Migration Narratives Project

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Migration has profoundly shaped Texas and the United States as a whole. As a border state, Texas has experienced the effects of a deeply flawed immigration system. In this current political climate, now is a crucial time to foster public conversations about migration, immigrants, refugees, asylees, and their families in American society. This needs to be informed by on-the-ground narratives that illuminate the lived experiences of individuals and allow for nuance, complexity, and a view into the multidimensional perspectives of immigrant families. The Institute for Diversity and Civic Life’s Migration Narratives Project is a grant-making initiative supporting community-based narrative projects that document and explore experiences of migration in Texas and contribute to the public understanding of immigration and refugee experiences.

2021 Migration Narratives Project grants recipients:

Collaborative Grants

Organization, Project Leads, and Project Title

  • Abara and Ciudad Nueva Community Outreach, Abigail Carl-Klassen and Drew Holguin, “Punto de Partida Narratives Project”
  • Asian Family Support Services of Austin and American Gateways, Zahra Shakur Jamal, Menaka Chandurkar and Edna Yang, “The Asian and Immigrant Survivors of Violence Migration Narratives Project”
  • Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary and Justice For Our Neighbors, Mónica Tornoé, Elizabeth Wright, and Jesse Esparza, “Undocumented Stories”

Organization Grants

Organization, Project Leads, and Project Title

  • Craft Cultura, Misael Ramirez, “Untamed Tongues: Poets Sin Fronteras”
  • Dallas Mexican American Historical League, Erick Alonso Saucedo and Victoria Ferrell,“ The Chronicles of Dallas Barrios Podcast Season 2”
  • Interfaith Action of Central Texas, Lubna Zeidan and Simone Talma Flowers, “End of the Journey?”
  • Jewish Voices for Peace, Moureen Kaki, “Palestinians in Texas”
  • KOOP, Reshmi Chowdhury and  Gregory Ciotti, “Life and Life Stories of Asian Immigrants in Central Texas during the COVID-19 Pandemic”
  • Laredo Immigrant Alliance, Ilse Mendez and Karina Alvarez, “En Confianza Stories along the Border”

Individual Grants

Project Lead and Title

  • Joshua Anaya, “Exploring Stories and Sounds of Passage”
  • Christopher Bermejo, “Sueños Sin Fronteras”
  • Marcia Clarke, “Migration in Black Female Pentecostal Experience”
  • Gregory Cuellar, “Arte de Lágrimas: Refugee Artwork Project”
  • Shannon Elder and Mariah Howard, “Relentless”
  • Georgina Sanchez Garcia, “Exploring Resilience among Migrant Children from Central-America and Mexico Enroute to the United States”
  • Virginia Garcia, “Never Apart: Migrantes, Mujeres y Mensajes”
  • Rigoberto A. Gonzalez, “Noreste (north of the river, south of the checkpoint)”
  • Kiku Huckle and Katsuo Nishikawa Chavez, “The Cost of a Dream”
  • Javier Jara and Jane O’Brien, “Our Rhythms, Our Voices/Nuestros Ritmos, Nuestras Voces”
  • Liz Moskowitz, “Story Vessels: A Photo Exploration of Immigration and Household Artifacts”
  • Mary Wilson, “LGBTQ Migration Stories

This program is made possible by the generous support of the Henry Luce Foundation. The Henry Luce Foundation seeks to enrich public discourse by promoting innovative scholarship, cultivating new leaders, and fostering international understanding. Established in 1936 by Henry R. Luce, the co-founder and editor-in-chief of Time, Inc., the Luce Foundation advances its mission through grantmaking and leadership programs in the fields of Asia, higher education, religion and theology, art, and public policy.