THE NEW AMERICANS e-newsletter - June 2004

Welcome to the June final issue of THE NEW AMERICANS monthly e-newsletter with wrap-up information on outreach resources, community activities and outcomes from across the country. In this issue, you'll find:

I. Outcomes
II. Outreach Tools and Resources Update
III. What's Happening in Communities
IV. CCP E-Newsletter

I. Outcomes

We have seen a tremendous response to THE NEW AMERICANS series. We would like to thank everyone who has been involved in reaching out and developing resources and strategies for making our communities and classrooms more welcoming of immigrants and refugees. Some of the indicators of success that we have collected:

- THE NEW AMERICANS aired in over 270 stations across the country in 2,690,270 households nationwide.

- During the month leading up to the broadcast, we had nearly 47,000 hits to the ITVS website--THREE TIMES the normal level of monthly traffic ITVS receives. There were also 6,442 downloads from the site during that period, which reflects an active use of the various resources on the site, particularly "THE NEW AMERICANS Guide and Activity Book."

- Thirty-two states and 120 communities were represented on our interactive map, which detailed the related activities, workshops and screenings held pre and post broadcast.

- These NEW AMERICANS community events were planned through collaborations with our national partners, including public televisions stations, higher education, ESOL educators, businesses and immigrant-serving organizations. These events extended the broadcast content to thousands of students, faculty and community members, including many "new Americans." These activities helped bridge communities in the hopes of building stronger and healthier partnerships into the future.

- The Talkback feature at http://www.pbs.org/independentlens/newamericans/ elicited 576 messages from viewers, many of who were moved to tears and drawn to watch the entire seven-hour series.

"I am an ESOL/English teacher at Palm Beach Central High School and I loved your program on The New Americans the other evening. My new students would love this. I downloaded the curriculum guides and the students are writing essays about their homes/countries."
Florida

"After viewing the PBS documentary The New Americans, I felt as if I was filled with a new energy. An energy of family, community, and spirit that has left many assimilated Americans today. As a high school and adult teacher of English Language Learners, I felt invigorated and proud that I am able to work with immigrants that are filled with the spirit and respect that so many Americans take for granted. Thank You for airing the series. I plan on purchasing the cassettes, and using them in my high school and adult classroom."
Aurora, Illinois

Many viewers were so moved by the stories and struggles of the individuals in THE NEW AMERICANS that they wanted to help with financial donations (over 166 offers). The producers contacted Crossroads Fund to establish The New Americans Fund to provide a support for immigrant serving groups and for the people who have generously shared their lives as documentary subjects in THE NEW AMERICANS.

To learn more go to: http://www.crossroadsfund.org/NewAmericansFund.html

Comments received by the Crossroads Fund:

"I was really touched by the whole program! I would love to know how everyone is doing. Any plans to update? My favorite families were The Floreses and The Nwidors. I was especially taken with Israel Nwidor. What a beautiful person he is! He reminded me of a dear friend, also an African, but from the Ivory Coast, who passed away. I wish them all luck and happiness! Is there anyway to help the families that need it or is everyone pretty much on their feet now?"
Philadelphia

"I love this show! It feels so real and so foreign. I realize how out of touch I actually am with the diversity of my community. It invokes such strong emotions in me. What can I do to help support the people in the program or others?"
Los Angeles

++ WGBH Education Enhancement Website ++
Launching the third week of July 2004. This is an online guide designed to help maximize the educational impact of a project.

To view a case study of THE NEW AMERICANS outreach. Please go to:
http://enhancinged.wgbh.org/

To view the main site, please go to:
http://www.cpb.org/producers/toolkit/

II. Outreach Tools and Resources Update

Here are some updates on outreach resources that are available. To read more about THE NEW AMERICANS Community Engagement Resources or download our brochure, visit: http://www.itvs.org/outreach/newamericans/resources.html

++ The New Americans Series Guide and Activity Book ++
This full series guide and activity book is downloadable from http://www.itvs.org/outreach/newamericans/guide. The guide, developed by ITVS's Community Connections Project, was written and reviewed by professionals in the fields of adult education, ESOL, literacy, multicultural education, immigrant services, healthcare and mental health services. The guide contains thoughtful classroom and community activities prompted by scenes and quotes from the film.

++ PBS Companion Website ++
If you missed The New Americans broadcast on PBS's acclaimed series Independent Lens March 29-31, visit http://www.pbs.org/independentlens/newamericans/ and search the broadcast database for potential re-broadcasts and information on how to purchase home video cassettes of the series (to order call 888-572-8918).

++ The New Americans Companion Book ++
The New Americans companion book by Rubén Martínez is published by The New Press and is now available for $25, to order call 800-233-4830 ext. 1.

++ Video Modules ++
For workplaces, schools and community organizations that would like to use shorter stories from The New Americans to increase understanding of recent immigrants, Active Voice and Kartemquin Films offer three brief, themed video modules for a nominal fee. Each module includes a DVD or VHS cassette with two or three family stories that are each twenty minutes in length, plus a companion print guide. To order, go to: http://www.activevoice.net/New_Americans.shtml

III. What's Happening in Communities

As you read about what's happening in other communities and become inspired about working with THE NEW AMERICANS. Let us know by posting your activities at:
http://www.itvs.org/outreach/newamericans/map/

++ Race and Public Policy Conference: A Proactive Agenda for 2005 and Beyond ++
University of California, Berkeley
November 12-13, 2004
Convened by the Applied Research Center (ARC), the conference is focused on developing policy strategies that advance a long-term vision of racial justice. Segments of THE NEW AMERICANS will screen at the conference. To learn more, go to: http://www.arc.org/rapp/rappconf.html

IV. CCP E-Newsletter

As this is the final TNA e-newsletter, ITVS will be transitioning into a Community Connections Project (CCP) e-newsletter which will provide readers with ongoing community engagement and educational outreach projects using independent media as a tool for addressing issues like immigration, globalization, identity, race, gender and the environment.

To see a list of the other ITVS-CCP projects link to:
http://itvs.org/outreach/projects/

We will automatically roll over your TNA e-newsletter subscription to the CCP e-newsletter and we encourage you to forward it on to those who you think will be interested. If you are not subscribed and would like to receive the CCP e-newsletter, you can subscribe by logging onto:
http://www.itvs.org/outreach/newamericans/

If you do not want to receive the CCP e-newsletter you can unsubscribe yourself from this list by sending a message to itvslists@info.itvs.org with "UNSUBSCRIBE New Americans" in the body of the message.

Here is a sample of the types of projects we will feature in our upcoming CCP e-newsletters:

ITVS Interactive has recently launched a New Media Project

++ BEYOND THE FIRE: Teen Experiences of War ++

Website Engages Teens with Stories of Teenage War Refugees Living in the U.S.

War has killed two million children in the last decade alone. Four million children have become disabled and hundreds of thousands serve as child soldiers. Nearly half of all refugees worldwide are under 18, and across the globe, an estimated 25 million children have been uprooted from their homes as a result of war.

BEYOND THE FIRE introduces the real-life stories of 15 teenagers, now living in the U.S., who have survived war in seven war zones including Somalia, Sudan, Afghanistan, Bosnia and Iraq. These stories tell of loss, hope, fear, strength and despair--and most of all, resilience.

http://www.itvs.org/beyondthefire/

"Beyond the Fire, is aimed at American teenagers to engage them in an interactive, web driven peer to peer dialogue about war, conflict resolution and youth refugees. Our children are so isolated/protected from these experiences that it is very hard for them to comprehend the reality of living through a war or that there is a world outside their own community boundaries! I felt the peer to peer connection is the most compelling way to initiate this conversation among teens. The fifteen teens featured on the site are not only courageous and resilient but they are also very positive, forward looking individuals. I hope we learn from their experiences and take the next step towards creating better solutions to resolving conflicts."

Sesh Kannan
Beyond the Fire producer