Week 9- Michael J Harrington

Rethinking Immigration/Remaking Identities


I think that there are many issues with the United State's  view on immigration.  I honestly think that an open borders policy would greatly help not only the economy, but our thoughts on other races.  But one problem that many people make is the mistake of trying to forcibly stop people from thinking negatively of other races.  People will think what they want, it's very unlikely that by simply telling a racist that they are wrong and that they ought to change their thinking that they will.  If a person rethinks their opinion on immigration or other races it must be of their own accord, and it must be their own thoughts.  

I think that most immigrants probably have a very level look at races, not really having any racist viewpoints (except maybe a reverse racial view, like whites are inferior).  Me and my mentee never really broached the concept of immigration legislation or his view of legislation, but I can only assume that he wants a broader immigration and more open borders.  

Hamilton Week Eight: Immigrant Health

Life is fast-paced and full of turns

Leading a healthy lifestyle is something that all of us think about. Eating right, exercising, and getting enough sleep are all things that we pay close attention to. Many times immigrant families have more trouble achieving these goals than most of us do. In Psychology and Culture, Vaughn elaborates: “Immigration itself can cause illness and disease due to disrupted family and social networks and financial barriers and discrimination that prevent the establishment of a healthy lifestyle… Immigrants frequently work in low-paying jobs, face poverty, lack health insurance, have limited access to health care and social services, and have communication difficulties due to language differences.” Life can be fast-paced and full of turns; these factors amplify the day-to-day struggles that we all live with, often making the maintenance of a healthy lifestyle that much harder. The Girls Action Team I worked with after school on Mondays was focused on health. We were trying to fill the gaps in the girls’ understanding of nutrition and exercise, and after talking to some of the girls in our group I was amazed at the lack of knowledge some of them had regarding the topics. It disappointed me a lot; the future health situation of immigrant families will not improve until the children learn about healthy habits and their healthcare options here. Then they will be able to improve the wellbeing of their children and of future generations.

Re-Thinking Immigration

Before taking this class, I think that I was pretty ignorant as to what immigrants to this country really experienced.  Sure I knew that they had a lot to deal with, but I didn't realize how much it could truly effect the kids in the families. That is why AMIS is such a great place. It is a place where the children can be themselves, and live out their own cultures that they are most familiar with. This is a place where they can learn lessons in their own language and feel comfortable doing so. It is important that the children stay true to their own cultures while also learning about other people's cultures as well. Igoa suggested a great idea that can keep immigrant children connected with their own cultures while also learning about other people's cultures. The idea is to do a presentation on each child's own country. This way, the child gets the satisfaction of being able to present information about their own culture, and the other students get to learn and better understand the background and cultures of their class mates.

Before I took this class, I did not really understand the struggles that immigrants may go through, especially immigrant children. I know now that many immigrant children are just like any other child and they enjoy doing the same things that all kids enjoy. Our country is built on immigrants traveling to this country to build success and try to create a better life. In order to fully understand the people in out country, I believe that everyone should re-think immigration so that people can understand the cultures that make up this country.

A picture I took in Chicago- a city built on Immigration

Effects of Culture on Health- Theresa Lingardo

A bingo game my friend and I made for an afterschool program activity

Different cultures address different common issues in different ways. One of the things that varies the most is when it comes to health practices. A lot of different cultures have a lot of different ways of practicing medicine. Some groups are more spiritual about their health while others believe that medication is the best course of action. However, there is one thing that many cultures have in common, the need to help encourage mental health, especially for immigrant children. Being an immigrant child is not easy. There are a lot of stresses that can take a tole on such young bodies. A lot of the children have so much going on in their lives, and so much to deal with they just don't have a good outlet to just be a kid. I think that this is where a teacher comes into play. I believe that the teachers of immigrant children have a responsibility to help aid in the upkeep of the mental health of the children that they teach. This can be done by instituting a few simple activities in their lesson plans that are just plain fun, and let the kids relax and unwind a little bit. For example, the teacher can come up with fun games. The teacher could have the kids play a Bingo game with fun prizes, or a Jeopardy game with fun categories. Any of these options could be useful in creating a fun and interactive classroom that is a safe and relaxing place for immigrant children. Igoa also pointed out a good idea in Ch. 5. One teacher mentioned that she has her students keep a personal journal where they are required to write, but they can write about what ever they want (Igoa, 169.). I think this is a very healthy outlet for children. Writing things down and talk about it is a great was to keep a healthy mind, and in some ways, clear your head. Children who keep a journal are more likely to let their emotions out, rather than keep the stresses of their days bottled up.



My dance team



It is also important for immigrant children to keep physically healthy. A lot of cultures have different sports and physical activities that children can get into so that they keep moving and keep healthy. Getting kids interested in these activities is very important. A lot of times the parents of immigrant are very busy and have a hard time fitting these types of activities into their schedules. In these cases, it would be the best if schools could provide these types of activities for the children so that they can join and participate. Doing a fun activity is the best way to keep a young child physically fit, and it is also a fun way for them to meet friends and learn lessons like responsibility, teamwork, and hard work.

Intercultural Interactions- Theresa Lingardo

Intercultural Interactions are a very important part of growing up and living in the United States. There are so many people who come from so many different backgrounds and cultures, it is important for people to be open and aware of these cultures and the differences that may come about. I think that schools like AMIS are a great tool in helping people become more aware of just how many people there are in our own cities who come from different cultures, and it is also a place where people can come to learn more about those specific cultures. The kids who attend AMIS have such a great opportunity to expand themselves as well. Many of the kids at AMIS have similar cultures but some do not. This gives the kids a comfortable place to learn about each others backgrounds and grow in their own intercultural knowledge.
AMIS is also a great place for the kids to be able to learn about how to handle different situations concerning culture that they may happen upon. A lot of times immigrant children can feel overwhelmed by the differences they experience between themselves and other kids their age. In her book, Cristina Igoa gives helpful guidelines on good topics to talk about with immigrant children. For example, Igoa suggests that adults talk to immigrant children about what discrimination is, and how they can work to prevent it from happening. She also says that it is a good idea to teach the children to be inclusive. I think that a lot of the ideas presented in this chapter are topis that AMIS does a good job of addressing. The school continually works to make life easier for the immigrant children so they can focus on their education, which is so great.




Liberty, Kentucky



For me, a time where I had a very big intercultural interaction was on my service trips to Liberty, Kentucky. I have been on about 9 trips to Liberty, and each time I meet new people who live a completely different way of life than I do. First, there is a large Mennonite community in Liberty, and they lead a very strict lifestyle. They have to electricity in their homes and travel on horse and buggy's or by bike. They believe in a strong sense of community, and look to each other for support. The first time I met a group of Mennonites, I was extremely nervous. I wasn't sure if they would like me, or if they would judge me because I was from the city and lived with things on a daily basis that they did not. In a sense, I was judging them as well. But i was very wrong. The people that i met were so great! We all got along so well. We joked and talked about our lifestyles and what is was like to grow up where we did. It was a very eye opening experience for me. I leaned a lot that day about becoming more understanding of other cultures and realizing that underneath it all we are not so different.



In a horse and Buggy carriage



Week 8- Michael J Harrington

Effects of health over Culture

Health varies widely between races, one example of which is African Americans being at risk for sickle cell disease while Caucasians are not.  As a human being I've had my fair share share of sickness and such, mostly colds, or the flu, or the odd episode of chicken pox.  But I've always had access to health care.  If I needed to see a doctor then I saw a doctor, if I needed medicine I got it, if I had a cavity, then I got it filled.  There were hardly ever time when I went without what I needed, medically speaking.  All my family normally had the things that they needed.

This is a Sick Person

But some immigrants don't have the right medical treatment to survive or adequately live.  This is a severe problem, but one that is highly misdiagnosed in my opinion.  I believe that this problem is not because they are immigrants, but instead because many of the immigrants are poor.  This is a problem about poverty, not concerning strictly immigrants.  We have an issue in America with health care, and there is a large debate going on as we speak with whether or not our country should implement universal health care or try something else, but  this debate is too large and cumbersome to discuss here.  Instead I'd like to point out that there is an issue, and immigrants are caught up in the midst of it.  I don't think that the system of healthcare that is now being put into place is going to be effective or the answer that the politicians pushing it are looking for, but instead will put more strain on the system.  Neither of my immigrants commented on healthcare or not being able to see a doctor, so I do not know their perspective.

This Represents Adequate Medical Care

Week 7- Michael J Harrington

Culture and Relationships

Peers, family, and social life are all defining characteristics of any child's life, and these things can affect their future indefinitely.   In my life I've had many peers, and obviously a family, and these things impacted my present state immensely.  One very important thing that happened to me that had to do with my peers was when I was 13, waiting for the school bus, my friends convinced me to stick my tongue to the public bench.  Well I obviously got stuck, and had to have my family come get me.  They were understandably upset, and chided me for my childish behavior.  I learned that even though someone is your friend doesn't mean that you should accept a dare, and this knowledge has been very very good for me throughout my life, preventing me from going to such bad places as jail or a cemetery.  I think that without learning this lesson I'd be in a very different place than I am now.

My Sisters and Myself

My mentees also have been influenced very much by their peers.  I don't know them well enough to really know much about how, but I can only imagine that they have been influenced quite a bit by their family and peers, altering their personality and person.  Especially since they are immigrants and have been brought here from another place, this meaning that they likely have had may different peers influencing them in various ways throughout their lives.  My mentees had been many places before they arrived in Cincinnati, one of them detailing his trip through California and Mexico for me, revealed his multitude of peers.  I'm sure that this has had a deep impact on him, making him a very different person than  he would have been otherwise.  his family probably had a bigger impact on him since they have been there, relatively constantly the entire time they traveled.

San Fransisco

Intercultural Interactions-Robert Allen

Intercultural interactions are often awkward and leave both sides frustrated. However, they shouldn't and don't have to be like this. When interacting with people of another culture or while in another culture the biggest thing to remember is to have an open mind. This is the only way to truly experience another culture or have a meaningful interaction with someone from another culture. If there is a mutual respect for the differences and a willingness to try new things from both sides a lot can be accomplished. I experienced this first-hand while in Haiti. There was no way any of us could have blended into the culture physically because of our skin color but we tried our best to fit in with the culture and participate as best as we could. We didn't have a fancy car or bus to drive us around, we rode in a "tap tap" like everyone else, we ate the food prepared by women in the village instead of going to the supermarket to buy food that only UN workers or Americans could afford. Those of us who could tried to speak the language as much as possible. With our broken French and their broken English, we were able to communicate pretty effectively and accomplished a lot in one short week.

Our typical lunch and dinner while in Haiti. Beans and  rice. Sometimes there would be potatoes and carrots on top as well as a goat meat or a chicken leg.

I do not consider myself culturally competent. I don't think there is such a thing. Culture isn't something someone can be an expert in. There are so many different aspects of culture and thousands of cultures to study that one person could never learn everything. I do think that I have taken advantage of more opportunities to enhance my knowledge of culture than the average person but I do not ever want to reach the point where I stop learning and experiencing new things. At that point ignorance takes over. Just like with everything else learning about culture is a lifelong process.

Summary -- Emma Shreve

In Summary...

I’ll admit, when Alex and JuanJuan started putting up all those posters in the classroom, I was a little apprehensive. I wasn’t entirely sure of the activity and it seemed a little repetitive. As we were filling in the papers though, I realized I was at a loss for some of them. My other classmates’ answers gave me inspiration, however. It was easy to play off of their ideas and form some of my own. The major realization that I came to during that activity was that immigration and immigrant children are complex, to put it simply. I’ll never forget the first time I sat down to talk with Dayana. I’ve never been at such a loss as to what to do. I literally could not understand her. It wasn’t even that she was speaking a language I didn’t understand, I wasn’t sure if she was speaking English or Spanish. Those first few meetings were a little rough, but soon it got easier and by the end, I was usually pretty sure of what she was saying. Our time at AMIS was really rewarding, both with our mentoring and the small group. The first day we walked with the Flying Piglet kids, they just ran, but mostly sat, around the gym for fifteen minutes. By the end, we had them doing laps and getting checked off for those laps around the playground. They had structure and a purpose by the end. As much of a hassle as it was to drive twenty minutes both ways to be there for fifteen, walking and playing with the kids made it worth it. I learned so much about what it means to be an immigrant child. I experienced firsthand the difficulties that they face every day. I can’t imagine how much harder it would be if they weren’t at a school like AMIS where they have bilingual teachers and other classmates going through a similar experience. The most important thing I learned from my time at AMIS is to always have an open mind and be flexible. You never know what experiences a person has had or what they are going through. You can’t assume anything about anyone. If you go into any situation with an open mind and just observe for a while, sans judgement, it’ll turn out better for everyone in the end…

Lenny, one of our accomplished walkers, at the Flying Piglet

Rethinking Immigration -- Emma Shreve

Rethinking Immigration

In recent years immigration has become a hot topic. Americans are less concerned with the (depressing) state of our education system or the trillion dollar deficit and more concerned with the people living illegally in this country. I understand some peoples’ concern with illegal immigration, I do. Some arguments lack merit, however. The idea that immigrants are stealing jobs is somewhat ironic, considering that a large number of immigrants work jobs that Americans refuse to. It seems that at all the restaurants I’ve worked at, the Hispanic immigrants worked in the kitchen, prepping food or doing dishes. The dishwasher in particular was almost always a man who had recently moved to the United States. Most Americans, at least the ones I know, would find a dishwashing job to be below them. It seems that immigrants are simply doing the jobs that Americans think we are too good for. This idea is playing off of a stereotype of both Americans and immigrants. Obviously I don’t know that every dishwashing position in this country is filled by an immigrant, or that Americans think that this kind of job is below them, that but is the overarching opinion I perceive. This mindset is something we need to break out of. When we think of immigration, I think our minds often jump straight to illegal immigration and then to Mexican and other Hispanic groups living in the southern regions of the US. The authors of Children of Immigration, however, inform us that half of our nation’s illegal immigrants are “visa overstayers – people who typically fly into international airports with proper documentation and simply overstay their permits. This is a highly heterogeneous group of people that includes professionals, skilled and unskilled workers, tourists, and students from all parts of the world” (Suárez-Orozco 32). Even this is a new way of thinking of illegal immigration. No one snuck into the country, jumped a border, or swam across a river. They legitimately came in the country and overstayed their welcome. Where’s all the anger and resentment towards these groups of people? Is it not essentially the same thing? I think everyone could benefit from taking a step back and thinking of immigrants not as a large group, but as individuals. As mothers and fathers trying to make a better life for their families, and doing the best they can. Everyone can relate a little more to someone trying to make their way in the world…

Another host with me and Hugo, my favorite kitchen guy

Cultural Practices

The education system in the United States can often be a scary experience for immigrant children. Few schools have the resources to meet the needs of students who don't speak English as their first language. AMIS is a very unique school in the fact that it caters to immigrant children and the children of immigrants. Because of their situation, there is often a lot of distrust and shyness with immigrant children. They are sometimes ashamed of the fact they can't communicate and therefore just don't talk. This can in turn be interpreted or misdiagnosed as a learning disability making the educational experience even worse for immigrant students. Because of the lack of verbal communication, interpreting body language is the best way to get to know these students. By observing how they act around their peers, around other teachers and when they are by themselves, you can learn a lot about the child. In working with Mouhamahou, I have seen many examples of this. He is fairly quiet when we are together but whenever school work is involved he basically shuts down. He speaks English really well but can't put on paper what he is thinking. He can't read English very well either. We had always just drawn and hungout but one week he had homework. I could tell he really didn't want to work on it and it was really hard to motivate him and get through the assignment.

The children I worked with while in Haiti would have a very difficult time transitioning to the American school system. The days are longer and have a lot more structure to them. Unfortunately this is the case with a  lot of immigrant children. 

Week 10: Michelle Prinzo

I am headed to Nashville in one week to begin my teaching career!

This is a photo I took from a page in a Dr. Seuss book. This picture is a pretty accurate depiction of the chaos and stress that I am feeling as I head to Nashville, which is conveniently located somewhere in between Wabash and Tokyo ;)

What have I learned?


One of the things that I like about service learning (and really all service opportunities) is the opportunity to learn from people outside of the "ivory tower". Learning comes from doing, seeing, and interacting. I enjoyed working with the children at AMIS. Beyond learning about the children, I learned a lot about the Cincinnati Public School system. AMIS is the fourth CPS school that I have been involved with. I have seen the 'good, the bad, and the ugly' at all of these schools. All have improvements that need to be made---some more than others, but at every single one of these schools one thing was the same---there were children who needed and wanted to be supported, treated with respect, grow and learn. How do you do that? One of the things I have learned through our coursework and through working with CPS student is to learn about them.

In my last class today our professor said, "A teacher that I would trust to work with students--a teacher that I would hire--is one who can show and demonstrate a respect for children. It is not enough to say you love children. You have to respect them." I believe this directly relates to what we have learned this quarter. We need to respect immigrant children. We need to believe that they can learn and be as successful as any other child in this country. We need to respect the families of the children--even if their values and beliefs significantly contrast with our own. We need to respect the culture of the children we work with and most importantly we need to SHOW the children we respect them by listening, trying new things, and supporting them in any way we can. As a new teacher I know that there will be times when I will be under a lot of pressure to perform, to show significant progress in my students. I cannot let this pressure compromise what I believe to be a fundamental part of learning--an open classroom environment. For this reason I really identified with the Igoa text. It was easy to see how much work she put into creating a classroom environment. She let the children learn and open up at their own pace. She knew that children, especially those making the transition to a new country, needed to work at their own pace. This is a lesson that I will apply to my first year (and hopefully throughout my career).

Ironically, the very first page of the Igoa book (in the praise section), sums up alot of my learning in this course--the idea that immigrant children are individuals from complex backgrounds. To find out about them is to learn about many aspects of their lives--as we said in class, "What ISN'T important to know about working with immigrant children?" Jim Cummins presents my thoughts on this quite eloquently:

" ...at some level, all teachers of immigrant/culturally diverse students must become researchers if they are to teach effectively since no theory can supply the answers to the range of issues teachers are faced with in our increasingly diverse schools."

Week 10; Jonathan H.

Week 10 – Jonathan H. – Summing Up

The experience at AMIS has been different from my other volunteer opportunities working with immigrants because of its focus on children. Children represent something to us—perhaps innocence, curiosity, helplessness, growth, blissfulness, and even mischievousness. Children are both our present and our future. What immigrant children say, do, and think capture the essence of the immigrant experience with its many ups and downs. Perhaps this is why it was so difficult for the entire class to answer the reflection question, “What is not important to know about immigrant children?” Everything matters.

Immigrant children are in a state of flux

Jadier, the Puerto Rican child I was tutoring, disappeared over a month ago with his sister. No one at the school seems to know what happened to him; his friends and teachers have no clue. I never learned his last name—or very much else about him, either. He was quiet, and although he smiled often, he was too shy (and perhaps to shell-shocked by his immigration experiences) to reveal much about himself. I can’t claim to have learned new anything about his culture from him, especially considering the amount of previous work I’d done on Puerto Rico already. He spoke too softly for me to find out if he had a typical Puerto Rican accent, turning “R’s” into “L’s” and so forth. He didn’t know what city he was born in. Sometimes, I wondered whether he might have just been told by his parents to say he was from Puerto Rico to avoid any issue about his legal status.  When he and his family left without notice—something that sometimes happens with immigrant families—I missed Jadier immensely, and felt awkward interacting with my peers in class. I felt less useful than before and wasn’t sure how I should occupy my class time. That “anchored” feeling evaporated. Considering how odd it felt to not be “anchored” (sure of who I was, where I was, and what I was doing) for just that forty-five minutes each week, I can’t imagine what it would feel like to have that feeling every day in a new country.

This is the feeling that I will “take with me” as I continue to work toward my goal of becoming an immigration lawyer: a sense of uncertainty, of living on the edge, of not always knowing exactly who you are, how you fit into your surroundings, and what you are doing. There is certainly the idea out there that a society as a whole should know where it is headed—the U.S. had its “Manifest Destiny,” the British and the French had their empires, Latin America has the Bolivarian Revolution and the “Order and Progress” of positivism. But what about the immigrants? For them, there may not be a well-defined vision with a strong base to stand on. The “American Dream” path (which includes assimilation, see “Berry’s Box” in Vaughn) for immigrants is becoming less common under the “new model.” This “new model” includes a strongly bifurcated labor market that makes it hard for immigrants to “move up” in their new society. Where are they headed? What are they doing? How do they fit in? These questions aren’t easily resolved for someone like Jadier, who—for the brief month that I knew him—was in a state of flux.

Week 10-Summary Maureen Rooney

I have learned many things from taking and actively participating in this spring class. One of the most important things I have learned from the readings is the concept of having cultural competence. It is said that “to be successful in intercultural interactions, one must have (1) awareness of ones own assumptions, values and biases; (2) an understanding of the world view of culturally different people; and (3) appropriate strategies and techniques to use during the interaction (Vaughn, 103). The readings and class have taught me that there is no ending point to education. Myself, and everyone else, are always presented with opportunities to learn and grow. I believe that we need to take the opportunities and “run with them,” not avoid them.

An opportunity that is presented to many Americans is a chance to learn about another country from people who once lived in that country. Immigrants are frequent in today’s society due to large-scale immigrations. Instead of avoiding the immigrants, I have learned that we can welcome and learn from them. They can educate us more than just adding a different spice to an ethnic dish but by giving us knowledge from their past way of living. They are full of information which can make us more aware about societies other than our own.

Most immigrants have most likely have undergone a quite traumatic experience. I have learned that many immigrants are in need of a friend or a social connection as they adapt to their new surroundings. It is a difficult experience and having the support of a friend can make the transition easier.  

Also, I have learned that one’s race or country does not define who the person. The person is an individual, separate from their country. Their homeland may contribute to their identity but it is not their only identity. Immigrants are like every other American; they follow different religions, are attracted to different television shows and can have extremely different personalities.

I am extremely grateful that I was able to enroll in this spring class because I feel more open and aware of the struggles immigrants have to undergo. Now, I feel that I am empowered to make a difference. I plan to do so by staying involved in the AMIS mentoring program or finding another immigrant program to participate in throughout the summer. I have learned that my friend, Viviana, is just like me, a girl looking for support and success in her life ever-changing life.

Week 9- Rethinking Identity; Maureen Rooney

I think that the society I live in, including myself, can make a difference in encompassing the cultural differences that surround us. Even though my community is small, we can make a local difference which could then build into making a larger impact in another society. Like professor Vaughn mentioned in class, many immigrants and their parents forget the customs that they once practiced. My society can be more inclusive by offering a variety of classes such as ethnic cooking, salsa dancing and maybe a sport that is not frequently played in America to allow the immigrants feel more comfortable in America. This may seem like the “epcot approach” but it would allow new citizens to keep their traditions from their old country and allow people in my community to learn their traditions with them, making everyone feel more open and comfortable.

My community also can rethink identity by getting to know the individual before stereotyping them. I believe the majority, not just Americans, are guilty of this. If we allow ourselves to develop our own opinion then we will be able to learn more about the individual and their religion, their real cultural identity, making the society feel like a more accepting culture to live in.     

Viviana has a bright future in head of her. Even though she is an immigrant, she will eventually, which much hope, become a legal citizen of the United States. She can still speak Spanish quite well but she is also developing her English speaking skills.

          However, even though Viviana is first looked as an immigrant to others, she is much more than just an immigrant. She is a sister, daughter and friend to many. She has a bright personality and loves to color; Viviana loves the color purple. She struggles in language arts but loves math.

I think American citizens need to meet people who are new to the country by getting to know their personality and background; Americans’ first thought should not be “Oh, she is an immigrant.” American needs to be more excepting of newcomers because they are creating America’s culture. They are bringing new traditions and introducing ways of living to many Americans; they are an asset to the American culture. In doing so, immigrants will be able to assimilate easier into American society. It is said that “social support offers [immigrants] a mechanism to cope with stressful life events,” such as a move to a new country (Vaughn, p. 71). As a result, immigrants will feel more stable and accepted in their new home, allowing them to introduce and educate Americans about their customs.

Week 9; Jonathan Hilton

Week 9: Rethinking Immigration – Jonathan Hilton

From "Field Day" at AMIS

Looking back over the past eight or nine weeks, it seems strange that we never as a class delved deep into “immigration reform” in its politicized sense. This class was, I think, more about learning about immigrants than about immigration. That is what has set it apart from the other classes relating to immigration I have taken—the strong focus on the immigrant experience rather than immigration itself as a socioeconomic phenomenon. The fact that the course dealt with immigrant children had a lot to do with this: the “immigrant experience” is fascinatingly real to them as youngsters caught up in the middle of something gigantic. The stories in the book by Igoa really brought this point home to me. Issues faced by immigrants that I had studied in previous courses became much more than observable anthropological phenomena—they became “real” in a way that I had never seen them before.

Immigrant children exemplify the idea of the
"immigrant experience" because it is so real to them

How can we “rethink” immigration? Much of the debate that goes on in politics has to do with topics such as “amnesty” for undocumented workers, control of the border with Mexico, halting human smuggling, deciding from which countries we will accept asylum seekers and so forth. But I think that rather than debating these issues endlessly, it would be more useful to try to envision a more humane immigration experience: one in which families didn’t have to live in fear of having mothers and fathers arrested at Wal-Mart and deported the next day; victims of violent crimes weren’t forced to testify in court to avoid deportation; workers weren’t exploited by bosses who confiscate their passports; undocumented workers could pay bail for incarcerated family members without fearing for their own safety; and lawyers didn’t exploit them by telling them that they have to hire a legal expert to go pay a traffic ticket. There are some things that are basic and obvious and have less to do with complex models of immigration flows than with goodwill and common sense. We should cultivate an environment that discourages the exploitation of immigrants. This is a principle that doesn’t have to do so much with “controlling” or regulating immigration as it does with changing something in our own culture: not allowing our culture to be infused with fear. Pluralism (Vaughn, 94) means respecting others. So long as there is rampant exploitation of some groups, we will never, as a society, reap the full benefits of the multiculturalism we enjoy here in the United States.

Week 10: Learnings & Summary/ Thelma Hodge

I learned that no matter, where a kid comes from, at the end of the day, he or she is still a kid! Leonel is the same age as my eldest daughter and the same age, I but their interest were different. Leonel was very interested in sports and my daughter likes movies and parties! Even though their interest were different, the homework, I helped them both with was exactly the same…lol!!! I learned that differences can be reconciled and friendships can be formed very easily, one trust is established. I loved how our relationship began to evolve, initially he was very quiet but by the end he was talking to me nonstop!

            I loved reading about the classroom experiences Dr. Igoa, described in her book. Honestly, I cried several times, while reading about Dennis (Qiu Lang), Cindy, and Rosario. Their bad experiences with school and teachers were so heartbreaking to read. I thought, many times, while reading, “Thank god they are able to tell how they were feeling, so teachers can help others!” I loved the pictures and the actual images of the filmstrips, in the text. I found the filmstrips to be little masterpieces, which were full of self disclosure and creativity!

            I want to remember how much fun I had while participating in the GAT, with Jamie and Melissa! I also want to remember all of the wonderful conversations and laughs, in which, Jonathon and I shared. I also want to remember, how much I looked forward to seeing Leonel every week and how sad I felt on the last day, when we parted ways.

            As I continue in the field of social work, I plan on always remembering the hardships facing immigrant children and families. In my professional work, I plan on becoming a strong advocate for immigrant children and families. I hate to see others struggle, when America has so many resources. I will never forget the time I have spent at AMIS and I plan on coming back to Leonel next fall and participating in the GAT (as a leader or assistant).

Thank you Dr. Vaughn for allowing me to have such a wonderful and long-lasting educational experience!!!

Week 9: Rethinking Immigration & Remaking Identities/Thema Hodge

The New York Times reported this week, that there is an estimated 11 million illegal immigrants in the United States. Okay, with that being said, so how should America respond to that rapidly growing population and their needs? America has decided to respond to the immigration situation, with legislation. Arizona adopted a tough law on illegal immigration in 2010 and now many other states, such as, Georgia, Oklahoma and South Carolina, have also done the same recently. Arizona was not the first, to seek legislative measures, to curb immigration, California, actually was the nation’s trailblazer. Orozco & Orozco (2001) assert, “Proposition 187 was known as the SAVE OUR STATE initative, in which Californians claimed they had suffered economic hardship by the presence of illegal immigrants” (p. 41). It is very easy for Americans to seek “scape goats”, when economic hardships arise. Indeed, our current economic troubles and those during the early 90’s pushed many to believe that the problem does not lay in the big business sector or the federal government but with immigrants, who come to America looking for work.

My closest experience with immigration has come through my work. I currently work in the nursing field, and so, I have worked with doctors, nurses, lab technicians, etc..from all over the world and the U.S.. There are times, some miscommunication occurs, but at the end of the day, we figure out what the other person is saying (so we can all give the patients the best care). It is natural to not understand what some one is saying if they have a strong accent but usually, I just listen more closely and catch what the doctor is conveying to me.

My vision of the United States is built upon a hope that maybe all illegal immigrants can “grandfathered in” meaning allowed to stay without any repercussions and penalties. In addition to allowing the families to stay, the government should provide extensive English reading and writing classes, so individuals and families can become legal citizens. The U.S. has to deal with this problem through strong negotiation so law makers on both can fairly write new laws that help rather than harm immigrant families and children.

The truth of the matter is “immigrant children will pick up powerful cues from their social environment” which will greatly impact them in regards to their ability to form a new cultural identity (Orozoco & Orozoco, p 101). For immigrant children, coming to America meant leaving everything that you know behind and starting over…all new. We expect these children to embrace being American and learn our language quickly but if I was a child I probably would have resented the fact that everyone wants me to change. I would feel like, I’m not good or my culture isn’t good. I think we should rethink cultural identity so it can reflect the multi dimensions encompassed in us all. No one should be forced to choose one culture over another, both should be accepted and preserved.

Week 8:Health, Culture and Immigration & Mental Health Issues/Thelma Hodge

          

  Recognizing that everyone has a different view on heath is critical, when working with immigrant children and families. Vaughn strongly asserts, “Different cultural have diverse belief systems with regards to health and healing in comparison to the Western model of medicine” (p. 136). Clearly, not everyone has been raised to just call the doctor and then pick up a prescription from the pharmacy. Many immigrants may heavily rely upon herbal medicines or may look towards thier religion to heal them. At the end of the day, understanding and respect will go along way when trying to address heath issues with these families.

            Mental health is less stigmatized in America but it wasn’t always that way. It has taken countless medical, social workers, heath care providers, psychologists and psychiatrists have all helped our American culture become more acceptant of those suffering from a mental illness. Many other countries around the world have also come to hold similar beliefs (like the U.S.) in regards to mental illness, but at the same time other parts of the world have not. Vaughn highlighted an example, of how West Africans view mental illness. Her research suggest that for the most part, West Africans view, mental illness as being “witched” or punishment for wrong doing” (p. 146). I’m not here to assert what is the right or wrong but I do want to make the point that culture and ones country of origin, are highly influential, in regards to how we view health and mental problems.

            It is because of those differences in culture and country of orgin, we may choose not to seek medical services, even if they are available in a new country. Helping families understand that the services are available is hard enough but convincing them to take advantage of the services, is even more difficult (in some cases).  Last week at the party my mentee’s little brother complained of a tooth ache. I was very concerned about the pain her was describing to me. I was able to contact Maria, and she promised to contact Leone’s parents, and give them info about free dental services in the area. I was able to drop off two Crest childrens dental kits to Leonel and his brother, but I hope and pray that his parents are able to obtian services for his little brother so his toothache doesn't evolve into something worse.

Week 10-Jamie Nickell Learnings/Summary

Jenny and I, she never smiles in a picture but she IS happy to see me!

Through this course, I have learned that there is so much more to working with immigrant children and children of immigration than someone might expect. It takes time, patience, and hard work to want to gain trust and friendship from that person. I have had a lot of experience at AMIS so far and have come to truly learn more about myself in the process. I have learned that I have a strong desire to help children of immigration or immigrant children both and to learn more about them to help them gain a strong education and desire to pursue their goals.
I found Dr. Vaughn's book to be very useful for someone with very little history of immigration in children and factors that play a huge role to help understand them more.



Waiting in line for the pinata!

 I hope to take away from this experience the joy and interest that I have gained over the last couple weeks with working with these children. Since I have enjoyed this experience so much, I am continuing my relationship with Jenny through Cincinnati Youth Collaborative to be her mentor for at least 1 year. I am able to take her on small field trip experiences and even bring her to UC campus and let her get the feel of how real and possible it would be for her to go to college. I hope to stay in touch with her as long as I am able to, I think it is important for her to feel stabilty in life and have a friend who takes interest in her life and what she wants to do, someone she can talk to and depend on. With her being a recent immigrant her, it will hopefully help her family to see that it is possible for her to do anything she sets her mind to do.

Week 9-Jamie Nickell Rethinking Immigration



Ashton and Jenny at our Mentee Party! They are so cute!



My Mother's Day card Jenny made me! :)

Since I have been working at AMIS, I have really changed my perspective of what immigration really is and I have seen first-hand how much it affects the child here at this school. I come from a family of narrow-minded people who shut out any opportunity to listen and gain knowledge and perspective on new things. My family would be the people who would say things like, "Immigrants are taking our jobs!" I grew up listening to things like this and I decided that I was going to change that way of thinking and learn to know what immigration is before judging someone for being an immigrant. Like Dr. Vaughn put it in chapter 5, "Given the growth of culturally plural societies where many cultural groups reside together and share social and political frameworks, achieving greater ease in intercultural interactions is increasingly important." (Vaughn 94) We have to be willing to learn about many types of people and their cultural beliefs and way of living just like we expect them to learn and "practice" ours.

Jenny has truly been inspirational to me because I have learned so much about not only her but myself as well. I have developed a sense of compassion and desire for child of immigration because I have seen how much of a difference you can make in their lives by even just showing up and talking with them. As a future educator, I hope to work more with immigrant children and children of immigration more closely to help make a difference in their lives and teach them to succeed and find that deep goal that they have and are able to achieve.