[sl/intern/teen] Immigration Event on GK island
October 24th was an interesting day on Global Kids island, which is where I hosted my first event for Global Kids. For my event I decided to bring an issue that effects the U.S every day, which is immigration. After planing and working on how my event would run, it was interesting and also relieving to see that a good handful of people made it to participate in the event. Among those people were some of the other Global Kids interns which was also great to see support from them. After everyone settled in, I than gave a brief Introduction to what this event was about and what was going to take place. After that, it was finally time to get started, and get those opinions flowing!
To start off the event I wanted to have something that was sure to spark some ideas and also something that made guaranteed everyone interacted with everyone else participating. To execute this I constructed an activity where each group (consisting of 2 people each) would read a story written by people who have been effected by immigration in someway. After that, it was the group's job to come together and give a brief summary of what they had read and to share it with everyone else participating in the event. After each group presented their summery, they were asked to then give their thoughts on the story. Following the group member's thoughts, everyone was encouraged to give their comments on the story based on what the group had presented to them.
As for the stories given to the groups, their were 3 groups so 3 different stories were handed out. The stories used were the following:
Story 1)
I've been here since 1983; I was 6 months old at that time. My mother brought me here from Tijuana, Baja California. I went 10 years thinking that I was an American. One day my mother broke the story to me and my jaw fell. The person that I thought I was, was nothing but a lie. Now 24 years later, my situation is the same. I am an illegal alien from Mexico. I have 3 sisters all born here. I am married to my wonderful wife of 2 years. I owe her a lot, a woman that strong who puts up with my situation are scarce in this world. I feel so bad keeping her from the things she can do... travel, invest, buy a home, have kids. I never thought this could happen to me, but it did and this is the outcome. We've talked to a few lawyers and they all say the same thing; go to Mexico and wait to see what happens. I don t know how I can do that. My Spanish is terrible, I have no family in Mexico, and I can t bear to leave my wife and family. I've strongly considered taking my life so that I could finally breathe without worry, even if it would be my last. All my friends and family travel when they want to and have great jobs. I on the other hand can't find a decent job. The weird thing is that I know what I want and how to get it. But my situation will not let me accomplish it.
Story 2)
I can still remember the sound of the sprinkler pipes - shoo shoo shoo - it was early morning and I arrived in Idaho from Zacatecas, MX in the back of my uncle's pick up truck at the age of 5. It was 1972 and we had no running water in the red box car we called a home. I remember getting on a yellow bus and seeing a bunch of freckled faces with red hair that looked almost alien. I did not speak a word of English but I was excited to go to school. We stayed in the box car for long time until my father saved enough money for our own place.
My mom had four more children all girls who are now incredible women. We all graduated from high school, four of us from college. We have run state and federal programs and provided assistance to many. Today, that box car could fit inside any one of our homes.
Now, I am an advocate in my community because I am not afraid to speak of the worth of my people. I am an American, the product of the American dream.
Story 3)
I am 41 years old and have been in the U.S. for almost 23 years out of legal status. I came here legally under a student visa and lost my status after my visa expired. I have been married and divorced three times to U.S. citizens and none of them have sponsored me. I have two children, and this is affecting my kids, especially when I can't give them the life they deserve because their mother is here illegally. It looks like I will remain illegally in this country until my son turns 21 to actually sponsor me in five years. This is extremely sad, and a hardship for my minor children and me. I have no family except my children. I am pretty much stuck in this country. It is my home, and I will die here some day. I am a very educated person, and have lots of potential if I was here legally.
Once every group gave their summary, it was time to move on to the last part of the event, the human barometer. To those who aren't familiar with the human barometer activity, it is best described as a visual representation of peoples thoughts or feelings on a certain topic/statement. In my event, I said a few different statements that all revolved around immigration. Also beforehand, I set out three prims in a line, all with three different words, Agree/Disargee/Not sure. I then typed one statement i thought up before hand, and had everyone go to the prim that best described how they felt about that certain statement. Once everyone settled down on the prim they picked, I then asked one or two people from each prim on why they choose that side.
The statements read were:
1. Immigration is not that big of an issue in our country, there are more important things we could be worried about.
2. The United States needs to spend millions of dollars to build a fence along the mexico border, in order to keep illegal immigrants out.
3. Illegal immigrant children should have to face the same difficulties has their parents, although they did not make the choice to come to America illegally.
4. There is nothing wrong with forcing out those people who are illegal, yet are hard working and have lived with their families in the United States for years.
After all the statements were read, we wrapped the event up with an explanation on why the barometer was used and how it is great to use in other learning situations.
After the event was finished, I had a feeling or relief that the event went smoothly, and I was also impressed with the participants, all who added to the event to make it great.
