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"The Promise Project presentation was memorable. I thought it was interactive and interesting. I would definitely love to do this again not only because I was able to teach students about identity but I learned how the younger generation perceives it. They are not as naïve as I expected, rather they had amazing insight and feedback which made it worthwhile, consequently, allowing me to open my eyes to aspects I have never noticed." - Radha Hettiarachchi, LGS junior
LGS scholars in the humanities seminar led several workshops at the Promise Project after school program in order to raise awareness about different types of identities. The theme of the promise project program was "All Boxed Up" and attempted to convey the meaning of "identity" about the way identities are formed. LGS facilitators led discussions about how people characterize themselves by gender, nationality, ethnicity, race, place of birth, religion, etc, and how they become "boxed up" in their identities. The ultimate goal of the project was to convey a sense of identity. Students were asked how they see themselves and others; how they feel about being viewed a certain way; the constraints of being seen this way; whether they feel safe; whether they stand out compared to others.
LGS scholars and Promise Project students broke into three different groups and, after the ice breakers, engaged in several activities that facilitated their understanding of identities. All of the three groups presented their ideas in a colorful and engaging presentation to capture students’ attention. Then, the groups engaged in a writing activity. In one of the groups, students were encouraged to write their thoughts on an assigned identity and then speak about it.
In another group, students formed identity circles and explored the topic of diversity. The participant reflected on and shared qualities that they believed make them who they are. It was a great activity to help students think more deeply about the issues of diversity. This activity was helpful in building skills for self-reflection, communication, trust, and appreciation for diversity.
The third group helped students get to know their community better. The activity helped build a sense of community by showing differences and similarities among members of different groups. The objective of this activity was to help the participants get to know the names of each person in the class, group, or community, as well as something about each person's background. Secondly, participants gained a greater understanding and appreciation for the diversity within their group, while realizing that they have things in common with some of the people they have felt most removed from.
At the end of the day, all three groups came together to share their experiences. Students agreed that participating in workshops about identities was a learning experience for them as well as for Promise Project participants.
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