BELONGING & CONNECTION
Ayman, Devasya, Payoshni, Selen
OUR TEAM
INTRODUCTION
In the vibrant culture of New York City, immigrants from diverse backgrounds often struggle to find a sense of belonging and support. They face challenges integrating into new cultures, navigating unfamiliar systems, and overcoming negative stereotypes. Can we design inclusive environments, programs, and community spaces that bridge cultural divides, foster a sense of belonging, and empower immigrants to thrive?
immigrants reported feeling lonely or socially isolated at least some of the time.
rise in recent years of cultural discrimination and conflict
only 30% of immigrants reported having access to safe community spaces. reported having difficulties with adapting to cultural norms of a new country.
GEOGRAPHICAL DATA
This Borough offers a rich cultural mix. Language barriers can be particularly pronounced in Sunset Park and Bensonhurst, with high concentrations of Asian immigrants.
This Borough offers a vibrant cultural mix, with challenges and language barriers, Immigrants from Asian and Latinx neighborhoods.
Immigrant population, with high numbers from Latin America, Africa, and Asia Educational attainment challenges are prominent, with foreign-born residents facing difficulty getting their credentials recognized.
GEOGRAPHICAL DATA
This Borough offers an immigrant population, with a mix from across the globe. Socioeconomic integration challenges may be prominent, with foreign-born residents often facing lower wages
The lowest immigrant population, with a focus on European and Asian communities. Challenges may include feeling isolated from larger immigrant networks in other boroughs. Staten Island
ETHNIC CHART
According to the Mayor's Office of Immigrant Affairs, as of 2019-2020, there were 3,030,397 foreign-born residents in NYC
PROBLEM AREAS
HOW MIGHT WE:
"How might we establish an inclusive environment in NYC that nurtures a sense of belonging & support for immigrants from diverse backgrounds, while also developing cultural transition systems/spaces to bridge the gap between various cultures and communities?"
TARGET AUDIENCE
WHAT STRATEGY DIRECTION WE PLAN TO IMPLEMENT
A community-driven workshop that requires people to through their upbringing, all driven by empathetic connections.
Listening to people’s stories can reveal cultural symbols or references that provide insights into participants' cultural backgrounds and values.
Making Sure the activities stay collaborative, that would help people see a small sight of other people’s upbringing
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT (CE) PLANS (I AND II)
ICE BREAKERS & WORKSHOP.
01
Ice breaker: Silent interview
Workshop: Describe earliest memory
02
Ice breaker: Active Listening
Workshop: Cross-Cultural Connection
WORKSHOP EXECUTION TIMELINE
#01
Ice breaker: Silent interview.
Workshop: Draw your earliest memory.
ICE BREAKER
Silent interview
Rely on hand gestures, facial expressions, and body language to convey thoughts and feelings. on the given questions we will assign during the activities.
WORKSHOP
Draw your earliest memory.
A space where people from diverse backgrounds can come together, share personal stories sparked by objects and prompts, and build connections through a shared human experience – the power of memories.
Steps
Participants: 6-10
Location: TNS
Duration: 1 hour
Materials: Chart paper, Artifacts
People gather around and describe a memory from back home. They can get artifacts, show an image, or just describe it verbally.
There will be posters around the room with different prompts. Eg: The smell that reminds me of home, A song that brings back happy memories. People gather around and share their stories related to memories they found in New York
#02
Ice breaker : Building Understanding Through Active Listening.
Workshop : Cross-Cultural Connections.
ICE BREAKER
Cross-Cultural Connections:
The Listening Exchange
An activity that helps us understand those around us. It requires active listening, as participants will need to retell the narrative they've just heard to the group.
Process: Ask your neighbor 4 questions, to be done between 2 people:
What’s your name?
Where are you from?
A favorite dish from your country?
One thing they like about New York?
Person A will describe person B and vice versa?
LANDSCAPE MATRIX
WORKSHOP 2
Cross-Cultural Connections.
Participants draw pictures that resonate with them on a piece of paper.
Pictures are collected and arranged into a collage by a participant to craft a story using the collage as inspiration.
Participants individually create stories using the collage as a prompt.
Objectives: Promoting social interaction
1. Building empathy and understanding
3.
2. Enhancing community cohesion
Participants: 8-12
Location: TNS
Duration: 1 hour
Materials: Drawing paper, Markers, board
The Power of Food: Bridging Differences and Building Connections
This initiative focuses on bringing people from diverse backgrounds together through shared meals, promoting mutual understanding, and fostering connections. The choice of this example underscores the transformative power of food in breaking down barriers and building bridges between communities.
Food brings people together. The Social Gastronomy Movement and Heineken are teaming up for the World Together campaign. They believe food can unite us, especially when our world feels divided. They started with a dinner where people from different backgrounds shared stories over a meal. Food breaks down barriers, helps us understand other cultures, and builds empathy. It creates a sense of community and allows us to talk about important issues. They'll continue hosting events worldwide.
THE ROLE OF FOOD IN BUILDING CONNECTIONS AND RELATIONSHIPS
The Role of Food in Building Connections and Relationships
The Ageing Better program explores the role of food in creating informal environments, initiating conversations, and reducing barriers to social interaction. By providing food during community activities and events, the program aims to foster a sense of belonging and facilitate meaningful connections among participants.
https://www.tnlcommunityfund.org.uk/media/documents/ageing-better/AgeingBetter-Role-of-Food-in-Building-Connections-and-Relationships.pdf?
mtime=20190514094521
Food is a powerful tool for building connections and relationships, especially for those aged 50 and older. Across various programs, food has been used to engage people, create informal environments, and break down barriers. It acts as a conversation starter, helps people relax, and fosters a sense of belonging. However, there are challenges, such as food anxiety and cultural preferences, that need to be considered.
Despite these challenges, food remains a valuable tool for reducing social isolation and reaching specific groups, like men and those from shared ethnic backgrounds.
Authentic Recipes Blog
This blog aims to connect people through food from around the world. In response to travel restrictions imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the blog provides a platform for individuals to explore diverse cuisines and cultures virtually. By sharing authentic recipes submitted by locals, the blog enables users to embark on culinary journeys from the comfort of their own homes. This initiative reflects the growing trend of using digital platforms to foster cultural exchange and connection during challenging times.
This is all about sharing authentic recipes from different parts of the world, contributed by locals. The aim is to let everyone experience dishes from various cultures, learn about them, and share their own recipes. By connecting through food, we hope to bring people closer together. Due to the pandemic, travel has become difficult, so we're bringing foreign cultures into people's kitchens, allowing them to explore new culinary experiences from home. Cooking can also help reduce stress and lift spirits during these challenging times.
Comfort Kitchen
Led by chefs Kwasi Kwaa and Biplaw Rai, Comfort Kitchen offers a unique dining experience that explores the cultural significance of food and its role in global migration. By incorporating passed-down cooking methods and ingredients from around the world, the restaurant serves as a platform for storytelling and cultural exchange, inviting customers to learn about the history of their food while enjoying a delicious meal. Comfort Kitchen represents a growing trend in the food industry towards recognizing and honoring the contributions of immigrants to culinary heritage.
Comfort Kitchen, a new restaurant in Boston run by immigrants Kwasi Kwaa from Ghana and Biplaw Rai from Nepal. They aim to celebrate immigrant food and its journey to America, offering a menu that tells stories of global migration through dishes. They believe in building empathy through food and want to change perceptions about immigrant-run restaurants. Despite challenges, their mission is to showcase immigrant food as American food and create a space where everyone feels welcome.
Immigrant & Refugee Food Festival
The Immigrant & Refugee Food Festival in Baltimore, held on October 14, 2018, marked a unique success in celebrating immigrant culture through food and art. Organized by Taylor Jenkins and Daniel Bright, the event brought together a diverse array of food vendors representing cultures from around the world. Unlike traditional food festivals, the Immigrant Food Fest aimed to spark discussions about immigration and challenge societal perceptions of immigrants. Through culinary experiences and cultural exchange, the festival highlighted the rich diversity and contributions of immigrant communities to American society, emphasizing the importance of embracing and celebrating cultural heritage.
Dining with Strangers: How Food Brings People
Together
It is about the profound role of food in fostering connections among people and highlighting Trafalgar's approach to incorporating food experiences into their travel itineraries. By emphasizing the universal appeal of food and its ability to transcend cultural barriers, Trafalgar creates opportunities for travelers to engage with local communities, share authentic culinary experiences, and forge meaningful connections with strangers. Through initiatives like the Be My Guest program, travelers gain deeper insights into different cultures and traditions, enriching their travel experiences and fostering empathy and understanding.
How food brings people together, fostering friendships, nurturing relationships, and celebrating cultural diversity. It emphasizes the enriching experiences of dining with strangers during travel, where sharing food offers insights into people's lives, cultures, and heritage. Through Trafalgar's Be My Guest experiences, travelers have the opportunity to dine with locals, taste traditional dishes, and contribute to communities around the world.
Food Sharing as a Socially Engaged Art Practice
This explores the intersection of food and art within socially engaged practices, focusing on how food can serve as a medium for political and personal engagement. It delves into the historical context of food in art, examining its symbolic significance and its evolution into a tool for challenging social norms and fostering dialogue. By analyzing the works of various artists such as Keg de Souza, Suzanne Lacy, Linda Pruess, Coco Fusco, and Nao Bustamante, it highlights the diverse approaches to using food as a catalyst for social interaction and critique. Through these case studies, it examines the potential of food sharing to transcend cultural boundaries, address issues of colonialism and feminism, and provoke reflection on power dynamics and identity politics.
Exploration of food and art in socially engaged practices
Use of food sharing for political and personal engagement Examples include the creation of temporary food exchange spaces, global dinner parties, and critique of cultural tourism
Highlighting the power of food sharing to challenge norms and create social spaces
Art and Food: Better Together?
Overview: Explore the intersection of art and food as a platform for audience engagement, social commentary, and political activism.
Background: Reflect on the historical context, including seminal exhibitions like Culture in Action (1993), which emphasized open-ended participation in public art.
Recent Trends: Discuss the resurgence of socially engaged art, fueled by a desire for change and supported by organizations like Creative Time and Grizedale Arts.
Current Challenges: Address issues such as funding deficits, institutional adaptation, and the need for long-term support and commitment to socially engaged projects.
Discussion of the convergence of art and food in socially engaged art projects.
Exploration of various exhibitions, initiatives, and artists contributing to this trend.
Emphasis on the political and cultural significance of foodrelated art.
Examination of challenges faced by artists and institutions, including funding and documentation.
Overview of the evolving landscape of art and food collaboration.
INITIATIVES RELATED TO FOOD CARAVANS
Food Truck Caravans: Food trucks are a popular trend in many cities worldwide. Often, these food trucks gather in designated areas or events to form a food caravan, offering a variety of cuisines and specialties. These caravans are organized by local food truck associations, event organizers, or food festivals.
Farmers' Market Caravans: Farmers' markets sometimes organize traveling caravans to promote locally sourced produce and goods. These caravans visit multiple locations within a region or travel along specific routes to reach communities that don't have regular access to farmers' markets.
Food Aid Caravans: Humanitarian organizations and nonprofits often organize food aid caravans to deliver food supplies to communities affected by natural disasters, conflicts, or economic crises. These caravans include mobile kitchens or food distribution centers to provide meals to those in need.
Cultural Food Caravans: Some cultural organizations or initiatives organize food caravans to promote culinary diversity and cultural exchange. These caravans feature food tastings, cooking demonstrations, and educational workshops highlighting different cuisines and culinary traditions from around the world.
Food Truck Festivals of America (FTFA)
FTFA started in 2011 to capitalize on the emerging trend of gourmet food trucks.
FTFA's goal is to introduce communities to gourmet food trucks while supporting small business owners who run them.
Initially, the festivals attracted thousands of attendees, indicating significant interest in the concept.
Over the years, FTFA has grown into a national phenomenon, hosting events across the country.
A crowded food truck festival showcasing a variety of gourmet food trucks.
The Food Truck League
The Food Truck League brings great food and communities together by organizing positive and fun events for all ages with the best food trucks in Utah.
Founded in 2015, The Food Truck League hosts League Nights in cities all along the Wasatch Front, fostering community engagement and support for local food truck businesses.
With a focus on creating vibrant gatherings, The Food Truck League has received positive feedback and continues to expand its reach across the state.
Landscape Matrix
RESEARCH METHODS : RECAP
PRIMARY SECONDARY
Quant methods: Reports, Data Analysis.
Generative/exploratory research: focus groups, interviews.
Iterative research: This will be done through feedback from teachers, and other stakeholders.
Desk Research- Demographics, psychographics, ethnographic data.
Current Interventions
Content analysis
Research reports, News, Articles & Journals. (Thanks Michelle)
DATA OF YOUNG ADULTS IN NYC
Nearly 40 percent of New York City’s population are immigrants.
However, this estimate may be a severe undercount considering some immigrants, particularly those who are undocumented, often live and work in the shadows
Source:MOIA’22
WHY? 20%
young immigrants aged 18 to 30 face significant challenges
Navigating NYC can be tough for these young adults, requiring practical support and a sense of belonging. Language barriers, social isolation, & employment/education hurdles & Cultural Assimilation are key challenges.
LANGUAGE BARRIERS IN NYC
Limited English proficiency can hinder academic achievement, limit job opportunities, and impede access to quality healthcare services.
Research conducted by the International Rescue Committee (IRC) has shown that language barriers are a major obstacle to successful integration for refugees and migrants, impacting various aspects of their lives including education, employment, and healthcare.
Source:MOIA’22,NYCPlanning’22
200+
75%
Languages spoken across the five boroughs
45%
Immigrants speak a language other than English at home the foreign-born population in New York City are limited English proficient. (LEP)
SOCIAL ISOLATION
Social isolation is a significant challenge for young refugees and immigrants in NYC. Around 43% experience it within their first year, per the IRC. Language barriers and cultural differences compound the issue, hindering integration and fostering loneliness.
CULTURAL ASSIMILATION
Young adults in NYC, especially refugees and immigrants, navigate complex cultural identities. Balancing heritage with assimilation pressures can be challenging, affecting their sense of belonging.
Cultural Adjustment: Research in the International Journal of Intercultural Relations shows cultural adjustment is crucial for immigrant social integration. It can be tough for young adults to adapt, leading to isolation.
Balancing Identities: Pew Research Center finds 78% of young immigrants in the US are proud of their heritage but also want to adopt American culture. This dual identity struggle can leave individuals feeling caught between two cultures.
MEET THE EXPERTS
Dr.Guru Prasanna Lakshmi Cognitive Psychologist.
Your data on young immigrants is insightful. Acculturative stress, adapting to a new cultural environment, is a key challenge. Language barriers are significant hurdles, that impact communication and cognitive processes. Bicultural identity conflicts add to the challenge, as immigrants balance assimilation with preserving their heritage, affecting mental well-being and academic performance.
WORKSHOP TESTING
FOOD GATHERING
Community food gathering where food was served from a particular community to gauge peoples reaction.
Process:
Set up a food event. 1. Have a natural flowing conversation between people. 2. Give the people prompts on which they can give their opinions. 3.
FEEDBACK BASED ON FOOD EVENT
We took part in a food event where food was served to people in a communal event ( Ramadan feast ) and asked user to give their opinions online
TAKEAWAYS
There is an increasing demand for homemade food as people look for comfort in familiar tastes.
This trend also includes a growing interest in catering services that offer authentic home-cooked meals.
As people savor these dishes, they often engage in lively discussions, expressing their happiness at finding such food in the city. Many are so delighted that they take extra servings to share with family, extending the warmth of home-cooked meals beyond their immediate social circles.
CONCEPT DEVELOPMENT
With all the data provided we thought of solving this by a “potluck” as food united people & it has no language barriers. This would help battle social isolation in some way.
Introducing
One table, A million stories Caravan
Cuisine
WHY THE CARAVAN ?
Culinary Exploration Hub:
Homemade meals
Opportunities for future meals
Mobility and Accessibility:
Parked in various locations
Reaches a wider audience
Immersive Experience:
More space than traditional food trucks
Visitors can connect with the chef's background
Additional Services:
Music, art, and community support
Fosters cultural exchange
Symbolism of Migration:
Embodies transformation journey
Facilitates shared experiences and connections
HOW DOES IT WORK
Q. Do you see any similarities between this dish & dishes from your own culture?
HOW ARE WE PROMOTING A SENSE OF BELONGING THROUGH THIS.
Q. Share a recipe or food memory that is special to you from your own culture.
Q. Based on this dish, can you guess any cultural values that might be important to the place it originates from? (e.g., focus on family, use of local ingredients).
Q. Draw the memory that you feel when you are eating this, or maybe you can also represent it through pictures?
WHAT CAN BE ACHIEVED
Shared Experience leading to a more inclusive environment
Cultural Recognition
Breaking Down Barriers
Celebrating Diversity & Bridging the gaps
Discussions and stories based on food
HOW ARE WE ADDRESSING THE CARE CHALLENGE ?
Local music to set the ambiance and feel at home
People from their country who have gone through the process & can help new immigrants
Collection of resources that can benefit new immigrants.
FUTURE PLANS
Sustainability
Student Leadership program (TNS Food club)
Documentation & Training
Scalability
Social Media Promotion
Themed Events
Feedback and Adaptation
in more diverse cities
Building Partnerships
Cross-Campus or Government Partnerships
Community Kitchen
