Students investigate how immigrants shape communities in the United States, the challenges and opportunities they face, and how local communities can respond with stronger support. Through interviews, case-study analysis, and research with CHIRLA staff, immigrant-rights attorneys, and bilingual community center coordinators, they build a coherent understanding from primary, secondary, and multimedia sources. Their work culminates in a bilingual resource map, a live case-study showcase, and a student-led forum that require them to communicate findings clearly, collaborate with peers and adults, and revise their ideas based on feedback. The experience helps students connect historical and contemporary immigration issues to real people, real services, and actionable community solutions.

Students will research how immigrants shape communities in the United States by analyzing interviews, case studies, legal documents, and multilingual resources, then synthesize those sources into clear claims about challenges, opportunities, and support systems. They will practice collaborative discussion, ethical interviewing, note-taking, and source evaluation with feedback from CHIRLA staff, immigrant-rights attorneys, bilingual community center coordinators, and peers. Students will create and revise a bilingual interactive resource map with QR codes and evidence-based explanations for families, using weekly critique to improve accuracy, clarity, and usefulness. They will present their findings and proposals in public formats, using digital media strategically and addressing multiple perspectives during the showcase and community forum.

Students will create interview notes, annotated case studies and legal/resource texts, research evidence trackers, and weekly reflection logs as they investigate how immigrants experience challenges and opportunities in the United States. In teams, they will develop a bilingual resource map of local services for immigrants as an interactive board with QR codes, key contacts, and student-written explanations of how each support network helps families. They will also produce case-study station materials, digital presentation media, and a panel brief with research claims, questions, and community support proposals for the student-moderated forum. By the end, students will present their final resource map and live case-study exhibits to CHIRLA staff, immigrant-rights attorneys, bilingual community center coordinators, peers, and other invited community members.

Open with Pathways Passport Day, where teams rotate through short stations led by CHIRLA staff, immigrant-rights attorneys, and bilingual community center coordinators to practice interviewing, reading a brief case file, and mapping local support networks. At each station, students collect evidence, questions, and key contacts in a shared “passport” that will help them begin answering how immigrants shape communities, what challenges they face, and how communities can respond. End with a whole-class debrief in which teams compare patterns they noticed across stories, legal barriers, and available services, then draft an initial inquiry question and role plan for their 8-week project.

Host a two-part public event that opens with the Pathways to Belonging Showcase, where student teams run live case-study stations for CHIRLA staff, bilingual community center coordinators, immigrant-rights attorneys, peers, and families, explaining how immigrants face both challenges and opportunities in the United States. Display the bilingual resource maps as interactive boards with QR codes, key contacts, and short student-recorded explanations so visitors can explore local support networks and ask questions. Follow with the Community Bridges Forum, a student-moderated panel in which teams present research findings, community support proposals, and interview-based insights while addressing audience questions and alternative perspectives. End by inviting partners to give feedback on which ideas are most useful and how the resource maps could be shared beyond the classroom through community centers, school websites, or CHIRLA events.