I’m really moved by this. I feel like it really captures the immigrant experience. I get the sense of alienation. It puts a human face on it.
In Spring 2019, Al-Bustan returned to Northeast High School to further the important messages and ideas expressed in An Immigrant Alphabet. Based upon lessons learned from the project, Al-Bustan staff presented a professional development workshop for NEHS teachers in April-May. For some faculty members it was the first time they became aware of the work created by their students. The workshop focused on how arts integration can engage and celebrate the diversity of the immigrant and refugee community at NEHS, while aligning with curriculum standards and educators’ learning goals. Quotes and data collected during the public display of the banners, coupled with the students’ stories expressed in the book America Border Culture Dreamer: The Young Immigrant Experience from A to Z, drove home the necessity of focusing on the themes of immigration explored in the project.
Workshop with NEHS faculty, April 2019
NEHS Principal Omar Crowder arranged for each faculty member to receive a copy of the book. As nearly 25% of the 3,500 students at NEHS are English Language Learners, with more than 50 languages and more than 100 countries represented in the student body, the faculty appreciated how the students’ narratives are so compellingly represented in the book. As one teacher remarked,
I’m sold on the idea, the need, and the success of the project. Lets talk about how can we bring these ideas into my classroom!
In Fall 2019, Al-Bustan continued its work on An Immigrant Alphabet by distributing the 26 banners to Philadelphia area schools and institutions. In the first and second phase of the project where the banners were on display for 18 months, tens of thousands of Philadelphians and visitors from around the world saw the banners, interacted with Al-Bustan’s exhibit boards, attended an array of performances and forums, and learned more about the immigrant experience through the images and narratives of eighteen Northeast High School students.
Installing iAlphabet Banners at Penn Alexander School in West Philadelphia
After a culminating celebration and the exhibit’s de-installation from Cherry Street Pier in June 2019, Al-Bustan launched an online crowd sourcing campaign, Embracing Immigrants: iAlphabet at Public Schools. The campaign sought to raise $5,000 to support displaying ten banners at five of our partnering public schools: Northeast High School, John Moffet School, Juniata Park Academy, Albert Greenfield School, and the Penn Alexander School. By November, we were pleased to see that 59 generous individuals had helped us achieve our goal. The distribution and installation of the banners is underway.
Other banners have also been distributed to patrons such as the Free Library of Philadelphia. They acquired the “C for Culture” banner for display at their recently opened Heim Center for Civic and Cultural Engagement at the Parkway Central Library.
We are grateful for the ongoing support of our partners and donors who allow us to create important art and programming with a real impact on the lives of Philadelphia school students. An Immigrant Alphabet will live on into the new year and beyond, amplifying youth and immigrant voices across the city.
