ERIC Number: EJ1170631
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2018
Pages: 8
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1521-0960
EISSN: N/A
Textured Dialogues: A Community Project about Immigrants' Multimodal Perspectives on the Meaning of Education
Zoch, Melody; Alarcón, Jeannette; Bettez, Silvia; Hardin, Belinda
Multicultural Perspectives, v20 n1 p39-46 2018
With greater diversification of American society comes a need to forge intercultural connections that will promote and support effective education services for immigrant families. The intercultural approach taken in this community project goes beyond a paradigm of coexistence. Rather, the term "intercultural" implies an integrated society of diverse members who participate in skilled dialogues that promote shared goals and understandings (Barrera, Corso, & Macpherson, 2003; Kimmel & Volet, 2012) and build on the "funds of knowledge" (Gonzalez, Moll, & Amanti, 2005) of all involved. Exploring intersections of this dynamic was central to understanding immigrant perspectives on the meaning of education. The result was the creation and display of a tapestry and book created by immigrant community members. This article provides a brief description of how this community project came about and, then, describes community members' (hereafter referred to as "artists") tapestry squares and narratives. The perspectives gleaned from this project can be used to inform educators, students, and others about the beliefs, practices, experiences, and aspirations of immigrant families around the meaning of education. The purpose of this article is twofold: first, to demonstrate how an arts-based project can encourage dialogue on an educational topic, and second, to illuminate the immigrant artists' beliefs, practices, experiences, and aspirations related to education.
Descriptors: Immigrants, Educational Attitudes, Cultural Background, Intercultural Communication, Books, Art Products, Community Programs, Personal Narratives, Beliefs, Dialogs (Language), Academic Aspiration, Artists, Educational Experience, Cultural Awareness
Routledge. Available from: Taylor & Francis, Ltd. 530 Walnut Street Suite 850, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Tel: 800-354-1420; Tel: 215-625-8900; Fax: 215-207-0050; Web site: http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A