There are quite a few reasons why the One World Project is close to my heart. The most important reason is twofold, my own struggles as a first-generation Indian American immigrant and the struggles of my children as second-generation Indian Americans.
25 years ago, I arrived in America on a H4 dependent visa with nothing but 2 suitcases that contained very carefully selected clothing, specialty Indian cooking utensils and Indian homemade spice mixes. I mention the contents of the suitcase as it has to do with my effort to maintain a sense of belonging and cultural identity, at least in our home life. We worked hard, moved around from place-to-place following jobs the consulting company that was processing our green cards found us, finally settled in Connecticut, and got our citizenship! By then, my children were of school age, and their education became the central focus of our lives, and their cultural struggles became ours! We taught them that working hard is the way to achieve their dreams, their American dreams! The girls worked hard! They achieved success and I can’t be any prouder of them. But what I learned along the way is that their dream wasn’t just the result of hard work. They are where they are because of hard work AND opportunities. Opportunities that were provided to them when a middle school teacher recognized that my younger one needed special accommodation for her to succeed in reading comprehension and when their high school teachers approached them about advanced placement classes, classes necessary for gaining scholarships and admission into prestigious colleges!
Our goal for the children through the One World Project is just that! To provide opportunity, to empower them with knowledge of cultural belonging, awareness and understanding through art, and to learn and benefit from a wealth of diverse perspectives. Multicultural collaborations are crucial skills necessary for all our children to have in today’s increasingly interconnected and interdependent world.
From the mixed emotions of anxiety and excitement I felt the first day when the New London High School students (in a rainbow of skin tones) walked into the studios, to the content and loving feeling I experienced when one of the students, Alex, came to me on the last day and said with a big smile on his face, “Thank you so much for everything! May I please have a hug?,” has truly been an unbelievable experience, touching the teacher, human and mother in me.
My hearty thanks to MMoA and its talented artist educators, the administrators, and teachers of the New London Multi Magnet High School, and to the Frank Loomis Palmer fund for making this a reality. Most of all, thank you to the wonderful students who touched us in so many ways!
