In the spring of 2019, Jackie Osborn and Karen McHegg’s fourth grade students at John Muir Elementary School worked with Jack Straw’s artist team to create 10 original stories about why people immigrate to Washington State. Working in small groups, the students researched push and pull factors, learned how immigrants were treated when they arrived, and explored the positive impacts immigrants have had on Washington State culture. The students then collaborated on stories that incorporated the highlights of their research.

Jack Straw vocal coaches Katya Landau and Marco Voli visited the students in the classroom to help them work through their scripts and use their voices to tell their stories. Students recorded their PSAs in Jack Straw Cultural Center’s professional recording studios, working with Katya, Marco, and audio engineers Daniel Guenther, Joel Maddox, and Ayesha Ubayatilaka.

Immigration to Washington State 2019 was produced by John Muir Elementary School and Jack Straw Cultural Center with the generous support of the John Muir PTA, the Washington State Arts Commission, and individual contributors. Our thanks to John Muir teachers Jackie Osborn and Karen McHegg, Julie Trout, visual arts teacher and arts team lead, and John Muir Principal Brenda Ball Cuthbertson.

The Jack Straw artist team included vocal coaches Katya Landau and Marco Voli; audio engineers Daniel Guenther, Joel Maddox, and Ayesha Ubayatilaka; production intern Connor Wang; photographer Sherwin Eng; web designer Levi Fuller; and Jack Straw Executive Director Joan Rabinowitz.

Artists