2008 Woodie Awards
Reflecting on traditions of immigrant generosity
Tania Banegas
Issue date: 11/28/07 Section: Art & Culture
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As part of the Spirit and Place Festival, a group of students and faculty gathered on the second floor of the Education and Social Work building on Nov. 13 for a discussion on the literary, faith and cultural traditions of immigrants in the U.S. who inspire generosity.
Other topics included how they encounter generosity in the U.S., and how those experiences allow them to be generous toward their home countries.
The Spirit and Place Festival is an annual 17-day festival that asks Indiana residents to explore arts and humanities of other cultures and traditions. This year, the festival began Nov. 2 and ended Nov. 18.
The panel during the Nov. 13 event - moderated by Ian McIntosh, Director of International Partnerships at IUPUI - was composed of Miriam Acevedo Davis, executive director of La Plaza; James Davita, professor emeritus of History at Mariam College; Talat Halman, a famous Turkish poet and cultural historian; Elizabeth Jackson, Performance Improvement Coordinator of the Quality Management at Wishard Hospital; Obioma Nnaemeka, professor of French and the Women's Studies Program at Indiana University; and K.P. Singh, founder of K.P. Singh Designs, who specializes in pen and ink drawings of private residences and public institutions.
Each individual had a story to tell about their culture. Focusing on the festival's theme "Living Generously," Ian McIntosh asked different questions to each panel member.
Davis shared her family's experience when they moved from Puerto Rico to New York.
"The concept was of generosity was built around living in community," she said. "We [were] all in it together, regardless of one having more or less, we [were] there to help each other do better, get along."
Nnaemeka talked about her Nigerian culture.
"Generosity is at the core of my culture," Nnaemeka said. "It is an obligation, not a choice. It is a transaction between multiple entities: giver and receiver. Both the giver and the receiver are beneficiaries. The giver benefits from giving, everything can be given and everyone can give."
Singh commented on being part of Sikhism and arriving to Indianapolis in 1967. Singh talked about being stopped in different places while taking pictures for his assignments. He always carries his American passport, which saved him couple of headaches.
"It is nobody's fault somebody doesn't know that you are not a Taliban or that you are or are not an Afghani," he said. "It is one's responsibility to educate people and break the stereotype."
Other topics included how they encounter generosity in the U.S., and how those experiences allow them to be generous toward their home countries.
The Spirit and Place Festival is an annual 17-day festival that asks Indiana residents to explore arts and humanities of other cultures and traditions. This year, the festival began Nov. 2 and ended Nov. 18.
The panel during the Nov. 13 event - moderated by Ian McIntosh, Director of International Partnerships at IUPUI - was composed of Miriam Acevedo Davis, executive director of La Plaza; James Davita, professor emeritus of History at Mariam College; Talat Halman, a famous Turkish poet and cultural historian; Elizabeth Jackson, Performance Improvement Coordinator of the Quality Management at Wishard Hospital; Obioma Nnaemeka, professor of French and the Women's Studies Program at Indiana University; and K.P. Singh, founder of K.P. Singh Designs, who specializes in pen and ink drawings of private residences and public institutions.
Each individual had a story to tell about their culture. Focusing on the festival's theme "Living Generously," Ian McIntosh asked different questions to each panel member.
Davis shared her family's experience when they moved from Puerto Rico to New York.
"The concept was of generosity was built around living in community," she said. "We [were] all in it together, regardless of one having more or less, we [were] there to help each other do better, get along."
Nnaemeka talked about her Nigerian culture.
"Generosity is at the core of my culture," Nnaemeka said. "It is an obligation, not a choice. It is a transaction between multiple entities: giver and receiver. Both the giver and the receiver are beneficiaries. The giver benefits from giving, everything can be given and everyone can give."
Singh commented on being part of Sikhism and arriving to Indianapolis in 1967. Singh talked about being stopped in different places while taking pictures for his assignments. He always carries his American passport, which saved him couple of headaches.
"It is nobody's fault somebody doesn't know that you are not a Taliban or that you are or are not an Afghani," he said. "It is one's responsibility to educate people and break the stereotype."
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