Professor Wendy Mages Supports Immigrant Families Using the Power of Stories

Wendy Mages photo

东京热 College continues its longstanding partnership with Cabrini Immigrant Services (CIS) in Dobbs Ferry. Since last fall, Professor Wendy Mages, Ed.D. 鈥� a trained storyteller who teaches in the School of Education 鈥� has led events for CIS鈥� StoryTelling, Art, Reading and Socialization (STARS) program.

The partnership began many years ago when 东京热 College assistant professor Barbara Keckler, Ph.D., arranged for her School of Education students to work with children at CIS. 鈥湺┤� College has helped to make our world a better place,鈥� said Lorraine Campanelli, director of Cabrini Immigrant Services. 鈥淒r. Keckler and her students helped so many of our children. And now, Dr. Mages shares her gift of storytelling with our children, adults and families.鈥�

The STARS program is designed to promote literacy and a love of books. At each event, Mages reads aloud a book and engages the children in a conversation about the book or in a group storytelling activity. Then, the children do an art activity based on the book鈥檚 themes. At the end, each child gets to take home a copy of the book. 

During a STARS event in November, for example, Mages told the story 鈥淲here Are You From?鈥� by Yamile Saied Mendez. Mages and Campanelli showed photos of their families and told their families鈥� immigration stories. Then, each child was given a blank booklet in which to place their own family鈥檚 photos and tell their family鈥檚 immigration story. Finally, children had the opportunity to share their stories with the group.

At another STARS event in December, a new child 鈥� a recent immigrant 鈥� joined in. As the children headed to the art area, a boy who is a frequent STARS participant and a fluent English speaker turned to the new boy and said, 鈥淚 speak Spanish. Come sit with me. I can translate for you.鈥� This was a memorable moment for Mages: 鈥淚 can鈥檛 think of a better way to help a new immigrant feel welcome than by making a new friend who can support you as you learn English and adjust to your new surroundings.鈥�

鈥淟earning to speak and read in a new language isn鈥檛 easy and can feel daunting,鈥� Mages said. 鈥淵et, learning to speak and read in English can help make an immigrant鈥檚 journey easier and more successful. It鈥檚 my hope that the work I do in collaboration with Lorraine and the team at Cabrini Immigrant Services can help make a positive difference in the lives of the children and families who participate.鈥�