NYCImmigrants

Bring Ellis Island and Liberty Island to your Community for Immigrant Heritage Week!

HOST A PROGRAM WITH A PARK RANGER FROM LIBERTY AND ELLIS ISLAND FOR IMMIGRANT HERITAGE WEEK

As Hurricane Sandy damaged both Liberty and Ellis Islands, the National Park Rangers are looking to partner with organizations to bring free educational programs from the islands to communities for the 10^th Annual Immigrant Heritage Week.  The programs have been designed to showcase chronicles of Ellis Island, America’s largest and most active immigration station, and the immigrants who passed through its port.

WANT TO HOST A NEIGHBORHOOD PARK RANGER IN YOUR ORGANIZATION?

Neighborhood Park Rangers will be available to lead 45 minute programs from Wednesday, April 17^th to Friday, April 19^th and Monday, April 22^nd to Wednesday, April 24^th.

HOW TO BOOK A PROGRAM

To reserve a program facilitated by a Neighborhood Park Ranger in your community during Immigrant Heritage Week:

• select a date, time and location
• select a program from the menu below 
• contact Sarah Flatto at sflatto@cityhall.nyc.gov or (212) 341-9075.

Reservations must be made at least 7 days in advance of program date.

AVAILABLE PROGRAMS

“Immigrants: Let Us Entertain You” (For 10 Years of Age to Adult)

Between 1892 and 1954, immigration officials processed over 12 million immigrants at Ellis Island. Immigrants helped build the United States of America and their efforts continue to define and enrich our nation’s and our city’s identity. Some of those passing through Ellis Island reaped a variety of riches in their adopted home. Some were honored for their contributions to variety of fields. As we celebrate this year’s Immigrant Heritage Week, we salute immigrants who entered through the doors of Ellis Island and went on to leave an indelible mark on the arts. Attendees will be able to see the ship manifest records of Bob Hope, Cary Grant, Irving Berlin and Maria Von Trapp.  They will also hear about three Ellis Island immigrants who were eventually elected Mayor of New York City. In addition, participants will discuss immigrants who made significant contributions to the fields of architecture and dance, and children will enjoy hearing the story of Chef Boyardee (yes, he too arrived at Ellis Island!). Participants will experience the story of Ellis Island and be provided with tips to preserve their own family stories for generations to come.

“We Are Ellis Island” (For Adult Learners)

The Neighborhood Ranger will show the award-winning documentary “Island of Hope; Island of Tears”. The documentary chronicles the moving stories of people and families with dreams of opportunity leaving their homeland with what they could carry. The film also contains magnificent archival footage from Ellis Island when it was the primary port of entry for millions of European immigrants. The film is preceded by a 15 minute conversation led by a Park Ranger.

Internet access or a DVD player and television monitor are required for this program.

“It’s Story Time”  (For Children 3rd – 5th grade)

History, liberty, democracy, immigration and citizenship are represented in American symbols explored in these colorful, small-volume story books.  The Neighborhood Ranger will read aloud from children’s books in which children will learn about liberty, pride, freedom and themselves. The following are suggested story books: What is the Statue of Liberty? by Janice Behrens; Lily and Miss Liberty by Carla Stevens; Dreaming of America by Eve Bunting, and The Memory Coat by Elvira Woodruff. The Neighborhood Ranger may consider other options available at your site location.

 “Punching the Ticket” (For Recent Immigrants)

As immigrants finished processing at Ellis Island, many confronted the difficulties of communicating with others in a different language. Symphonies of Italian, Russian, and a host of other languages filled the air as they made their ways to their new homes. In Punching the Ticket, the Neighborhood Ranger will explore some of the communicative challenges and other difficulties immigrants faced as they settled in their new country. The program is highly interactive and designed for recent immigrants to the United States. The activities within the program help make the immigrant experience come alive for the participants and connect the experiences of newcomers with immigrants arriving 100 years ago.