“Finding America: Dispatches on the New Immigrant Experience”

A road trip from New York to the Democratic and Republican National Conventions to highlight and document how the divisive immigration issues are playing out across America.

The project team, equipped with van, laptops and video camera, made stops at 7 locations known for controversial or pioneering immigrant ordinances or policies, including: Long Island, New York; New Haven, CT; Trenton, NJ; Hazelton, PA; Postville, IA, and others (exact route available on the blog).  The team captured candid interviews by community members and brought their grassroots message to the public and to Democratic and Republican party officials as the nation got ready for the conventions in the height of the presidential election season.

The dispatches were distributed through a new, interactive website with blog and video capability, http://finding-america.blogspot.com. The project team pioneered early Twitter and microblogging use in documenting the trip. With a portable hotspot in the van, the team took turns writing and editing videos while driving to locations, and posting constantly for almost real-time coverage on the blog, Youtube, and Facebook (all available from the blog).  The site was updated multiple times a day with commentary and images, as well as a full video report.

The project produced 67 full-length blog posts, over 1,000 stunning pictures, and 36 incredibly moving video interviews.

DVD’s of the messages to the candidates from the interviews were printed and distributed at the convention in Denver and St. Paul.

Check it out at: Finding America