PROJECT FOCUS: A is for Altar

About Project Focus

The photographs in this book were made by individuals who participated in the project including the team teachers. Our class met at the Northeast Central Durham Community Service Center in Durham, North Carolina, USA, twice a week for two hours for ten weeks.
The text was co-created through a bilingual language experience approach which sometimes began in English and was then translated into Spanish or visa versa. This bi-literacy approach allowed the students and teachers to learn together and note the similarities and differences between the two languages. Each letter is accompanied by an image of a student demonstrating our invented sign language. This sign language proved to be a helpful and fun way for the students to learn and remember the alphabet.

Project Focus is a collaboration between VOICES and Casa Multicultural. It was funded by the North Carolina Community College System and the Durham Arts Council.

Special thanks to Rich Krawiec, Director of VOICES, for believing in the Project and supporting our artistic freedom. Thanks also to Casa Multicultural's Director, Luis Alvarenga, for his outreach to the Hispano/Latina community and daily support of the project, and to Mr. Roman Godina who helped with our transportation needs.

"A" is for Altar was compiled by the Project Focus participants and team.

Project Focus Paricipants:
- Jose Almante Ayala
- Maria Castilla
- Roman Mora Felipe
- Maria Luisa Gaitan
- Blanca Garcia
- Guillermina Flores Godinez
- Agustin Redones Ibarra
- Abrahan Alberto Luke
- Emilia Cruz Morales
- Macario Valdivia Peña
- Hector Nader Lopez Perez
- Leodesario Flores Piñon
- Erwing Diaz Valdivia
- Jimmy Diaz Valdivia
- Juan Ramirez Villar

Project Focus Team:
- Loren McGrail, Project Coordinator
- Susan Page, Photographer
- Dani Moore, Teacher

See a quick (rough) Spanish translation of this page.