Belonging Together: Revealing Hidden Stories of Asian Immigrants and Building a Support Community

• In Event: Garnering Community Resources for Constructing a Multiethnic Society

Abstract

We, three Asian faculty members who oversee pre-service teacher education in three different American universities, co-developed art workshops for the institutions. In the workshops, students had opportunities to be exposed to multiplicity and fluidity of identity while revisiting race, ethnicity, language, cultural background, and place. We also encouraged the students to analyze ongoing Asian hate crimes by sharing our struggles, which came from limited understanding, stereotypes, and cultural biases toward Asians/Asian immigrants. Through sharing personal stories, making arts together, and reflecting on the workshops, the preservice teachers developed understandings of marginalized groups while investigating their own identity, culture, and sense of belonging and creating a safe space for their own K-12 students to support positive learning environment and social change.

Authors

• Ahran Koo, California State University - Fresno
  Presenting Author

• Kyungeun Lim, Kennesaw State University
  Presenting Author

• Borim Song, East Carolina University
  Presenting Author