Domestic Intercultural Immersion Community of Practice : Embracing the Somali Immigrant Experience in Midwestern Public Schools

Abstract

The intent of this domestic intercultural immersion experience is to equip participants with 1.) information about Somali culture, traditions and religion from scholarly presentations, readings, observation and interaction with Somali Americans. 2.) An awareness of how learners' race/ethnicity, background knowledge and experiences, culture, religion, and gender impact school environments. 3.) An understanding of the complexities of urban immigrants' lives and large populations of one culture in one school (i.e., high incidence population of non-native speakers).