Students and educators from immigrant, refugee, and mixed-status families face unique challenges, fear of separation, cultural erasure, and emotional trauma that impact their sense of belonging in schools. In this Open Studio Conversation, presenters share personal narratives and professional expertise to explore how the visual arts can serve as safe and brave spaces for connection, resilience, and authentic expression. Participants will gain actionable strategies for protecting student privacy, navigating restrictions on cultural and linguistic representation, and responding to urgent scenarios (including ICE presence on campus). The session emphasizes best practices grounded in lived experience, offering tools that affirm identity, strengthen community, and empower educators to support every learner with care, creativity, and confidence.
NAEA Open Studio Conversation: We Make Us Safe: Creative Resistance for Empowering Art Educators to Support Immigrant and Mixed-Status Students
Cost: FREE for NAEA members and nonmembers
This live virtual event is part of the NAEA Open Studio Conversation series hosted in the NAEA Professional Learning Studio. Participation does NOT include NAEA professional learning credit.