Study Abroad Research Proj -Mexico

Dear family and friends,

My name is Alexandria Isom and I am a Junior at Northern Illinois University studying Journalism. Recently, I was offered the humbling opportunity to do a one-week study-abroad research project in Mexico this summer, along with a special group of student leaders at NIU.

Human Connections is a social enterprise that provides social education through travel. They seek research contributions (which can be in the form of press releases, videos, articles, etc) that underscore the culture and traditions within Bucerias, particularly those coming from the state of Guerrero. Almost half of their local artisans are migrants from Guerrero, a state which due to some high profile violent incidents and economic challenges has a fairly negative reputation within Mexico and abroad. We hope to highlight the beauty and culture of Guerrero, despite its challenges, by showcasing its art, culture and people. This project would involve online research, but also would involve a strong community engagement component. We will conduct interviews with local artisans from Guerrero to learn about their culture and beautiful work. Ultimately, this research will be used to write articles and journals about their empowering stories, which will be sent to magazines with a tourist audience. We hope that as a result of this project, we can raise awareness among tourist populations about the work of Human Connections and help the local artisans promote and grow their businesses.

Though this opportunity is truly fascinating, I would not be able to go without the financial support of my family, friends, and mentors. The funds will be used to cover my transportation, passport, and program costs.

I only have 4 weeks to raise the funds but every little bit really does count. Every little bit really does make a difference. I simply can't thank you enough.