International Services
Beyond Books & Borders: Culture, Diversity, HPL Experiences
NEW AMERICANS ACTIVITIES
- Citizenshipworks.org — usage of featured site, made available in December of 2015 through New Americans Campaign for online assessment/application, through "CitizenshipWorks Naturalization Applications Workshops" at HPL; requires network registration and partnering with local legal experts
- ESL resources — introduce "Mix & Mango," a language series akin to "Spanish Over Coffee" aimed to highlight Mango Languages (instructor-led)
- Citizen Q&A — series of oral history sessions aimed to encourage dialogue between older citizenship candidates and young people; recommend piloting and implementing VoiceThread technology platform
- Passport Services help — for New Americans
"Mix & Mingle" to learn a language
Share stories and document personal narratives
Apply as a new American
DIVERSITY THROUGH EDUCATION & ENTERTAINMENT
- Language Learning — "Mix & Mango" series promotion plus system-wide celebration of International Mother Language Day on February 21st connected to African American Heritage Month and Lunar New Year recognizing a major Chinese holiday and the indigenous languages of the African, Asian, and American continents
- Music & Dance — performance-based programs at neighborhood libraries and through key external community partnerships during the spring and summer season celebrating Jazz Appreciation Month (April), Asian-Pacific American Heritage Month (May), Caribbean-American Heritage Month (June), and Juneteenth
- Houston Book & Culture Fest — an expansion of LibroFEST to include multicultural literature and art; a two-day festival during the fall months encompassing Hispanic Heritage Month and leading into several South Asian holidays (Diwali, Eid and Ramadan)