Students and staff packed into the outdoor quad on a sunny Tuesday afternoon to celebrate the beginning of the fall semester. Various activities and informational booths were on display as Los Medanos College clubs and programs hosted Welcome Week.
One featured table represented the Journalism Program and campus newspaper, the Experience. While newsroom representatives shared information with students about a possible journalism major and how newsrooms work, the main goal focused on an upcoming special project.
Under the California Humanities Emerging Journalists Fellowship Program, a handful of student reporters organized a project entitled Define American to highlight the immigration experience of community members.
Alongside the newsroom’s booth representing Define American stood a colorful world map on an easel. Those who stopped by the table were encouraged to showcase the array of countries they or their families were from.
Participants were given push pins and colored string to connect the college to their country of belonging.
“This is such a great way to visually see where everyone comes from,” said Makaila Orellana, a student who strung her roots in El Salvador. “It’s cool to see all the colors come together.”
By the end of the two-hour event, the map had a multitude of strings linking LMC to countries all over the world, including Russia, Spain, Ethiopia, Peru and many more. By sharing the project and encouraging community participation, it helped campus members share a unique aspect of their identity and shed light on the college’s rich diversity.
“I hope to see more of these cultures represented around campus,” said Ricky Montejo, a student who connected Mexico to California. “Hopefully people will feel more at home.”
Editor’s note
Define American is a special project surrounding immigration, told through the voices of diverse perspectives in Contra Costa County. Check out the other related stories.
