Sharing best practices and research findings through digital humanities and social science : an invitation to join the Rural Immigration Network

Abstract

"How can we meet the goals that Cambio de Colores espouses: fostering cross-cultural connections, well-being, inclusion, prosperity and integration among all peoples living in rural communities? In-person contacts, supported by inclusive institutions and clear-eyed local leaders, nurtured into genuine relationships are surely best. Some of these patterns can come about by happenstance, given enough time. Others can be fostered intentionally by sharing good ideas and best practices. Digital scholarship tools and trends open new opportunities for achieving these goals. They complement the direct connections made through daily interactions and through professional meetings, workshops and conferences. This paper argues that scholars should ground their digital work on immigration within frameworks developed by community based learning and research practitioners. While many organizations addressing immigration-related issues maintain a digital presence, it seems safe to assume that they do so without delving into network or digital production theories. These organizations may have more tools and more willing partners at hand to support their efforts to ensure integration and well-being than they realize. Specifically, in the past two decades, academic institutions and funders have developed elaborate systems and theory to produce digital scholarship. Major funders support this effort, providing training workshops and graduate programs, open source technology and tools, and considerable knowledge of how to foster online communication. These systems parallel commercial digital infrastructures, but are guided by priorities and frameworks of the academy, rather than market or administrative logics. While not always realized, academic priorities leave space for more open, collaborative approaches to well-being and inclusion separate from profit motives. ..."--Introduction.