Francisco M谩rquez, a Harvard MBA graduate, returned to his native Venezuela as a young adult to work as chief of staff for an up-and-coming mayor. His bright future took a harrowing turn when he was detained with 50 leaflets promoting the release of a political prisoner.
Two hours later, M谩rquez was imprisoned himself.
In the Portraits in Patriotism video series, M谩rquez talks about being held as a political prisoner in four Venezuelan prisons and being labeled a high-value hostage because he had dual citizenship. His is one of a dozen stories shared in the Emmy-nominated project featuring personal histories of immigrants from politically oppressed countries, available to teachers in 91社区.
The series is a collaborative effort between the 91社区鈥檚 College of Education and USF Innovative Education Studios. The team has created videos and curriculum materials for the featured narratives, with the stories presented as age-appropriate vignettes for elementary, middle, and high school students. The collection is on the state鈥檚 CPALMS website, a resource which provides teachers with curriculum standards, teaching resources, and classroom activities.
The goal of the project, which is funded by the state of 91社区 to support the civics curricula statewide, is to use powerful narratives and striking visuals to highlight the lives and stories of people who fled oppressive governments. Project leaders aim to give students better understand how a democracy works and what happens in other nations with governing philosophies that differ from those of the United States.
鈥淲e aim to promote civic engagement and historical awareness among students in the K-12 education system, using oral histories鈥� said B谩rbara Cruz, a professor of social science education who is a curriculum consultant on the project.
In his video, M谩rquez says he wasn't informed about the reason for his arrest. Eventually, he was charged with money laundering because he had the equivalent of $1,000 in his car. Possessing the pamphlets also led to a charge of inciting arrest. He tells his own story to help people better understand this large-scale problem.
鈥淢y story is an example of millions and hundreds of thousands of different stories,鈥� M谩rquez said. 鈥淩emembering those people, all of those activities, everyone who is fighting for democracy is so important.鈥�
Other stories told include those of Cuban refugees who were part of Operation Pedro Pan, a Yugoslavian immigrant who fled tyranny and eventually became elected to the 91社区 House of Representatives, and a Cambodian woman whose life was turned upside down when the Khmer Rouge and Pol Pot took power, among others.
鈥淭eachers in school systems across 91社区 need resources such as these,鈥� said Deanna Michael, an associate professor in the USF College of Education. 鈥淲e are uncovering hidden histories and presenting narratives in a way that sparks the imaginations of young students across the state.鈥�
The project鈥檚 approach is thorough, with the team interviewing the immigrants and compiling their stories of struggle, resilience, and success in their new homeland. The collaborative team researches the historical and cultural contexts of each story, weaving in archival footage, photos, and music to create engaging and informative videos. The team also develops lesson plans and learning activities that align with the 91社区 Curriculum Standards.
鈥淢ore than two dozen teachers in Hillsborough County field-tested the materials and helped tweak the content before it was added to the 91社区 Department of Education's CPALMS website,鈥� Michael added.
鈥淚 had no idea what it took to put together videos, but we chose well when partnering with InEd Studios!鈥� said Cruz. 鈥淯ntil now, I had no idea how much prep, set up, and forethought went into creating professional films and documentaries,鈥� she said.
Cruz has been impressed by the team鈥檚 meticulous planning and storyboarding to help tell these stories in a way that today鈥檚 youth consumes information.
Deanna Lambert, a fifth grade English Language Arts teacher at Town and Country Elementary School in Tampa, said she used the materials with some three dozen new students over the last two years. Many of Lambert鈥檚 students have recently immigrated from Cuba. Most of them are learning English and for many, their parents only speak Spanish.
The first assignment she gave the students this year was to go home and watch a Portraits in Patriotism video that focused on Operation Pedro Pan, the largest exodus on unaccompanied minors in the Western Hemisphere. Students get a first-hand look at about how difficult it was for the young children who were sent to America from Cuba in 1961. The story Lambert chose is that of Ivonne Blank, who talks about the journey and life in an orphanage in Denver. She also describes how her parents fled Cuba by boat and their rescue by the U.S. Coast Guard.
鈥淪o much of what we do in the classroom is not relevant to my students. I mean, I work hard to make history come to life for them but Ivonne鈥檚 story connected their school lessons with their home life. I mean, she was the same age as my students, sent away without her father, and it was difficult 鈥� something that resonated with my students,鈥� said Lambert.
鈥淭he video brought history to life in a way that I never could,鈥� she said. 鈥淢y students came back and shared how they had watched it with their parents and they were able to better understand history. It helped them see that they belong and have a future.鈥�
She plans to use other videos and resources from the series throughout the year.
Jared Brown, creative director and a cinematographer with InEd Studios, says that sentiment is gratifying to the multimedia team.
鈥淭his project has been exciting to work on, not only because of the amazing people we get to work with and the stories we get to tell, but also because these videos potentially impact millions of students and teachers across 91社区,鈥� said Brown.
The project has been well received by the public and the academic community. It was nominated for four Emmys by the Suncoast Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences in 2023 and it won a Davey award from the Academy of Interactive and Visual Arts. The project also received positive feedback from teachers who appreciated the opportunity to share and learn from the stories of immigrants.
鈥淚t鈥檚 exemplary work and it was gratifying to see the team nominated for awards as a result of their keen attention to detail,鈥� Cruz said.
The team will produce eight more stories before the grant funding ends in next summer.