Do your social circles accurately reflect the ethnic mix of your community?  Unfortunately, the answer is likely somewhere between no and what ethnic mix?  Research confirms the social marginalization of immigrants, and although it may not be readily apparent in our daily lives, this disconnect has repercussions.   In the short term, an absence of personal connections impedes immigrant efforts to gain employment, learn English, access healthcare, utilize public education, participate in elections, and so on. In the long term, social marginalization of immigrants can create an “underclass” within communities, placing a strain on resources and relations.   The opposite of marginalization, and the ideal toward which The Kindred Project works, is integration.  In terms of immigrants, integration is actually a relatively recent phenomenon.  Because experience has shown that immigrants often maintain two cultural identities, integration has replaced assimilation as the prevailing best practice. Instead of striving to make similar, as in assimilation, integration is a reciprocal arrangement—a sustained, mutually beneficial interaction between newcomers and the receiving society.

- Nick

I am American, my parents are Jamaican, and my family’s heritage is Chinese. Naturally, there is a story there. And there are millions of other immigrant stories like it that beg to be heard. The Kindred Project is built on the belief that communities will be more stable and efficient—and just generally more appealing places to live—if immigrants and established residents were socially connected, interacting intentionally and not simply out of passing necessity.    The Kindred Project concept started as a quest to generate value from cultural difference and to find an engaging way to integrate immigrant groups into the general community.  I just wasn’t sure exactly how I would do it.  The answer came as I traveled during and after college and experienced firsthand the intrinsic value of immersion travel, how it defies passivity and invites action. Travel would be my vehicle. To achieve integration, every community member needs two things: a hands-on shared experience that spurs further engagement and a network of sustainable personal connections. 

My hope is that the Kindred Experience trips will provide both of these things.  Immigrants provide a valuable bridge, a personal connection to a new culture. Travelers gain a vested interest in local integration through immersion abroad. The result is intense shared experience and a foundation for collaborative change.

- Nick

These are exciting times for The Kindred Project.  Since it is the launch phase, everything–from the concept to the mission to the trips to this blog–is new.  And as follows, there will surely be a few bumps along the way as we figure out how the pieces of the puzzle will ultimately fit together.  The motivation to overcome these challenges is the upside of the organization’s work, the vision of the potential impact The Kindred Project can have on a national scale.  

The initial feedback from immigrant/ethnic community members, potential travelers, and non-profit and local government leaders has been positive.  Hopefully after exploring the website and learning more about why the Kindred Experience is unique, you too will support the organization during this important opening chapter. 

The Kindred Project blog is the place to find information on upcoming Kindred Experience trips, answers to frequently asked questions, and notices regarding special events and hiring.  It is also the best way to keep up to date with all of the happenings within the organization.  Please visit often and feel free to comment or contact us at any time.  Thanks for reading! 

- Nick