Engagement

One of the Migrations initiative's primary goals was community engagement. We hosted hundreds of events for campus and the community, funded community organizations and activities, and invited members of campus and beyond to get involved. 

Migrations at the Johnson Museum

Exhibitions by Migrations visiting artists Precious Okoyomon and Shahpour Pouyan are on display at the Herbert F. Johnson Museum from October through December. 
 

Community Partnerships

Our faculty researchers worked closely with community partners. Their impacts include the creation of a local Underground Railroad tour with the St. James AME Zion church and the History Center of Tompkins County and an experiment in cooperative land governance and farming with the Uhuru Creek Farm.  

The Migrations initiative also awarded approximately $200,000 to community organizations over four years with our community engagement grants. Our list of partners includes The Cherry Artists’ Collective, our local WSKG station, Ithaca Welcomes Refugees, the Cornell Farmworker Program, and more. 

Cherry Artists’ Collective’s 2021-22 Shared Learning Season: “Migrations”

Student Engagement

Cornell students got involved with Migrations through the Mario Einaudi Center for International Studies. Sixteen undergraduate migration scholars contributed to the work of the Migrations initiative, and 29 students have graduated with a migration studies minor. 

"As an undergraduate Migrations scholar, I was able to build deeper relationships with Cornell faculty members who have a rich knowledge of immigration policy, law, and history. This mentorship and guidance from my professors ultimately drove me to apply for a position at my dream organization, where I am thrilled to work in an environment that gives me the opportunity to learn from the top experts in the field.”

-Alexis Fintland '22

"I've become increasingly fascinated by the study of migration from a conservationist's lens. The movement of living things in response to a changing climate piques my curiosity, and I hope to further understand its sociopolitical and environmental implications." 

–Trisha Bhujle '26, Migrations Scholar

Creative Writing and Art Competition

Seventeen students received awards as part of our creative writing and art competition. Each student answered the question: How does migration shape your community? 

"À la République was envisioned as a response to its predecessor. Indeed, the struggle of our ancestors against a colonial past and continued poverty has not yet ceased; rather, it has taken a new form, sprung from the tribulations of the contemporaneous generation." 

–Victoria Abunaw '24