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Who we Are

Kaitlin Wheeler

Santa Clara University '19

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All too often we assume so much about a person. We generalize, label, and stereotype. It may not be intentional, but rather a subconscious act that occurs on a daily basis. But we can overcome this habit. This starts by taking a step outside and meeting the strangers that walk past us everyday. By fueling our curiosity, we can dig deeper than the surface level and go past the assumptions we may have about a person. Our website is dedicated to telling the stories of immigrants and those involved with their lives. For one quarter, we were able to involve ourselves with their lives too. But we must remember that these people are not just a story, they are humans just like you and me.

 

Erin Fox

Santa Clara University '19

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As a former camp counselor and attendee of after-school programs throughout my youth, I knew a community-based learning project working with kids was the right choice for me. Over the course of a few weeks, I had the opportunity to learn what kids living and going to school in East San Jose struggle with in the classroom and at home: from subtraction with three-digit numbers to moms who are too busy with new babies to style hair in the morning.

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Sarah Klearman

Santa Clara University ’19

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Since spending time abroad in Spain to better my Spanish speaking skills, it's been my goal to use my understanding of the language to help the underserved here in the United States. I chose to attend English as a Second Language classes as part of my ELSJ. In many ways the experience felt familiar to me after living in Spain; in many ways, though, it was a wake up call to the poverty and struggle that exists just outside of the Santa Clara bubble. I conducted all of my interviews in Spanish and then translated them into English. Throughout this process, I was struck by the openness, generosity and humor that each of the women I spoke to radiated. It is our job as students to use our privilege and our voices to give individuals like these women a platform for their own words. 

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Sophie Pollock

Santa Clara University ’19

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My hope for this project is to share the stories of the immigrant community in San Jose. The stories that we have collected shed light on peoples whose voices are rarely amplified. This site aims to let others into a community that they may have previously judged. Each story shows the unique struggles that immigrants and those involved with the community face. I worked with the pre school student and teachers as a part of my community based learning. This classroom does such great work for students who are experiencing the traumas of living in poverty. I am so grateful to have spent 10 weeks getting to know this community and can now better understand my positionally and responsibility as a college student. 

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