). Crafting Immigrant Narratives of Belonging: Art and Design for Social Innovation With the Latino, Latina, and Latinx Community of Iowa City

Abstract

This paper is based on the fourth iteration of Shifting Ground (SG), an art and design initiative that engages immigrant communities. Established in 2019, the project has hosted workshops in the US and Portugal, using clay as a foundational material to connect with immigrant memories. SG engages in participatory ceramic sculpture workshops that articulate memories and aspirations tied to cultural heritage and unique immigrant skills, fostering dialogue and belonging within a new context. It aims to give local immigrants visibility and voice, valuing their contributions to the community. In 2023, the Ceramics Department at the University of Iowa hosted the SG’s fourth iteration workshop on Latino, Latina, and Latinx immigrants, focusing on the evolving concepts of home and identity. The research explores cocreation methodologies, emphasising the relational concept’s role as a network of relationships and interactions in engaging participants, ceramic sculptures, and communication for social and cultural integration. Relational thinking challenges the dualistic perspective and advocates for interconnected policies. It emphasises the constant relationships of interdependence between human and non-human. The paper discusses the US immigration process, SG’s concept, objectives, and the relational concept. It analyses the project through opinions collected from participants via a survey. Positive feedback validates the initiative’s role in supporting immigrants. The authors argue that embracing the commons and relational dynamics is crucial for a socially equitable and sustainable society, urging local organisations to adopt this approach systematically.