For the last seven years, students at Fargo South High have written nonfiction narrative short stories about their journeys as refugees or immigrants to America. During Leah Juelke’s English Learner English 4 classes, students were inspired to document their own journeys after Zoom presentations from Burundian refugee and CEO, Laetitia Mizero Hellerud, former students, and other community members. The South High EL paraprofessional, who is also a musician and business owner, Damber Subba, taught the students about the history of Bhutan and how he, and thousands of other refugees, ended up in the Nepali refugee camps.
Due to the COVID pandemic, students were online, hybrid and eventually back in the classroom by the end of the year. Despite the obstacles, students continued the project and made the most of the unique situation. This year, students were visited by a celebrity guest, Kalen Allen, in their Zoom class. Kalen Allen got his start in Hollywood by being discovered by Ellen for his food critique videos. He has now blossomed into tv correspondent, host, singer, actor and a social justice and LGBTQ activist. He talked about his life journey with students and inspired them to embrace who they are and to pursue their dreams.
During the writing phase, students drafted their own stories and went through multiple editing workshops to create a finished product. Volunteers from around the community provided technical writing support for the students during the Zoom workshops. In addition to stories, a poem by each student and a picture of their artwork are featured in this book. During the project, the students were visited on Zoom by an artist from the Plains Art Museum who talked about the importance of self-expression and painting. Soon after, students created canvas paintings that depicted a scene from their journey. Since students were not able to present their stories in person at the universities this year, students were filmed presenting in class and a video was compiled and uploaded to YouTube and the class website for family, friends, and volunteers to view.
This book holds the intriguing stories, poems & artwork of Fargo South High School EL refugee and immigrant students from around the world.
2020-2021 Journey to America Short Stories Volume 7 Book Launch!
FRIDAY MAY 7th !
Click on the BOOK COVER below to read our EL students' eBooks, listen to audio podcasts & watch videos of the presentations!
Due to the COVID pandemic, students were online, hybrid and eventually back in the classroom by the end of the year. Despite the obstacles, students continued the project and made the most of the unique situation. This year, students were visited by a celebrity guest, Kalen Allen, in their Zoom class. Kalen Allen got his start in Hollywood by being discovered by Ellen for his food critique videos. He has now blossomed into tv correspondent, host, singer, actor and a social justice and LGBTQ activist. He talked about his life journey with students and inspired them to embrace who they are and to pursue their dreams.
During the writing phase, students drafted their own stories and went through multiple editing workshops to create a finished product. Volunteers from around the community provided technical writing support for the students during the Zoom workshops. In addition to stories, a poem by each student and a picture of their artwork are featured in this book. During the project, the students were visited on Zoom by an artist from the Plains Art Museum who talked about the importance of self-expression and painting. Soon after, students created canvas paintings that depicted a scene from their journey. Since students were not able to present their stories in person at the universities this year, students were filmed presenting in class and a video was compiled and uploaded to YouTube and the class website for family, friends, and volunteers to view.
This book holds the intriguing stories, poems & artwork of Fargo South High School EL refugee and immigrant students from around the world.
2020-2021 Journey to America Short Stories Volume 7 Book Launch!
FRIDAY MAY 7th !
Click on the BOOK COVER below to read our EL students' eBooks, listen to audio podcasts & watch videos of the presentations!
Click on the book above to read the students' ebooks
A special thank you to the following for the help and inspiration provided to make this project possible:
Eleanor Laing Law Literacy Grant
Fargo Public Schools Foundation
South High and the FPS district
Laetitia Mizero Hellerud
Kalen Allen (From Ellen!)
Damber Subba
James Ferragut
Vic Youngs
Stacy Duffield
Tori Johnson
Sienna Guy
Aline Uwase
Muhend Abakar
Paul Wiesenborn
Sophia Robinson
Elsie Hatlevig
Allyson Kangas
Anthony Urbanski
Madison Terlinden
Megan Johnson
The Plains Art Museum
The Creative Plains Foundation
NDSU, MSUM and Concordia Volunteers
A special thank you to the following for the help and inspiration provided to make this project possible:
Eleanor Laing Law Literacy Grant
Fargo Public Schools Foundation
South High and the FPS district
Laetitia Mizero Hellerud
Kalen Allen (From Ellen!)
Damber Subba
James Ferragut
Vic Youngs
Stacy Duffield
Tori Johnson
Sienna Guy
Aline Uwase
Muhend Abakar
Paul Wiesenborn
Sophia Robinson
Elsie Hatlevig
Allyson Kangas
Anthony Urbanski
Madison Terlinden
Megan Johnson
The Plains Art Museum
The Creative Plains Foundation
NDSU, MSUM and Concordia Volunteers