connections

An important aim of the project is to enhance student engagement with stories and experiences of members of Southeast Asian American communities, and enhance the broader community’s access to students’ activities.

Oral Histories

The elaboration of oral history projects (through team-taught courses and student dialogues) will allow University of Washington undergraduates of all backgrounds—not just those of Southeast Asian descent—to work with members of the Southeast Asian American community here who have made a journey to the U.S., resulting in a rich archive of narratives and images of the U.S. and Southeast Asia.  Some will also result in either video documentaries or dramatic performances to be shown or staged at the UW Ethnic Cultural Theater and Seattle's Wing Luke Asian Museum.  Difficult Dialogues faculty will be trained to ensure that undergraduate participants reflect critically on the stories they hear and the individuals represented in the oral histories.

Public Spaces

We have engaged both the Suzzallo and Allen Libraries and the Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture located on the University of Washington campus.  In both of these public spaces, students will be able to mount exhibitions they have developed (through courses and/or student dialogues) that seek to inform the public about the lives and stories of Seattle’s Southeast Asian American communities.  The UW Libraries have also agreed to archive the oral history interviews that will be collected in the course of this project, forming a permanent and unique part of the Libraries’ collections.  In addition, the Wing Luke Asian Museum has agreed to partner with us in creating community exhibitions of student oral history projects.  Throughout the course of the project, students and faculty may identify other public spaces to engage with, such as community centers, public libraries, and arts groups. Drawing on these community resources, we see our project for Difficult Dialogues creating a ripple effect throughout the university and broader Seattle communities.