Tornado Project

21 items

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  !Viva London¡ Maria Villamizar & a London Hispanic TV show in London, ON, Canada - Dec. 2015

  Maria Villamizar, an executive director of !Viva London!, a bilingual language TV show (English and Spanish) in London, ON, Canada. On of main purposes for her to run this TV show aims at helping immigrants, especially Hispanic immigrants to understand Canadian culture and its organization. In addition, !Viva London! provides valuable and trustworthy contents for immigrants to adapt the new culture, as well. Due to the positive impact that this initiative has had the community, Maria Villamizar decides continue to provide hard-to-get- at information by using appropriate resources, and present these information through !Viva London! My partner highlights in order to live a better life in a new culture, it is essential to familiarize and adapt a new culture that they lived.
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  A Life Well Lived: Documenting the Immigrant Experience of José Briceño Medina - Dec. 2015

  The purpose of this portrait is to share José Briceño Medina’s immigrant experience with the London community. The main theme depicted is challenge and change. The portrait begins with a few words from Mr. Briceño regarding his intent in participating in the project followed by his education. He then speaks to the reason behind the immigration and why he chose Canada. Moreover, Mr. Briceño discusses the social differences between Colombia and Canada and why it was difficult to transition. He speaks of his community service for the Hispanic community and the recognition he has received from his Congress. Mr. Briceño shares his views on the future and the portrait ends on a note of levity.
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  Cuba to Canada: Language, Family & Culture - Dec. 2015

  Jimmy Borja immigrated to Ontario, Canada in 2004. Despite being fluent in the English language, Jimmy had a difficult time overcoming the cultural and even the more subtle language barriers. In this video Jimmy shares the hardships of permanently living in a country where you don't know anyone who speaks your native language. He also offers advice for others undergoing this process of immersion.
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  Dipping into Dance and Identity in the Latin Culture

  In this short film, my community partner tells a story about his culture and his experience of that culture here in Canada. In the year 2000, Balmore and his family moved from San Sebastian, El Salvador to London Ontario. Balmore started out dancing as a child when he would perform at quinceñeras, an event similar to a sweet 16 or a bat mitzvah for Hispanic girls where they celebrate becoming a woman. As a child dancing wasn’t necessarily something he wanted to take part in, but he did so anyway. Fast-forward a few years, and Balmore comes to realize how unique he was for keeping up with this tradition, unless you take dance lessons growing up, not many people know how to dance or develop the rhythm that comes along with it. Since realizing this growing passion, Balmore has taken many lessons to develop his personal skill level and has taken steps to becoming a dance instructor and teaching Latin dance here in London. Not only does dance play a huge role in the Latin culture, but the different types of music also play a part in it. Balmore discusses the effect that both music and dance have on him personally and how he is able to share his culture by teaching others.
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  Dr.Carolina Bonilla & The Canadian Latin American Association - Dec. 2015

  This is a short portrait of Dr. Carolina Bonilla and the Canadian Latin American Association (CALA). Carolina Bonilla is a medical doctor with a PhD in Human Nutrition from the University of Guelph, Ontario, Canada. Her interests and expertise span from health promotion and disease prevention of nutrition related diseases, health in immigrant populations, health equality and clinical research. Carolina joined CALA in 2010 and has been part of the Board of Directors of CALA and Chairperson of the Health Committee since 2013. CALA is an organization that is a dynamic Latin American community that enriches the Canadian society it mission is to be a relevant resource to the Latin American community that promotes cultural identity and supports integration
  
  
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  Family through the ages: Día de los Muertos - Dec. 2015

  This video allows a look into a typical Mexican family who places a high value on family and being close. Family is an important Mexican tradition which is exemplified in this video that show cases the Tezcucano family. This video introduces a few members of the family, and shows the important role family plays in Mexican culture. Included is the family tradition practise of Día de los Muertos which is about remembering ones' relatives/friends that have passed onto the next cycle of life (death). This video talks about the practises associated with Día de los Muertos and how the Tezcucano family immigrated to Canada bringing this tradition with them to teach their own children about it.
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  Food, Immigration and, Identity: Exploring the Preservation of Mexican Food Culture
  

  This video is an analysis of the effects of immigration on Mexican food culture. The interview features Dave who immigrated to Canada 8 years ago from Mexico. The struggles that immigrants face in terms of finding their native food is discussed. As immigration has increased, the popularity of Mexican food has too, but is the food that has reached all corners of the world authentic in the eyes of a native Mexican? The consensus leads towards no. Popular chains such as Taco Bell and Chipotle distort the world’s view of Mexican Food. There must be an effort on behalf of the consumer to learn more about the culture and what the food means to the average native Mexican. It is vital to understand this in order to increase the appreciation and decrease the misappropriation of cultures in the world. In order to continue growing global culture without fueling stereotypes there must be an increase in communication and understanding on a personal level.
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  Freedom and Expression of Self: Painting Belen's life as a Portrait

  Culture is fluid, identity is dynamic and pride, invaluable. Many immigrants journey to Canada every year, leaving family and friends behind in search for a better life. For the past couple of weeks, I have been working with my community partner and friend, Belen Montefalcone, who migrated to Canada from Argentina. She leads a busy life, being a researcher, instructor and advocate for The Art of Living: London. In this portrait, we explore various facets of Belen’s identity and culture through a relaxed home interview. I took a video recording of Belen while I conducted a short interview with a set of pre-prepared questions. The unintimidating home setting allowed for a comfortable conversation and I was able to personally observe food and other items she described. From the interview I found that Belen has a very good memory of details of her life back in Argentina and that she keeps in regular contact with her family via Whatsapp (cellular phone texting app). These findings suggest that culture is not necessarily maintained by what is displayed around you but can be upheld through constant communication with family and friends, linking you back home to your roots.
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  Helping Integrate Newcomers – The Experiences of an Individual - Dec. 2015

  This video was completed as a project for a community service learning class at Western University. It is part of a collection of portraits which showcases prominent members of the Hispanic, German, and Italian communities in London, Ontario. The subject of the portrait is Jaime Martinez, the executive director of the Latino-London organization. It focuses specifically on how Jaime has dedicated his life in Canada to helping immigrants obtain permanent residency, as well as how he provides support to the Hispanic community in London. Everything is portrayed via an interview with Jaime, which includes sections of video interview and sections of images with interview audio as an accompaniment. It was completed using Audacity and iMovie editing software. From the interview, we gain an understanding of what Jaime does to help the community, but also are able to learn from his opinions, experiences, and advice.
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  If there is a will, there is a way. íQuerer es poder!
  The achievement of dreams – A personal story of immigration from El Salvador to Canada - Dec. 2015

  The processes of self-discovery, the forming of passions and the achievement of successes are true measures of accomplishment. This portrait shall start with the story of 12-year old Selvin who had to uproot and relocate his life from El Salvador to Canada.
  The video shall progress through the hopes and dreams of the 12 year old child and show how he grew and adapted to achieve them. With a focus on real-life heroes as those who overcome adversity and achieve their goals – parallels shall be drawn between Selvin’s hero, mentor and role-model, his father, and Selvin himself. Done in a story-board/comic book form the portrait shall embrace Selvin’s childhood hopes and express his transformation in attitude, goals and dreams as he grows up in Canada, where he and his family build their El Salvadorian-Canadian identity.
  Slevin’s core values of family and community are consistently embedded in his actions from childhood onwards. The overcoming of obstacles he faced as a new immigrant, minority in society and simply as a human in a competitive world, shall show that “Where there is a will, there is a way”. Selvin’s infallible and persistent attitude shall serve as an inspiration to the portrait’s viewers and will surely be a testament to true success.
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  Jorge Herrera: Voice of the Hispanic Community in London, Ontario - Dec. 2015

  This video is a portrait of Jorge Herrera, who immigrated to Canada from El Salvador as a political refugee in the 1980s. Stemming from an early interest in radio and communications, Jorge became involved with the campus radio station at Western University, London, in the early 2000s. He is the host of the weekly Spanish-language radio show “La Voz Hispana.” He uses this platform to connect with London’s Hispanic community and to share its culture. He is a strong advocate for connecting youth with cultural opportunities. Jorge demonstrates the value of local cultural radio.
  
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  Maintaining Colombian Roots and Adapting to the Canadian Culture: Negotiating Hybrid Identity

  The purpose of this project is to portray the experience of a Colombian woman, that decided to move to Canada for a better future for herself and her family. The video was accomplished by executing numerous meetings and interviews, and later ended up with a video focusing on a specific theme. The theme focuses on maintaining Colombian roots and adapting to the Canadian culture, while negotiating hybrid identity. The video analyzes the struggles of moving to a new country with a new language, new culture and new people. The sacrifice that millions have made for a better life for themselves and their families is portrayed in this video. The struggle to shape identity and balance the two cultures is also discussed. The interview resulted in a better understanding of immigration and mixing of cultures. Therefore, it is important for the immigrant to adjust to their new life and culture but also preserve their native culture and roots.
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  Migration from Yucatan Youth to London Adulthood: Acculturation, Personal development, and the Pursuit of Opportunity
  

  The purpose of this portrait project is to educate and familiarize viewers with the intercultural experience of migration through a personal development lens and critical evaluation of the effects of migration on the process of transitioning from childhood to adulthood.
  
  This project was created in order to motivate young Canadians to learn intercultural sensitivity and foster a sense of global citizenship by engaging with different cultures. The intention of the project was to conduct an interview with Andre Cochegrus, a local Hispanic community partner. The researched questions focused on the experience of migration and its impact on his personal development. Through the use of emotional music, narration showcasing cultural and historical context, and stylistic B roll footage, the portrait demonstrates an immersive intercultural evaluation of migration from Mexico to Canada during early adolescence.
  
  The portrait demonstrates the effects of the process of acculturation, the role of traditions, and key cultural factors that affect personal development.
  
  Through the use of academic resources and personal first-hand accounts, the video provides a holistic understanding of the experience of adolescent migration from Mexico to Canada.
  
  
  
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  Perspectives on Cuban Healthcare

  A Greek woman whose experience in Cuba relates to her current work project. As well as how her father’s trip to a hospital in Cuba in the 90s shapes her thoughts on the country’s overall healthcare. Several facts and Ellena’s thoughts on healthcare expertise being Cuba’s most valuable export. Ellena’s thoughts on Cuba’s medical school that aims on taking in those from impoverished parts of Africa, and whether or not this will in return make a difference on African healthcare.
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  Religion in Hispanic Immigration - Dec. 2015

  The purpose of this portrait is to show the London community personal stories of Hispanic community members. In particular, this video showcases Victor and Doris Buitrago's personal experiences of religion and immigration. This video portrait consisted of meetings and visits to Iglesia Nueva Baptista London in order to prepare for this interview. It is with great joy that I present to you this portrait.
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  The Canadian Mosaic: Blended families and bilingualism - Dec. 2015

  Marcela Esteo is originally from Argentina, and immigrated to the United States first, where she had her daughter Luciana Ruiz. The motivation for the project is to discuss family dynamic and language retention for Hispanic immigrants living in Canada. I met with the duo twice, discussing family history and what brought them to London. In 2015 they arrived in London, Ontario where she met and married her current husband, forming a ‘blended family.’ Marcela and Luciana both like living in London. Luciana discusses how being fluent in Spanish and English has helped her advance in her French immersion school. They both help each other out when struggling with different languages. This portrait shows how every Hispanic immigrant to Canada has a unique story, forming a mosaic.
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  The Migration of a Family: Dina's Journey from El Salvador to Canada

  Dina is an El Salvadorian school teacher who uprooted her life in her home country and moved to Canada to secure a better future for her and her family. This Portrait Project explores the life of Dina and focuses on the experience of family migration. In 2009, Dina made the decision to leave El Salvador for the safety and wellbeing of her family and to escape the gang violence threatening the streets of Sonsonate. She left behind a close-knit family of 12 brothers and sisters to pursue a new life in Canada with a family of her own, but misses her home dearly. Now, living in London, Ontario with her husband and 3 grown children, Dina speaks as a member of the Hispanic community as she tells her captivating story of adapting to life here in Canada as a refugee.
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  The Spanish Language and the Importance of Linguistics

  In this portrait project, there was a discussion on the Spanish language with a focus on linguistics. The interview was with Jaime Ontiveros, who has a PhD in Hispanic Studies. Dr. Ontiveros is originally from Mexico, then became a resident in Texas before moving to London, Ontario. He taught Spanish to a large variety of students from different ages, varying from kindergarten to university students. Topics discussed in the portrait include; his opinion on parents teaching the maternal language to their children, his personal experience teaching Spanish and the background behind the Spanish language. The Spanish culture has a huge role in the evolution of the language. There is an art to teaching and Dr. Ontiveros teaches the viewer how linguistics and language play a role in our everyday lives and how communication would be impossible without linguistics.
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  Transfer of Culture as seen by Colombian Cuisine - Dec. 2015

  The video-portrait explores cultural adaptation and transfer of Colombian traditions as seen by cuisine. Catalina, a Colombian citizen living in London Ontario and member of the Canadian Latin American Association shares traditional dishes that are her favorite to prepare. Catalina discusses the significance of cuisine to Colombian culture and challenges she faced to keeping her traditions as she moved to London in the year 2004. Catalina expresses that Canada's families are multicultural and so is its society. The multicultural society facilitates a myriad of immigrants with different nationalities to be accepted and also allowing them to maintain their own traditions. Catalina discusses that she doesn't have trouble finding the ingredients to prepare typical dishes because of the presence of latino and asian markets. It is only the tropical and fresher ingredients like maracuya (passion fruit) that she has difficulty finding. Catalina's is happy with her lifestyle in Canada and she invites Canadians who are interested in Colombian culture to try preparing typical food or visiting local latino restaurants. Most importantly she recommends Canadians to not believe all that the television says about Colombia because it is often a generalization. She invites viewers to be open and meet Colombian people who are friendly and also like to raise their children in a good environment.
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  Transformation through travel: Where do I belong?

  Jennifer Kozak, a current Ph.D candidate at Western University working on her thesis on "Identity transformation occurring on student service learning trips", shares her story of personal transformation. As an anglophone Canadian who has studied the Spanish language she brings a unique perspective to cultural transformation and identity. Her travels that began in Cuba and sparked her interest of the Spanish language and community. From there she continued on her journey for further language acquisition and academic achievement. This journey started in Canada and has spanned across several Hispanic countries and customs from which she shares her experiences. We are also given a glimpse of the Spanish community here in Canada and receive a look into how the Spanish community operates in London, Ontario. In addition, motherhood has also changed the course of Jennifer's life and she explains how having a son has pushed her desire to be involved in the Spanish community. The strength of the community can be seen through her accounts within a mother support group and her story helps to influence and encourage current language students.
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  Transition from Columbia to Canada
  -Career Changes, Establishing a Family and Balancing Identities

  This video portrait features a look into Lina’s transition from Bogota, Colombia to London, Canada. Lina immigrated to London in 2009 with the hopes of attending Western University for a master’s degree in Neuropsychology. However, due to miscommunication issues, after moving to London, Lina decided to enroll in the Social Work Program at Kings University College. Throughout her journey, she has made good friends, found a spouse, started a family with him, and established a career for herself. She has created an identity which combines both the Canadian and Columbian cultures. The film provides a unique view on the London community through the use of photos, music, videos and interview excerpts. It raises awareness to some of the obstacles that newcomers must face when moving to Canada, such as; overcoming language barriers and continuing one’s career. The goal of the video is to portray the experience of migrating into a novel environment with a completely different culture. Also, this novel perspective provides a deeper understanding of the Colombian culture in relation to intercultural communications. Moreover, the video was created with the hopes of inspiring the audience to be more open-minded and accepting of different cultures by generating the idea that: even though there are basic difference between cultures, we are still part of one global community.