Lazarus and Anonymous Poem from AngelIsland Immigration StationDiscussion Questions for The New Colossus and Anonymous PoemTips for FacilitatingTips for HostingSample ScheduleParticipant EvaluationKeep the Conversation GoingPartners

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Community Conversations provides an opportunity for people to come together forthoughtful discussion and dialogue about their shared values as Americanspast,present, and future. Focused on central themes in American life such as service, freedomand democracy, Community Conversations allows New Yorkers to join in discussions that

offer an alternative to received wisdom and provide the chance to take part in a sharednational dialogue.

From New Netherland to New York, immigrants from every part of the world have madetheir home in our state. Community Conversations invites New Yorkers to explore ourshared history as immigrants and the descendants of immigrants, and to discuss theways that immigration continues to shape the experience of being American today. Eachconversation uses a short text as a starting point for discussions about cultural

understanding and our roles as active citizens in a diverse and democratic society.

New York Council for the Humanities | T 212.233.1131 | www.nyhumanities.org


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3New York Council for the Humanities | T 212.233.1131 | www.nyhumanities.org

The New Colossus by EmmaLazarus, 1883Anonymous Poem from Angel Is landImmigration Stat ion, 1910-1940

The New Colossusby Emma Lazarus, 1883

Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame,With conquering limbs astride from land to land;Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall standA mighty woman with a torch, whose flameIs the imprisoned lightning, and her name

Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-handGlows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes commandThe air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame."Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!" cries sheWith silent lips. "Give me your tired, your poor,Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"

[This poem was engraved on a bronze plaque on the pedestal of the Statue of Liberty in 1903.]

Anonymous Poemfrom Angel Island Immigration Station, 1910-1940

There are tens of thousands of poems on these wallsThey are all cries of suffering and sadnessThe day I am rid of this prison and become successfulI must remember that this chapter once existedI must be frugal in my daily needsNeedless extravagance usually leads to ruin

All my compatriots should remember ChinaOnce you have made some small gains,you should return home early.

- Written by one from Heungshan

[From 1910 to 1940, the Angel Island Immigration Station (the Ellis Island of the West) processed

approximately 1 million Asian immigrants entering into the United States. Due to the restrictions of the Chinese

Exclusion Act of 1882, many immigrants spent years on the island waiting for entry.]

Please read these two poems together as one text; they were selected to be in conversation with one another.


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Discussion Questions forThe New Colossus by EmmaLazarus, 1883 and AnonymousPoem from Angel Is land ImmigrationStation, 1910-1940

Our shared history as immigrants and the descendants of immigrants shapes our experience ofbeing American today. What are some of the reasons why people immigrate to the United States?

In the poem, The New Colossus, who is the mighty woman with a torch? What is your impression

of her? Why does the poet call her the Mother of Exiles?

Who or what is the Colossus in Emma Lazaruss poem? Why does she compare that statue to the

Statue of Liberty?

Lazarus tells ancient lands to Keep your storied pomp. What does she mean? Do you agree?

What kind of lives were the immigrants Lazarus describes leaving behind?

In the poem from Angel Island, how is America depicted? Is it a place that you would want to come

to? Why or why not?

How does the Angel Island poet describe the place that he/she is in? Why do you think he/she callsit a prison?

Why has the Angel Island poet come to America? What is his/her impression of America? What arehis/her plans here?

Why does the Angel Island poet encourage his/her compatriots to remember China? What doeshe/she want them to remember?

Why did people at Angel Island write poetry on the walls? Who are they trying to communicate with?

Why are the immigrants in Lazaruss poem coming to America? Why is the poet from Angel Island

coming to America? Do their experiences and reasons differ? How? Why?

Do you think America is still a golden door, open and receptive to people from other countries?

Why or why not? Do you see your community as a golden door to immigrant communities?

Do you think that immigrants today can relate to one or both of these poems? Why?

Emma Lazarus wrote this poem in 1883. Does her image of America still represent the America oftoday? Why or why not?

How has technology changed immigration?

What impact do you think being a nation of immigrants has had on our national identity?



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Tips for Faci l i tat ing aCommunity Conversation forYoung Adults

Community Conversations are simple gatherings that encourage thoughtful, engaged dialogue using ashort reading to foster discussion. The goal is a comfortable, lively discussion free of bias andjudgment. We hope the following suggestions will help you create an inviting environment for you andyour community.

Planning for the Conversat ion Expect a healthy conversation to last between 60 and 90 minutes.

Read the text several times, paying attention to the parts that were difficult or that made you pause. These will be

the places that generate the most conversation.

Use the sample questions in this toolkit as a starting point for writing questions that will resonate with your group.

Decide how you will begin the conversation. The first few questions will set the tone for the discussion, so thinkabout what themes in the text you would like to explore.

Prepare about three times as many questions as you think youll cover with the group. You wont get to everything,

but extra planning will help you follow the natural progression of the conversation.

Plan a closing question or exercise that signals the end of the formal discussion, but encourages the group to keep

the conversation going at home or among friends.

Gett ing Started Arrange chairs in a circle or semi-circle so that participants can easily see one another and be heard by all. Start by establishing some basic guidelines with the group. For example, be respectful, make sure that everyone

has a turn to speak, and focus your comments on the reading.

Introduce yourself at the beginning of the session and ask each participant to do the same. Keep introductions

short.

Begin by reading the whole text aloud together. This allows everyone to have the opportunity to hear a fluent readerand invites people with lower levels of literacy to actively participate.

Plan an opening activity to help participants get comfortable: ask a discussion question and encourage participants

to share their thoughts in pairs and report back to the group.

Asking Good Quest ions Ask short, open-ended questions that dont have a right or wrong answer.

Invite the participants to interpret the text in their own ways.

Focus on places where opinions may differ (not on facts that cannot be disputed).

Look for ways to connect the subject matter to everyday life.

Encourage participants to form their own questions.

Prioritize keeping the conversation going over getting to all of your questions.

Use the text as a neutral place to return to if the conversation gets heated. Listen and Learn

Focus on listening, not teaching.

Be flexible and let your questions follow the natural course of conversation. Dont feel that you need to ask every

question youve prepared or in the order you planned.

When the conversation is flowing, share your opinion last or not at all.

Avoid answering your own questions. If there is a lull in the conversation, let people think about their answers before

you move on.

Look at the person speaking, and try not to cross your arms or legs. Address group members by their first names.



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Sample Schedule for aCommunity Conversation forYoung Adults

How have immigration experiences changed sincethe 1800s?

How does our community react to new immigrants?Is it a welcoming community?

Would you feel at home here if you came fromanother country?

Get students thinking aboutthe topic- 15 minutes

Wrap-Up-

10 minutes

Discuss- 50 minutes

Check comprehension- 5 minutes

Read the text aloud- 10 minutes

Activate prior knowledge:

What is immigration?

What are some reasons people immigrate?

What country are your ancestors (or you) from?

Ask students to write down a few words or linesfrom the text that made an impact on them.

Use the discussion questions in the toolkit and addyour own.

Focus on questions that ask kids to interpret andevaluate the poets words and how they feel aboutwhat is going on.

Planning Guidelines for Community Conversations

New York State Standards for Grades 6-12Common Core English Language Arts: Comprehension and Collaboration and Conventions of Standard English

Did everyone understand the vocabulary?

Are there any phrases that need furtherclarification?



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Keep the Conversation Goingwith Support from theNew York Counci l for the Humanit ies

Explore more of what the Council has to offer!These grants and programs support conversation-based programming.

Series of thematically linked texts over the course of four, five, or

six sessions.

Muslim Journeys: Explore how the humanities promote

understanding of and mutual respect for people with diversestories, cultures, and perspectives within the U.S. and abroad.

Other themes include: Working, Serving, Growing and Aging,

Making Sense of the Civil War, and Lincoln on the Civil War.

A forum for parents and their 9- to 11-year old children to come

together to talk about books and ideas.

Six 90-minute sessions are co-facilitated by a librarian and a

humanities scholar from the local community.

Explore key themes in American life such as courage, freedom,and being American.

Design your own conversation-based programming about

important humanities ideas or texts that encourage informed

public discourse in communities.

Apply for a Planning, Project, or Special Initiatives Grant.

Grants range from $1,500 to $3,000.

Over 200 humanities-based lectures on a wide variety of topics.

Host a lecture on Immigration Studies:- The Ethnic Musicals: Assimilation and Integration

- Longing and Belonging: The Idea of Home in Asian AmericanLiterature

- New York Citys Lower East Side: A Revolving Door forImmigrants

90-minute discussion guided by a scholar-facilitator.

Centered on a short text focused on American identity.

Explore Immigration Studies with some of these Conversations:

- American Dreamer: Immigration Politics of Hyphenation

- Oscar Wao and the Latino Immigrant Experience

- From Cappuccino to Jambalaya: Food and the American

Identity

Visit us at www.nyhumanities.orgfor all program information, guidelines, and application forms.

Any not-for-profit organization in New York State is eligible to apply for Council grants and programs.

Conversations BureauDiscuss ideas based on a short text,led by a scholar-facilitator

www.nyhumanities.org/programs/cb

Reading & DiscussionPrograms for AdultsRead and talk about books andideas in a group setting

www.nyhumanities.org/adultrd

Together and Unidos Family reading and discussion

program for parents and kids

www.nyhumanities.org/together

Grants Funding for projects usinghumanities to engage the public

www.nyhumanities.org/grants

Speakers in the Humanitiesand Speakers in the SchoolsLectures on humanities topics

www.nyhumanities.org/speakers



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Community C onversations Partners

Partners


Documents

CCYA Immigration Toolkit