Tenement Talk: Making Americans

Enjoy a virtual conversation with teacher and author Jessica Lander on her most recent work, Making Americans: Stories of Historic Struggles, New Ideas, and Inspiration in Immigrant Education, streamed live from inside our recreated 1960s tenement apartment.

Starting from her own classroom in Lowell, Massachusetts, Lander shares stories from across the country about immigrant students, their teachers, the struggles they face and the innovations within their communities. The book begins on the Lower East Side, with the history of Julia Richman, the first woman district superintendent in New York City, and a champion for immigrant students’ learning in the early 20th century. From there, Lander explores key historic moments in immigrant education, current classroom communities from Georgia to Colorado, and powerful stories and journeys of young newcomers.