CORONA, QUEENS, NY, October 23, 2012— First Person American and the Queens Museum of Art held What’s Your Story? Corona Plaza Welcoming Stories, a community potluck and screening of 9 short films that explore personal narratives from immigrants about the people who welcomed them and changed their lives forever. The potluck and screening took place in the recently renovated Corona Plaza, and was fully bi-lingual (English and Spanish).  The plaza—situated in a culturally diverse neighborhood and a magnet for neighborhood activity—made for a perfect venue for What’s Your Story? Corona Plaza Welcoming Stories. The screening and potluck took place following an Afternoon of Boleros—a Queens Museum of Art dance and music festival celebrating the beautiful bolero music of Latin America. The cool fall night and potluck dinner attracted a constant stream of guest to the screening and made for an impromptu family night.

The screening’s first three films–Yasmany’s Welcoming Story, Dino’s Welcoming Story, and Masuma’s Welcoming Story–focused on each student’s journey to America, their difficulties during assimilation, and how the act of one person helped them overcome their struggles and pushed them to take advantage of their opportunities in America. The fourth film, Welcoming Stories Behind the Scenes, reveled how the students transformed from storyteller to activist. The films were co-produced by First Person American and the students of Julie Mann’s Human Rights Class as part of the Newcomers High School Welcoming Stories Workshop help in the 2012 spring semester.

Following the screening of the first 4 films, the audience listened as Megan, Kanto, and Farida—alumni of the Newcomers High School Welcoming Stories Workshop–shared their own stories about coming to America, and who welcomed them. They also talked about how they became a welcoming person, and gave the audience tips on how to be more welcoming to immigrants in Corona. The most engaging part of the night came during the audience Q&A session with the students. The students answered questions about how they’ve applied what they learned during the workshop, and were given the opportunity to discuss what they’ve been doing since graduating high school.

Five additional Welcoming Stories were screened after the Q&A session. These stories featured immigrants from a broad age and demographic range. Each person shared their story of coming to American and talked about someone who was able to make a difference in their lives.

After all the films had concluded, two courageous audience members shared their story at the booth set up by First Person American. The volunteers operating the booth helped the storytellers by prompting them with questions prior to the on camera interview. The filming of the interviews drew a small crowd and gave the Queens Museum of Art and First Person American another opportunity to promote their initiatives.

What’s Your Story? Corona Plaza Welcoming Stories was a tremendous success and First Person American is looking forward to holding future screenings.

NEW YORK, NY, July 22, 2012— For the millions of immigrants of the late 19th and early 20th centuries Ellis Island symbolized the American dream. Today, the Ellis Island Immigration Museum is a lasting reminder of American freedom and opportunity, making it a fitting venue for the Human Rights Class at Newcomers High School and First Person American to premiere What’s Your Story? 2012. The premiere took place on July 20, 2012 and screened four short films that explored personal immigration narratives from high school students about the people that welcomed them and changed their lives forever. The Ellis Island Immigration Museum made for a perfect venue for over a 100 guests to view the films and understand the impact a single person can have on the students of Julie Mann’s Human Rights class.

The first three films, Yasmany’s Welcoming Story, Dino’s Welcoming Story, and Masuma’s Welcoming Story, focused on each student’s journey to America, their difficulties during assimilation, and how the act of one person helped them overcome their struggles and pushed them to take advantage of their opportunities in America. The fourth film–Welcoming Stories Behind the Scenes–reveled how the students transformed from storyteller to activist. The films were co-produced by First Person American and the students of Julie Mann’s Human Rights Clall.

Following the screening of the films, the audience listened as Aysha, Kanto, and Renan shared their stories, who welcomed them, how they became a welcoming person, and tips to guests on how to be more welcoming to immigrants in their local communities. Audience members also had the opportunity to engage in a Q&A session with all the students of Julie Mann’s Human Rights class.

Students pose with Ms. Dellis: from left to right Farida Van Gennip, Ms. Dellis, Masuma Akter, and Aysha Chowdhury.

The reaction to the films was positive, but the most touching moments came when the two teachers–Ms. Dellis and Ms.Izaguirre–heard the impact each had by being a welcoming person to Aysha and Renan. Ms. Dellis was speechless and emotional after Aysha shared her story, while Ms. Izaguirre was elated that her words of encouragement had such a meaningful impact in Renan’s life.

Volunteers collect a story at the First Person American story booth.

After What’s Your Story? 2012 had concluded a few courageous audience members were inspired to share their story at the booth set up by First Person American. The volunteers operating the booth eased any fears of storytellers by prompting the storytellers with questions prior to the on camera interview. Following the premiere family, friends, students, and volunteers were all encourage to explore the Ellis Island Museum and its many exhibits.

The stories featured during What’s Your Story? 2012 can be seen below, and on the First Person American website, firstpersonamerican.org.

Yasmany’s Welcoming Story from First Person American on Vimeo.

Yasmany shares his story of coming to the United States from Cuba in 2008. Yasmany’s wild imagination allowed him to create a glamorous vision of himself in the United States. He reveals his initial disappointment about arriving in Miami. Yasmany divulges that a move to New York, and becoming best friends with two other immigrant students, Mike and Yandoli, allowed him to finally discover his American “swag”.

Dino’s Welcoming Story from First Person American on Vimeo.

Dino shares his story of coming to America from Montenegro in 2010. Dino talks about having the opportunity to do something his father never did, the difficulty of leaving behind his younger brother, and his love of soccer. Now as the captain of the Newcomers High School soccer team, Dino reflects on how his coach, Mr. Llull, helped him on and off the field.

Masuma’s Welcoming Story from First Person American on Vimeo.

Masuma talks about leaving Bangladesh with her family when she was 15. Masuma’s initial excitement about coming to the United States was quickly replaced by fear once she realized how little she could communicate. Masuma shares her gratitude for her best friend, Anjum, who helped Masuma learn English and overcome her fears.

The films produced for What’s Your Story? 2012 were created as part of a Welcoming Stories Workshop that took place with Julie Mann’s Human Rights class at Newcomers High School—a 100% immigrant high school in Long Island City. The workshop was funded, in part, by the Facing History and Ourselves, Margot Stern Strom Teaching Award.

NEW YORK, NY, May 21, 2012—First Person American and the Human Rights class at Newcomers High School, in partnership with Facing History and Facing Ourselves, presents a Welcoming Stories Workshop—a 10-session workshop to explore personal immigration narratives from high school students about the people that welcomed them and changed their lives forever. The Welcoming Stories Workshop encourages students to become more welcoming, and to inspire other immigrant students to share their own story about someone who made a big difference in their lives when they first arrived. The workshop will conclude with a student-led assembly, A Welcoming Assembly, at Newcomers High School, in Long Island City, on Friday June 1, 2012.

The Welcoming Stories Workshop is an education outreach program created by First Person American. The Human Rights class at Newcomers High School—a 100% immigrant high school in Long Island City—taught by Ms. Julie Mann, is comprised of 29 students all of whom are recent immigrants from all over the world (Bangladesh, Iraq, Madagascar, Montenegro, Cuba, El Salvador, Poland, etc.). By partnering with the Human Rights class, First Person American gave students the opportunity to explore how sharing their personal immigration stories can improve human rights for other immigrants.
To help students capture and share their own personal stories, the workshop integrated design-based critical thinking and hands-on learning. Through the workshop’s curriculum, the students learned about storytelling, journalism, video production, and gained a deeper understanding of immigrant integration. Over the course of 10-weeks, students reflected on their own story and participated in the production of video interviews of their peers. The last three sessions of the workshop focused on using the students’ experience to help another student by being welcoming. Armed with ability and knowledge, the students made a difference in someone else’s life being welcoming to him or her.

The assembly will start with students breaking into small groups for a peer learning session. Each group will be lead by a student of Ms. Mann’s Human Rights class. Groups will learn how to be more welcoming by listening to their student leader’s workshop experience, and by receiving welcoming tips. After the peer learning session, attendees will screen the Welcoming Story videos of Dino Koljenovic, Masuma Akter, and Yasmany Gonzalez co-produced by Ms. Mann’s Human Rights class and First Person American.
• Dino shares his story of coming to America from Montenegro in 2010. Dino talks about having the opportunity to do something his father never did, the difficulty of leaving behind his younger brother, and his love of soccer. Now as the captain of the Newcomers High School soccer team, Dino reflects on how his coach, Mr. Llull, helped him on and off the field.
• Masuma talks about leaving Bangladesh with her family when she was 15. Masuma’s initial excitement about coming to the United States was quickly replaced by fear once she realized how little she could communicate. Masuma shares her gratitude for her best friend, Anjum, who helped Masuma learn English and overcome her fears.
• Yasmany shares his story of coming to the United States from Cuba in 2008. Yasmany wild imagination allowed him to create a glamorous vision of himself in the United States. He reveals his initial disappointment about arriving in Miami. Yasmany divulges that a move to New York, and becoming best friends with two other immigrant students, Mike and Yandoli, allowed him to finally discover his American “swag”.

The Welcoming Stories Workshop is funded by the Facing History and Ourselves, Margot Stern Strom Teaching Award. Ms. Mann, the 2012 recipient of the Margot Stern Strom Teaching Award, has been a Facing History teacher for more than a decade, using the materials and pedagogies provided the organization.

Media members interested in attending the assembly please contact Newcomers High School at 718-937-6005.

Assembly details are below:
A Welcoming Assembly at Newcomers High School
When: Friday, June 1, 2012
Where: Newcomers HS Auditorium, 28-01 41 Avenue, Long Island City, NY 11101
Time: 10:50 AM – 11:50 AM

ABOUT FIRST PERSON AMERICAN
First Person American focuses on stories of modern immigrants in the US, and explores what it means to be American through the lens of the immigrant in an expressive, personal and narrative style. First Person American aims to change the public’s perception of immigrants and to interject a new voice through deep and poignant portraits of people who immigrated to America. The mission of First Person American is to have a transformative effect on individual immigrant and non-immigrant lives and communities. First Person American is a recipient of the 2010 Sappi Ideas That Matter Grant and the 2011 Design Ignites Change Grant. For more information, please visit www.firstpersonamerican.org and follow on Twitter @FPAmerican.

ABOUT NEWCOMERS HIGH SCHOOL
Newcomers High School was created to provide immigrant students with an academic program geared to achieve excellence by responding to their unique needs. In accomplishing this goal, our school has designed a rigorous instructional program, while at the same time providing our students and their parents with a supportive environment in their new country. The school serves 915 students 9-12 grade and is located in Long Island City, NY.

ABOUT MS. JULIE MANN’S HUMAN RIGHTS CLASS
Julie Mann leads the Human Rights class at Newcomers High School. Students learn about human rights and how to help support these rights through their own tangible actions. Students learn about the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and apply its principals to current situations. In recent years, the focus has been on human rights abuses against immigrants in the United States. Ms. Mann works in partnership with many human rights organizations such as Facing History and Ourselves, The Anti-Defamation League, Not in our Town, and most recently, First Person American. For more information, please visit www.niot.org/nios/newcomers and www.mannhumanrights.blogspot.com.

ABOUT FACING HISTORY
Facing History is an international educational and professional development organization whose mission is to engage students of diverse backgrounds in an examination of racism, prejudice, and antisemitism in order to promote the development of a more humane and informed citizenry. By studying the historical development of the Holocaust and other examples of genocide and mass violence, students make the essential connection between history and the moral choices they confront in their own lives. Facing History has provided in-depth seminars for more than 29,000 educators, and its active teacher network reaches nearly two million students annually. For more information, visit facinghistory.org and watch a video at facinghistory.org/video/face-it.

Media Contacts:
First Person American: Irina Lee, 347.443.8745, irina@firstpersonamerican.org
Facing History: Anne Burt, anne_burt@facing.org
Newcomers High School: Caryn Allen, 718.937.6005, x444, callen2@schools.nyc.gov

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