Overview
This yearlong, arts-based, countywide project invites cultural arts, immigrant and educational organizations to create programs that foster conversations on both historic and contemporary issues of immigration. Participating organizations will draw on their individual expertise to develop exhibitions, performances, presentations, music, films, displays and readings designed to raise the
level of community knowledge, awareness and engagement on this important topic. Project Goal
To use the arts to catalyze, engage and inform county residents on both the historic and contemporary issues of immigration in order to foster greater understanding and make this a more welcoming and inclusive community. Toward this end, the project will:
• Create cross-discipline arts collaborations on immigration themes
• Use the knowledge of immigrant organizations to inform project content
Develop a broad range of arts experiences designed to educate and engage the public in conversations on immigration
Celebrate the cultural capital of all our immigrant communities
Rationale
The United States is deeply rooted in immigration history. In fact, the entire population beyond those who are Native American have an immigrant past. Yet many citizens don’t know much about our history, which is really their history, or about current immigration policy. Boulder County is an ideal place to begin this unique American conversation because it has a reputation for engaging openly in dialogue on both national and international issues. Boulder recently received national press for appointing the first undocumented person to a city commission. Still, according to the Trends Report published by The Community Foundation, only 43% of people surveyed said Boulder County is open to immigrants. How much stronger would our county be if the immigrant population, and the cultural assets it brings, were woven deeply into the fabric? The arts tell the story of human experience and create empathy, engaging participants in conversations they might not otherwise have. Through this project, cultural arts organizations, in collaboration with immigrant and educational groups, will create arts experiences to bridge the disconnection and the discomfort that conversations on immigration often raise. These conversations, in turn, will become a catalyst for understanding and foster a more inclusive community. Participating organizations will build relationships among themselves and with new audiences across the county. A greater appreciation of immigration history by all residents will eliminate some of the cultural barriers that currently exist, and diverse audiences will come together to share common history and experience. One-Action is a collaborative project led by a diverse group of organizations but managed by the Boulder County Arts Alliance. One-Action creates an arts-centric series of conversations on a topic of importance in our community. These conversations are designed to inspire learning about our history, to discuss present issues, and to take action that will create a more inclusive Boulder County. The One-Action Project for 2012 focused on Chief Niwot, a leader of the Southern Arapaho people, and his role in attempting to maintain peace as the Anglos moved into what is now Colorado. More than 50 organizations and 18,000 people participated in this project. (See this short trailer for more info on One-Action/2012 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o2bIblfYIJQ). To Get Involved: Contact One-Action at [email protected]
The One-Action Creative Community Conversation on Immigration could potentially serve as a model to inspire other communities beyond our own to use the arts as a way into the immigrant conversation – so much a part of the national fabric in this moment.
