Immigration in America and in Maine

FAIN: BC-50486-09

Maine Humanities Council (Portland, ME 04102-1012)
Victoria B. Bonebakker (Project Director: May 2009 to July 2011)

Funding will support a variety of programs that will explore the significance of immigration in the United States and in Maine including the performance and discussion program,"As Maine Grows," New Books, New Readers and Let's Talk About It reading and discussion programs, a literatured-based training for early childhood educators, and one-day teacher seminar.

Immigration in American and in Maine will engage a variety of audiences, through a variety of programs, in learning about and reflecting on the significance of immigration in the history of our country and state. Maine has always attracted immigrants, and many of today's residents are descendants of French speaking Canadians,Irish or Italians who came to Maine in the mid 19th century to work in factories and industries such as lumbering. At the time, they were not always welcomed by the primarily Protestant Mainers of English and Scottish descent, and Maine's history includes anti-catholic demonstrations by the KKK. More recent immigration to the state includes people from Asia, Africa and South America, and Portland High School now has students who speak 81 different languages. Maine, historically one of the whitest states, is now beginning to be as richly diverse as the rest of the country. It is time to engage all Mainers in a conversation about who we are now and how we got here.