VocalizED Documentary Premiering at the Penn Museum Nov. 8
New to Stony Brook, Dr. Neisha Terry Young brings a new internship opportunity where students can earn EXP+ credits and lifelong skills. The VocalizED Identity Crafting and Exploration (VOICE) lab is a collaborative cultural identity exploration and narration hub where students can learn podcasting, video narratives, and other digital and multimodal tools. By participating in projects, this internship aims to amplify immigrant voices in a way that allows them to speak their truth and tell their authentic stories.
What made you come up with VOICE, and why is it meaningful to you?
The VOICE Lab itself is an outgrowth of my dissertation research. I started a podcast in 2020 at the height of the pandemic called “VocalizED,” which invites people to explore and discuss some controversial educational issues. VocalizED is actually the first word in VOICE because, for me, my interest has always been to amplify immigrant narratives, so when I began wondering what I really wanted coming from it, It led to VocalizED Identity Crafting and Exploration. It’s very personal to me because I’m an immigrant, but not only that, I’m a black immigrant woman. When I began teaching in the U.S., I realized many immigrant youths have had their stories told for them rather than by them, which further inspired me to create a space for them to share their own stories.
Why should students sign up for this Research Lab? What impact do you hope students will walk away with upon doing this internship?
We need to facilitate and nurture understanding, so students who are a part of the Lab can gain connection and knowledge of the immigrant experience because they’re able to hear stories from them. Stories are powerful; stories shape reality, and hearing stories will expand our minds and view of the world. Additionally, those who join my Lab develop many multidisciplinary crafting skills. They get to build digital literacy skills and learn how to do podcasting. I hope they walk away transformed. For those who come to the Lab as immigrants or children of immigrants, I hope they walk away with a stronger appreciation for their story. Even those who join the Lab without that background, I hope they walk away with a stronger appreciation for who we are as Americans and immigrants and with the allyship in helping to amplify narratives.
What are you expecting in your upcoming collaboration with the Penn Museum? Do you typically collaborate in these types of ways during this research lab?
The Penn Museum is an outgrowth of my collaboration with Carribean Community in Philadelphia. The feedback so far has been incredible. One lady said that she cried because the story touched her, and she came to the program not having that background. I’m looking forward to doing similar projects in the future. We’re hoping to do a traveling exhibit, and I plan on offering a summer program for immigrant youth to amplify their voices via digital literacies and help them master the tools needed to do so.
What is the selection process like when choosing students for the Lab? How many are you looking to select?
I’d like to work with about five students. I have an application form that students will fill out, and there are a number of things I look for. One section asks them to explain their interest in partnering with the Lab, and I look at that to see why they’re coming to this space. They don’t have to have a background as an immigrant, but I want to see a genuine interest in growth, dialogue, and openness.