Abstract:

This presentation will demonstrate the creative possibilities for connecting local and global communities as part of teaching goals by including local and international community issues in course curriculum. Caroline Mackenzie, coordinator of the Empowerment and Migration (E&M) project sponsored by the Charles Leopold Mayer Foundation for the Progress of Humankind, and Dr. Laura Talamante, Assistant Professor of History, California State University of Dominguez Hills will discuss their international collaboration between Marseilles and Los Angeles on the theme of “Citizenship and Migration.” Caroline Mackenzie organized the two-city exhibition that included college student work from CSU Dominguez Hills in Los Angeles and lycée student work from the Lycée Professional Jean-Baptiste Brochier in Marseilles coordinated by the Lycée’s English teacher, Mathieu Do-Duc. Immigrant members of the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles (CHIRLA) also contributed to their work to the two-city exhibit.

Giving migrants an opportunity to voice their opinions has provided the research and pedagogical framework for this project. The Los Angeles and Marseille students conducted oral history interviews with family members. The ICERI presentation will explore how students learned to situate their histories within larger historical processes and the use of the exhibition’s central theme demonstrated the connections linking local, national, and global histories and current debates over citizenship and migration. The development of citizenship practices as individuals and members of multiple communities provided a unique opportunity for students and community members to make connections between contemporary and historical issues for individuals, families, and communities.

To give added exposure to the students’ work, the E&M web site displays the results of participants’ research and visual presentations in both English and French. Caroline Mackenzie will discuss how the technological framework allows for the results of participant work to reach an international audience and promote future collaboration in teaching. Dr. Talamante will demonstrate how students’ contributions have qualitatively expanded her pedagogical approach in teaching History 301: Individual, Family and Community, a course designed for candidates for careers as primary and secondary educators.

By personalizing history, placing individual and family experiences at the city, state, national and global levels, students in both cities experienced the creative possibilities for contributing to institutional and community-based forums for education. Our goals have been for students and community participants to understand how global interactions affect political, social, and cultural values. Our presentation will explore how a larger understanding of the theme of citizenship and migration allows students to see that, although political, social and cultural ideals shape our interactions and access to power, we are an important force for challenging the limitations of these ideals. We hope that our presentation will demonstrate the exciting possibilities for creating invaluable local and international connections and may inspire similar projects for research by professors and future students.