This year’s theme, “Testimonies of Migration,” explored personal narratives from migrants and offered resources for teachers to engage with migrant stories and students in a culturally responsive way. 

Teachers learned from scholars and experts in panel discussions, networked with each other in breakout groups, and engaged in hands-on activities around the Cornell campus.

Panels and workshops included scholars and experts from the Migrations initiative, who cosponsored the event, and community partners who work with migrant populations in the state.

A morning panel discussion on ethical and culturally responsive engagement preceded a conversation with Mary Jo Dudley of the Cornell Farmworker Program on supporting immigrant families in schools.

"I personally felt this was the best workshop I have attended. The material was so tangible and relatable regardless of population taught." 

Afternoon sessions brought teachers together in small groups to explore migrant narratives using hands-on, project-based learning. A session led by Nausheen Husain, a journalist and assistant professor in the Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University, shared tools for exploring data sets with students to better understand people’s experience of migration.

The final session of the day took place at the Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art. Inspired by a past museum exhibit called "how the light gets in," museum staff displayed artwork on migration ranging from a collaborative handmade dress to  that might influence curriculum in teachers' classrooms. 

Among artworks from Ai Weiwei, Mohamad Hafez, and Meschac Gaba, participants were especially struck by the collaborative fabric piece “DAS KLEID / THE DRESS” by Elisabeth Masé. A group of immigrant women created this piece, embroidering their hopes for the future with red thread on tan cloth, which was then sewn into a dress.

"I am excited to incorporate what I have learned into my lessons. I also feel more at ease teaching about other cultures. I realize I don't have to know everything and can learn with my students about new cultures."

View more photos from the institute on Facebook.

ISSI was sponsored by the Einaudi Center, East Asia Program, Institute for African Development, Institute for European Studies, Latin American and Caribbean Studies, South Asia Program, Southeast Asia Program, Migrations: A Global Grand Challenge, the South Asia Center at Syracuse University, TST-BOCES, and the U.S. Department of Education Title VI Program.