A New Approach to Teaching on the Migrant & Refugee "Crisis"

What happens when 20 American college students and
10 college-aged migrants and refugees living across 4 continents
spend 1 semester working together
​to create solutions to our global migration crisis?

THEY EXCEED ALL EXPECTATIONS.

"For many college students, the growing global migrant and refugee crisis may seem a tragic but distant reality. 

But for 20 Emory students, the challenges faced by our world’s displaced took on real-life dimensions this semester through an anthropology seminar that had them working together with migrants and refugees from across four continents.

"Anthropology 385: The Migrant and Refugee Crisis" created a first-person understanding by requiring students to work with community partners, understand their lives and needs, and propose sustainable solutions to address their biggest barriers to success.

The course was designed and taught by Dr. Isabella Alexander, a cultural anthropologist and Assistant Visiting Professor in the Department of Anthropology at Emory University. Her research focuses on the socio-political realities of transitional migration in some of our world’s most critical border regions, and her connections to displaced populations in Atlanta and around the world made community partnerships with her students possible..."

READ MORE ABOUT MY UNIQUE COURSE DESIGN & EXPLORE THEIR SOLUTIONS

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DACA DECONSTRUCTED
Anna, Kavelle & Maryajose (Colombia - US)
A platform for DACA recipients to share their stories, raising public awareness about our country’s current immigration policies and the contributions undocumented migrants make to our communities.

MED BUDDY
Alison, Neehal & Eva (Syria - Lebanon)
An online database providing refugees (in their native languages) with health literacy and info on low- and no-cost clinics, medication and healthcare resources in their communities. 

LAWYERS WITHOUT BORDERS
Gordon, Kevin, Shoba & Rafael (Mexico - US)
A legal aid program connecting undocumented migrants in the U.S. with law students seeking to learn more about immigration law and local firms seeking to donate pro-bono hours. (Specializations: Labor abuse, citizenship, business incorporation)

MORE THAN A MIGRANT
Adama, Mialovena, Mamadou (Guinea - France) & Bah (Sierre Leone - Morocco)
A platform for African migrants to share their stories and report abuses, raising public awareness about our world’s largest migrant population and providing human rights advocates with critical info on the types, locations and frequencies of abuse on a global scale.

GENERATIONS OF DIVIDE
Abbe, Sarah & Saeed (Syria - Brazil) 
An educational program to fight racism against refugees in the largest refugee-receiving country through videos on Syria and Lebanon’s unique history, and interactive classroom experiences led by local college students in high schools around the country.

UNDOCULINKED
Lilla, Trishanne & Maryajose (Colombia - US)
An app providing undocumented high school students in the U.S. with info on colleges and universities open to them, and connecting them to low- and no-cost application resources in their communities.

MIGRATING ART
Alina, Peter & Mona (Syria - Lebanon)
An online marketplace for migrant and refugee artists to sell their work across borders, and connect with other artists in their new communities on collaborative art projects.

THE MIGRANT ACTION MOVEMENT
Jazmin, Natalia & Rafael (Mexico - US)
An anonymous platform for migrants to report abuses, providing organizations and individuals fighting for migrants’ rights with critical info on the types, locations and frequencies of abuse in the U.S.

THE RESETTLEMENT PATHWAY
Yasmeen & Asalah (Syria - Italy)
A step-by-step program providing refugees with the financial literacy education and resources needed to manage their transition to independence over their first twelve months in a new country.

FRIENDSHIP BEYOND BORDERS
Konya, Mikaila, Sophia, Alyssa & Khatera (Afghanistan - US)
A peer mentorship program connecting refugee and non-refugee girls to support one another and raise cultural understanding throughout their high school journeys.