Next up in our Project Spotlight series, we take a look at a project related to our previously-explored project Think Latin America Canada, Think Canada Latin America:
This project is entitled, Think Latin America Niagara, Think Niagara Latin America
Narrowing the focus from all of Canada as a nation, Think Latin America Niagara, Think Niagara Latin America focuses on connections we can make right here in the Niagara Region.
Think Latin America Niagara, Think Niagara Latin America — Seedling for Research, Seedling for Change: Making History Together
(Maria del Carmen Suescun Pozas, Associate Professor, Department of History, Brock University)
Research Objectives:
Expand the history of the Niagara Region to also encompass the history of Latin America, the Caribbean, and Brazil.
Making history together entails:
- Connecting the pasts of Anglo/French and First Nations in Canada to the pasts of non-Canadian born people of Latin American/Caribbean/Brazilian heritage living and working in the Niagara region.
- Exploring their histories for what they have in common.
- Highlighting shared values, goals, and aspirations.
Significance:
This research makes an original contribution to academic history, public history, and people’s history.
The goal is to help forge shared sets of values that support a common sense of purpose to tackle together the pressing local needs in transnational perspective.
Outcomes:
Seeing the region anew by looking at the Niagara Region so that it embraces the past and present of Latin Americans abroad and at home.
Experiential Education in History at Brock:
“Experiential Education is a philosophy that informs many methodologies in which educators purposefully engage with learners in direct experience and focused reflection in order to increase knowledge, develop skills, clarify values, and identify people’s capacity to contribute to their communities.” – Association for Experiential Education
Service-Learning in History at Brock:
Service-Learning brings students into mutually beneficial relationships with the wider community. SL is not simply volunteering; the exchange of ideas and perspectives between students and community exceed volunteering expectations. SL invites students to reflect on how and what they learn are situated within the broader social context.
Students connect course expectations and outcomes with community interests and needs. Together, students and community work collaboratively towards reaching common goals. SL deepens students’ understanding of complex realities. SL reveals how student-research public engagement can be personally fulfilling and contribute to creating a richer, diverse, inclusive society.
HIST 2P09 W 2016:
Senior Researcher and Instructor: Dr. Maria del Carmen Suescun Pozas
Student Research Assistant and Service-Learning Coordinator: John Raimondo
Student Researchers: Laura-Lee Karen Burey, Ryan Laxton, Chris McGivern
Artist in Residence: Julia Rose-Simone, Grade 8, École Notre Dame de Jeunesse, Niagara Falls
Participants:
Participants are divided into 4-5 categories by function within the experiential, Service-Learning framework: senior researchers, student research assistant, Learning Coordinator (one or two positions), university student researchers, and community partners.
Participants are also divided into 2 categories in their capacity as researchers: senior researchers, seed researchers (student seed researchers in University and College courses).
Participants are divided into 3 categories by age: youth, adult, and senior. Students in elementary and secondary school fall under the category of youth (grades 8 and up). Senior researchers, Brock student researchers and project coordinators, Brock students, Niagara College students, and individuals either as independents, members of groups, and institutions fall under the adult category.
Participants can also be divided into two groups: affiliated to an institution or working independently (for example, independent historians).
This project is very much at the heart of Seedling for Change‘s efforts toward community-building and public service. As usual, if you have any questions, let us know in the comments section of this blog, or get in touch with us via social media or e-mail msuescunpozas@brocku.ca.
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