Mini-Conference Agenda:
1:00 Greeting
1:15 Jackie Chromey and Katie Richardson- Immigration related curriculum, identity investment, construction of national identity in public education.
2:00 Jeff Napolitano- Comprehensive Immigration Reform
2:45 Hannah Marie Rhein- Bilingual Immigration related photo book, border stories
3:30 Clenghorn Neighborhood Center- Dolores Thibault-Muñoz and Joana Dos Santos, community organizing
4:15 In Solidarity with Immigrants (ISWI)- Jayme- 5 College student group working for immigration reform
4:55 Closing Thoughts

Of Borders and Bridges: Complex Identities in Education is a multimedia artistic and academic exploration of how diversity and belonging are constructed and contested in public education and how this impacts people as individuals and as a nation. The project will consist of an art installation, a discussion about curriculum, film screenings, and two afternoon conferences with workshops and presentations led by local organizations and community members. The aim of the project is to engage in community dialogue around issues of cultural and linguistic diversity in education and ideas of nation and home, while questioning the impact of borders, both physical and emotional, on the lives of people living in our community and the US.

The art installation of the "Of Borders and Bridges" project integrates wall drawings, collages, metal sculptures, and cement blocks with the raw aesthetic of the Dynamite Space to create a thought-provoking environment that questions identity and belonging in the US. Mapping lines invoke place and nest forms draw attention to ideas of safety and home, together creating images that bring up the dangerous dichotomies of strength and fragility, comfort and fear, us and them. This aspect of the project is the 3rd installation created by Katie Richardson addressing immigration related issues; the first was her undergraduate thesis project at Hampshire College entitled "Nos(otros): Art Questioning Border" in 2006, followed by the installation of "Operation Endgame" at the Pushkin Gallery in Greenfield in 2007.

Jackie Chromey and Katie Richardson will display their curriculum unit "Why Does Immigration Matter to Me?: Understanding Citizenship in the US" and will engage visitors in activities from this curriculum. As one session during the two afternoon Bridges Conferences on May 22nd and 29th, from 1-5pm, Katie and Jackie will share their research and the implications for teaching immigration. They will also discuss the effects on student achievement and popular conceptions of national identity, considering best practices for teaching the ever increasing population of culturally and linguistically diverse students in our schools.

Other presenters during these conferences will include Pioneer Valley Project, Cleghorn Neighborhood Center, Manos Unidas, In Solidarity with Immigrants, Jeff Napolitano of AFSC, Hannah Marie Rhein, and UMASS professors Laura Valdiziezo and Nelida Matos. There will be two film screenings held in the space in collaboration with Immigration and Workers Rights Coalition (IWRC) of Western Massachusetts.

The project begins with an art opening on May 21st, 7-9pm. The two film screenings will be held on Monday May 24th and Thursday May 27th at 7pm. The first night will be a screening of a selection of short films including work by La Linea artist collective and a short film produced by the Colorlines magazine. The second night will be a screening of Children in No Man's Land. For open gallery hours and project information visit: http://teachimmigration.wordpress.com/of-borders-and-bridges/.