First Person American will conduct a ten-week workshop series that uses storytelling to examine the process of immigrant assimilation. Students, who are learning skills in writing, journalism and video production, will produce video interviews of their peers and writing stories of their own immigrant experience.

Citizens Committee for New York City awards grants to groups who bring neighbors together to address the issues that are important to the community. In 2013, Citizens Committee for New York City awarded nearly $571,000 in grants and supporting more than 300 efforts in all five boroughs. We are thrilled to be a part of this year’s funded initiatives! Thanks CCNY for your support.

What’s Your Story? 2013 Welcoming Stories Potluck and Screening
Sunday, April 21, 2013, 4:30-7:00pm
Location: Immigrant Movement International
Address: 108-59 Roosevelt Avenue, Queens, NY 11368
Transportation: 7 train to the 103rd and Roosevelt Avenue stop
Free & Open to All, Please RSVP at http://whatsyourstory2013.eventbrite.com

NEW YORK, NY, April 14, 2013—New York City’s 10th Annual Immigrant Heritage Week, organized by NYC Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs, Immigrant Movement International and First Person American present What’s Your Story? 2013 Welcoming Stories Potluck and Screening—a community event screening 9 short films that explore personal narratives from immigrants about the people who welcomed them and changed their lives forever. Immigrant Movement International, located in Queens, New York, will host What’s Your Story? 2013 Welcoming Stories Potluck and Screening on Sunday, April 21, 2013 at 4:30 PM.

What’s Your Story? 2013 Welcoming Stories Potluck and Screening will start at 4:30 PM with a potluck style “welcoming dinner” where attendees can meet others in the New York community and welcome each other with favorite dishes from their home country.

With the office of Immigrant Movement International serving as the family room, What’s Your Story? 2013 Welcoming Stories Potluck and Screening will show the tremendous impact small acts of kindness had during several immigrants’ lives. The films were created as part of the Welcoming Stories pilot series and the Newcomers High School Welcoming Stories Workshop. What’s Your Story? 2013 Welcoming Stories Potluck and Screening will include Yasmany’s story of discovering his American “swag,” Nika’s story about overcoming the difficulties of the American classroom, and Leila’s escaping an arranged marriage to pursue her own American dream. Attendees will also see how Newcomers High School students transformed from story tellers to activists in the short film Behind the Scenes of Newcomer High School Welcoming Stories.

A local hub for the immigrant community in Queens, New York, Immigrant Movement International will become a stage for storytelling and activism. The event will be an opportunity for the New York community to come together and celebrate its diversity, but it will also give attendees the chance to learn how they can be more welcoming and promote a culture of understanding in their own neighborhoods.

Please RSVP at http://whatsyourstory2013.eventbrite.com

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, the 2011 Design Ignites Change Grant, the 2012 Facing History and Ourselves Award, and the 2013 Citizens Committee of New York Grant. For more information, please visit www.firstpersonamerican.org, follow us on Twitter@FPAmerican, and like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/firstpersonamerican.

ABOUT THE 10th ANNUAL IMMIGRANT HERITAGE WEEK
Immigrant Heritage Week is a citywide celebration, organized by NYC Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs, that honors the experiences and contributions of the millions of immigrants who have shaped New York City for generations. The 10th Annual Immigrant Heritage Week will be held in New York City from April 17t to April 24 2013. For more information, visit www.nyc.gov/nycihw

ABOUT THE 10th ANNUAL IMMIGRANT MOVEMENT INTERNATIONAL
Tania Bruguera’s concept for Immigrant Movement International was inspired by the civil unrest in the suburbs of Paris in 2005 led by immigrants. Immigrant Movement International (IM International) launched in March 2011 in Corona, Queens, New York. Queens is a borough known for its vibrant immigrant population, with more than 45% of the population being foreign born, and with approximately 138 languages spoken. For more information, visit http://immigrant-movement.us

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.

The Queens Museum of Art and First Person American present What’s Your Story? Corona Plaza Welcoming Stories—a Community Event to Showcase short films that explore personal immigration narratives.

Location: Corona Plaza, Roosevelt Avenue between National and 104th Street, Corona, Queens
Transportation: 7 train to the 103rd and Roosevelt Avenue stop
Sunday, October 21, 2012, 5:30-9:00pm
Free & Open to All

NEW YORK, NY, October 15, 2012—The Queens Museum of Art and First Person American present What’s Your Story? Corona Plaza Welcoming Stories—a community event screening 9 short films that explore personal narratives from immigrants about the people who welcomed them and changed their lives forever. The Queens Museum of Art will host the What’s Your Story? Corona Plaza Welcoming Stories on Sunday, October 21, 2012 at 5:30pm in Corona Plaza located in Corona, Queens, NY.

What’s Your Story? Corona Welcoming Stories will start at 5:30 PM with a potluck style “welcoming dinner” where local residents can meet others in the community and “welcome” each other to the neighborhood with favorite dishes from their home country. The event will be fully bi-lingual in English and Spanish.

With Corona Plaza serving as the family room, What’s Your Story? Corona Welcoming Stories will show the tremendous impact small acts of kindness had during several immigrants’ lives. The films were created as part of the Newcomers High School Welcoming Stories Workshop and the Welcoming Stories pilot series and include Yasmany’s story of discovering his American “swag”, Nika’s story about overcoming the difficulties of the American classroom, and Leila’s escaping an arranged marriage to pursue her own American dream. The community will also see how Newcomers High School students transformed from story tellers to activists in the short film Behind the Scenes of Newcomer High School Welcoming Stories.

After the screening Newcomers High School students will share their welcoming stories and how they became a welcoming person. First Person American will provide a welcoming guide and answer any questions about what it means to be welcoming in an effort to empower the audience to be more welcoming in their own communities. At the conclusion of the screening guest will have the opportunity to share their own welcoming stories at the First Person American Welcoming Stories video booth.

A local hub for the immigrant community in Corona, Corona Plaza will become a stage for storytelling and activism. The event will be an opportunity for the community to come together and celebrate its diversity, but it will also give attendees the chance to learn how they can be more welcoming and promote a culture of understanding in their neighborhood.

“After years of community activism, a coalition of elected officials, CBOs, and local residents have managed to create Corona Plaza as a new public pedestrian plaza as part of the NYC DOT Plaza Program at the end of August 2012. Queens Museum, its partners, and socially-engaged artists are now planning a series of events to explore the potential uses of the space and to welcome the community to use and engage this new public amenity. We believe this potluck and First Person American screening will provide a model for shared use and sense of ownership of the plaza, as well as set the stage for the incredibly diverse neighborhood of Corona, many of whom are recent immigrants themselves, to feel welcomed by their neighbors. All cultures have their own traditions of hospitality, but at the heart of most is the sharing food and stories.” says Prerana Reddy, Queens Museum of Art, Director of Public Events.

What’s Your Story? Corona Plaza Welcoming Stories
When: Sunday, October 21, 2012
Where: Corona Plaza, Roosevelt Avenue between National and 104th Street, Corona, Queens
Time: 5:30PM–9PM
Transportation: Guests can get to Corona plaza by taking the 7 train to the 103rd and Roosevelt Avenue stop.

Short Films (All films are in English with Spanish Subtitles):

• 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’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”.
• Nika shares her story of coming to America from Warsaw, Poland in 1989. Nika remembers how she felt in an American classroom before she spoke English and how her ESL teacher who helped her in the first months had a lasting influence on her life to this day.
• Leila talks about leaving Kenya as a teenager. At 17 Leila didn’t know exactly what she wanted, but she knew it wasn’t an arranged marriage in her native Kenya. Now a successful business owner, Leila remembers her ex-husband’s mother, who gave her the tools to build and realize her own American dream.
• Ilona talks about Yvette, a college friend who took a special interest in her and has since become a lifelong friend and a “sister”. Ilona doesn’t know if she would have survived here for as long without her friend’s good soul.
• David learned everything about the US from watching “The Jetsons” during his childhood in Iran. When his uncle summoned him to Chicago, he found that some Americans really do live “in the sky.” David shares how his uncle helped him in his early days in America and expresses the gratitude he feels towards his uncle’s generosity.
• Mona is a first-generation Indian-American born and raised in California. She shares her parents’ Welcoming Story of coming to the United States from Calcutta, India, in 1971. Her father’s best friend, Bishash, picked them up from the airport and made himself their new tour guide. Bishash’s enthusiasm and adventurous spirit encouraged Mona’s parents to discover a powerful bond that would help embrace their new American world.
• The students of Julie Mann’s Human Rights class reflect on their experience during the Welcoming Stories Workshop. They share why it was important to tell their story, what they learned during the workshop, and how telling their story has empowered them to become a welcoming person.

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, follow us on Twitter @FPAmerican, and like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/firstpersonamerican.

ABOUT QUEENS MUSEUM OF ART
The Queens Museum of Art was established in 1972 to provide a vital cultural center in Flushing Meadows Corona Park for the borough’s unique, international population. Today it is home to the Panorama of the City of New York, a 9,335 square foot scale model of the five boroughs, and features temporary exhibitions of modern and contemporary art that reflect the cultural diversity of Queens, as well as a collection of Tiffany glass from the Neustadt Museum of Tiffany Art. The Museum provides valuable educational outreach through a number of programs geared toward schoolchildren, teens, families, seniors and individuals with physical and mental disabilities.

The Museum’s hours are: Wednesday–Sunday: 12:00 p.m.–6:00 p.m., Friday: 12:00 p.m.–8:00 p.m., closed Monday & Tuesday. Admission to the Museum is by suggested donation: $8 for adults, $4 for seniors, students and children, and free for members and children under 5. For general visitor information, please visit the Museum’s website www.queensmuseum.org or call 718.592.9700.

SUPPORT
Public Events in Corona Plaza are made possible with support from the Institute for Museum & Library Services, Surdna Foundation, the NYC Cultural Innovation Fund of the Rockefeller Foundation, and the Office of NYC Councilmember Julissa Ferreras. Additional organizational support provided by Queens Economic Development Corporation, Immigrant Movement International, and Corona CAN.

Welcoming Stories is developed in partnership with Active Voice with support from Sappi Ideas that Matter, Adobe Foundaton/Worldstudio Design Ignites Change, and Facing History and Ourselves. Additional organizational support provided by the Statue of Liberty-Ellis Island Foundation Inc.

Media Contacts:
First Person American: Irina Lee, 347.443.8745, irina@firstpersonamerican.org
Queens Museum of Art: Diya Vij, 718-592-9700 x243, dvij@queensmuseum.org
###

First Person American will use the Welcoming Stories Workshop at Newcomers High School as framework for a workshop proposal for SXSW. Using its Welcoming Stories initiative as a guide, First Person American will show attendees how to produce compelling video narratives that help change hearts and minds about any issue, give best practices on how to turn narratives into powerful on-camera stories, and how to turn constituents of any cause into activists. Interested in attending? Vote for our workshop and join us at SXSW!

Please vote for our workshop by clicking on the “thumbs up” icon in the panel picker and share our proposal with your friends on Facebook and your followers on Twitter! Thanks for your support!

Learn more about how First Person American developed the idea for the workshop.

Over the last two years, First Person American has had the opportunity to collect over 70 stories of modern immigration. Every story is unique, yet each one captures heartfelt moments during an immigrant’s path to becoming American and shows the impact a single person can have on an immigrant’s journey. By documenting these journeys, First Person American creates a broad narrative that creates a culture of understanding across the communities of New York City.

The stories are powerful, but it’s the act of sharing them that changes attitudes and builds common ground. During a recent partnership with Newcomers High School ( a 100% immigrant high school in Queens) First Person American realized that sharing a story could be a platform for turning storytellers into activist and social change.

This past spring First Person American, and the Human Rights class of Newcomers High held a 10-session Welcoming Stories Workshop. The workshop explored personal immigration narratives from high school students about the people that welcomed them and changed their lives forever. More importantly the workshop gave First Person American the opportunity to transform 29 high school students into advocates of change.

The Welcoming Stories Workshop at Newcomers High School helped students realize that by sharing their stories it made them more aware of how they can make a difference in the lives of another person. Empowered with knowledge, each student welcomed a recent immigrant in their high school. Eventually their peers grew curious about what they were doing and were taught how to be a welcoming person.

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.

First Person American presents the What’s Your Story? 2012 Premiere – a collection of short films that explore personal immigration narratives from high school students

NEW YORK, NY, July 13, 2012—First Person American and the Human Rights class at Newcomers High School present What’s Your Story? 2012—a premiere showcasing short films that explore personal immigration narratives from high school students about the people that welcomed them and changed their lives forever. The National Park Service (NPS) will host the What’s Your Story? NYC Premiere on Friday, July 20, 2012 2–4pm, at the Ellis Island Immigration Museum, part of Statue of Liberty National Monument.

What’s Your Story? 2012 will premiere four short films: Welcoming Stories Behind the Scenes, a short film that shows how the students transformed from storyteller to activist, as well as three student-produced short films of Dino’s Welcoming Story, Masuma’s Welcoming Story, and Yasmany’s Welcoming Story. Additionally, Newcomers High School students will share how they became a welcoming person, and will give tips to guests on how to be more welcoming to immigrants in their local communities. Following the premiere, guests will be encouraged to stay and create a Welcoming Story with First Person American.

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. 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.

The Welcoming Stories Workshop is an education outreach program created by First Person American that integrates storytelling, journalism, activism and video production to help immigrants gain a deeper understanding of immigrant assimilation. By partnering with the Human Rights class, First Person American gave students the opportunity to explore how sharing their immigration experiences can improve human rights for other immigrants. The Welcoming Stories Workshop culminated with a student assembly on June 1, 2012 at Newcomers High School.

With Ellis Island as a backdrop, What’s Your Story? 2012 will show the tremendous impact small acts of kindness had during Dino’s, Masuma’s, and Yasmany’s assimilation into American life and show how students transformed from storytellers to activists:

• 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’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”.
• The students of Julie Mann’s Human Rights class reflect on their experience during the Welcoming Stories Workshop. They share why it was important to tell their story, what they learned during the workshop, and how telling their story has empowered them to become a welcoming person.

“The NPS is eager to tell the comprehensive story of American Immigration and Migration on Ellis Island,” said John Hnedak, Deputy Superintendent for Statue of Liberty NM and Ellis Island. “Having focused on the Ellis Island years (1892-1954) since we opened the island to the public in 1990, we are now poised to greatly expand the stories we tell. In partnership with the Statue of Liberty-Ellis Island Foundation, we recently opened “Before Ellis Island”—the first phase of the new “Peopling of America” exhibit. The final phase of the project will be completed within the next year and feature dynamic exhibits on modern immigration and the idea and ideals of citizenship. The stories of the students of Newcomers High School are wonderful illustrations of the concepts embodied in these exhibits and living testimony to the importance of diversity in the shaping of this nation.”

What’s Your Story? 2012 Premiere

When: Friday, July 20, 2012
Where: The Ellis Island Immigration Museum, Theater 2
Time: 2PM–4PM
Tickets: http://whatsyourstory2012.eventbrite.com/
Watch the Trailer:

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, follow us on Twitter @FPAmerican, and like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/firstpersonamerican.

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 AND OURSELVES

Facing History and Ourselves 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 www.facinghistory.org.

ABOUT STATUE OF LIBERTY NATIONAL MONUMENT AND ELLIS ISLAND a

The Ellis Island Immigration Museum is part of the Statue of Liberty National Monument and is one of the country’s most popular historic sites.  Opened on January 1, 1892, Ellis Island became the nation’s premier federal immigration station. In operation until 1954, more than 12 million immigrants were processed at the station. The main building was restored after 30 years of abandonment and opened as a museum on September 10, 1990. It has been estimated that more than 40 percent of America’s population today can trace their ancestry through Ellis Island.

ABOUT THE STATUE OF LIBERTY-ELLIS FOUNDATION INC.

The Statue of Liberty-Ellis Island Foundation, Inc. is a non-profit organization founded in 1982 to raise funds for and oversee the historic restorations of the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, working in partnership with the National Park Service/U.S. Department of the Interior. In addition to restoring the monuments, the Foundation created a museum in the Statue’s base and the world-class Ellis Island Immigration Museum, The American Immigrant Wall of Honor®, the American Family Immigration History Center® and its newest project The Peopling of America® Center scheduled for completion in 2013. Its endowment has funded over 200 projects at the islands.

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

###

First Person American and Active Voice in Partnership with Shelbyville Multimedia Present Welcoming Stories—Personal Narratives from Immigrants About People Who Welcomed Them And Changed Their Lives Forever

NEW YORK, NY, May 20, 2011—First Person American and Active Voice, in partnership with Shelbyville Multimedia, present Welcoming Stories, the series of five pilot episodes featuring immigrants telling their story of a person who helped them when they first came to America. Welcoming Stories aims to encourage Americans to become more welcoming, and to inspire other immigrants to share their own story about someone who made a big difference in their lives when they first arrived.

The pilot episodes, directed and produced by Irina Lee, are available to view online. This series of five pilot episodes was developed alongside a documentary, called Welcome to Shelbyville, which will premiere nationwide on PBS on May 24, 2011 at 10:00 PM EST (please check local listings.) After watching the Welcoming Stories series, viewers can submit their own videos, photos and written stories to adriana@activevoice.net. For videos submissions, viewers can upload their story to a personal YouTube or Vimeo account, name the file “Welcoming Stories – [Your First Name] in [Location],” and email the URL to adriana@activevoice.net. Approved videos will be embedded and shared on the Welcoming Stories blog and social media.

“Welcoming Stories is a way to spark public interest and engage the community in something that is traditionally taken for granted,” said Irina Lee, founder of First Person American, “I want people to walk in the storytellers’ shoes, and experience a small epiphany about how one individual can make a huge difference in another’s life. These pilot episodes are especially important in a city like New York, where so much of its energy is fueled by cultural diversity and immigrant communities,” she said.

These stories bring together small acts of kindness, big-hearted moments, and simple, life-changing connections through five unique story-tellers:

Nika shares her story of coming to America from Warsaw, Poland in 1989. Nika remembers how she felt in an American classroom before she spoke English and how her ESL teacher who helped her in the first months had a lasting influence on her life to this day.

Welcoming Stories: “Leila” from Active Voice on Vimeo.

Leila talks about leaving Kenya as a teenager. At 17 Leila didn’t know exactly what she wanted, but she knew it wasn’t an arranged marriage in her native Kenya. Now a successful business owner, Leila remembers her ex-husband’s mother, who gave her the tools to build and realize her own American dream.

David learned everything about the US from watching “The Jetsons” during his childhood in Iran. When his uncle summoned him to Chicago, he found that some Americans really do live “in the sky.” David shares how his uncle helped him in his early days in America and expresses the gratitude he feels towards his uncle’s generosity.

Welcoming Stories: “Mona” from Active Voice on Vimeo.

Mona is a first-generation Indian-American born and raised in California. She shares her parents’ Welcoming Story of coming to the United States from Calcutta, India, in 1971. Her father’s best friend, Bishash, picked them up from the airport and made himself their new tour guide. Bishash’s enthusiasm and adventurous spirit encouraged Mona’s parents to discover a powerful bond that would help embrace their new American world.

Welcoming Stories: “Ilona” from Active Voice on Vimeo.

Ilona came alone to the United States from St. Petersburg, Russia at age 18. She talks about Yvette, a college friend who took a special interest in her and has since become a lifelong friend and a “sister”. Ilona doesn’t know if she would have survived here for as long without her friend’s good soul.

“While we were developing Shelbyville Multimedia, I started asking friends and colleagues: ‘Who welcomed you?’” said Ellen Schneider, executive director of Active Voice and executive producer of Welcoming Stories, “I got an earful. It made me realize that even simple acts of ‘welcoming’ can be life-changing, both for the newcomer and the ‘welcomer.’ We don’t talk about that very much, but we should. Welcoming Stories is one small way to get the ball rolling,” she added.

For more information and to view or share your own Welcoming Story, please visit http://www.shelbyvillemultimedia.org/get-involved/welcoming-stories/

About Welcoming Stories
Welcoming Stories is produced by First Person American, and executive produced by Active Voice. Welcoming Stories is a series of episodes that tell the stories of immigrants whose lives were transformed by a simple act of welcoming. We hope to bring together these small acts of kindness, big-hearted moments and simple but life-changing connections and offer them back to you. Irina Lee directed and produced the Welcoming Stories pilot episodes. For more information, please visit http://www.firstpersonamerican.org/stories_welcoming.html or http://www.shelbyvillemultimedia.org/get-involved/welcoming-stories/

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 “Welcome to Shelbyville”
“Welcome to Shelbyville” is a new documentary about how residents in a small Tennessee town have worked to understand, challenge, and accept new immigrants in their community. Set against the backdrop of a shaky economy during the 2008 Presidential election, “Welcome to Shelbyville” takes an intimate look at a southern town as its residents – comprised of Whites, African-Americans, Latinos and Somalis – grapple with their beliefs, their histories and their evolving ways of life. For more information, please visit http://www.pbs.org/independentlens/welcome-to-shelbyville/

About Shelbyville Multimedia
Shelbyville Multimedia introduces you to the cast of “Welcome to Shelbyville”, a handful of straight-talking people in rural Tennessee who are taking immigration into their own hands – by welcoming newcomers. Developed by Active Voice, Shelbyville Multimedia is a platform to promote community-building and harmony between native-born Americans, immigrants and refugees nationwide. www.ShelbyvilleMultimedia.org and http://www.facebook.com/ShelbyvilleMultimedia

About Active Voice
Active Voice uses film, television and multimedia to spark social change from grassroots to grass tops. For more information, please visit www.activevoice.net and follow on Twitter @active_voice.

Media Contacts:
Welcoming Stories: Adriana Dakin, 707.272.0066, adriana@activevoice.net
First Person American: Irina Lee, 347.443.8745, irina@firstpersonamerican.org
Active Voice: Ellen Schneider, 415.487.2000, ellen@activevoice.net

Want to share your story? Get in touch with us in the comments, on Facebook or on Twitter @FPAmerican!