Sometimes, we take the most ordinary things for granted. A week ago yesterday, students (adults) from many nations in the District’s English Language Learners program came together in a group activity that was a first for many.
Around 100 students of the ELL program in the Adult Learning Center at Woodrow Wilson gathered for a collaborative art project through the Creative Arts Studio. ELL holds quarterly meetings for parents during the year that follow a theme; this year’s is mental health. Organizers decided to do something creative (a known mental health benefit), and approached the District’s Art Curriculum Specialist, Sharon Eide, about a project. The solution was a banner project made of individual letter designs.
After a quick art project lesson with interpreters, students joined in the activity. In groups, they thought of words that reflected something about their country, and picked one for the project. Each individual made a letter from various materials, and for some, it was a first-ever art activity – even their first experience with a pair of scissors.
The Adult Learning Center will hang the banner in its new space at the Agassiz building in the coming weeks.
(Editor’s Note: The date stamps on the photographs are incorrect. In the interest of transparency and disclosure, the images were not altered to hide that fact.)
