A global perspective helps them gain an appreciation for differences and commonalities in cultures.
Mays Landing, NJ (January 20, 2022) – High school photography students at the Atlantic County Institute of Technology (ACIT) have been collaborating with students from a similar school in northern Israel for the past year and the lessons they are learning extend far beyond their joint photo study.
The international collaboration was conceived by Joseph Ingemi, Chair of the Education and Workforce Development Committee for the Atlantic County Economic Alliance (ACEA). Ingemi explains that the ACEA works very closely with the New Jersey Department of State’s New Jersey/Israel Commission on numerous activities, and when he approached the trade group about help with an educational program, the wheels were quickly set into motion.
ACIT was matched with a secondary school in Northern Israel, the Akko Center for Arts and Technology (A-CAT) and the schools found a commonality in the photography classes they offer.
“Students from both schools have a platform to learn about each other, understand each other’s histories, both personally and nationally, and capture humanity through photos,” explains Karen Arcidiacono, Director of Curriculum, Instruction and Special Projects at ACIT. “This lends itself to paths of self-discovery around diversity and social issues that affect all global citizens.”
“The ACEA is excited to work with the New Jersey/Israel Commission to facilitate this partnership between ACIT and A-CAT,” says Ingemi. “Our goal is to help grow our regional economy by giving our future leaders the opportunity to develop a global perspective and an appreciation for the diversity of cultures. This type of understanding is an essential component of success in the 21st century economy.”
“The ACEA is fortunate to be led by active members of our board of directors, like Joe Ingemi, who understand our commitment to the next generation of entrepreneurs, CEOs and businesspeople,” said ACEA President Lauren Moore. “While the ACEA’s activities often focus on business attraction and retention, and diversification of our regional economy, we recognize the need for Atlantic County’s youth to be key players in developing the business trends of tomorrow. These ACIT students are gaining an invaluable insight into the importance of international collaboration and we think that bodes really well for out future.”
Naim Obeid, an administrator from A-CAT, recently visited ACIT to learn more about ACIT and opportunities for collaboration. Obeid toured the school and viewed equipment and facilities for programs like cosmetology, fashion, CADD, engineering, video and media arts, and digital photography. During the tour and thereafter, Obeid spoke to teachers across disciplines about life at ACIT and its impact on students. He also had extensive conversations with administrators Arcidiacono and Jamie Burrows (Supervisor of Career and Technical Education) about the progress and potential of this year’s digital photography project as well as future collaborations.
Ingemi says the collaboration is the first step in the partnership since there are so many similarities between them. Both ACIT and A-CAT have diverse student populations. A-CAT is located in Akko, Israeli, a city that is a model for Jews and Arabs living together with mixed social groups contributing to this environment. Both Ingemi and Arcidiacono say this exchange is invaluable for students as it gives them a global perspective and helps them gain an appreciation for differences in cultures.
Right now, students from each school’s photography classes/programs are doing a photo study of their families and communities. They’ve been sharing photos through the cloud. They look at each other’s works and provide feedback. While the pandemic, the Israeli elections, and an outbreak of violence in the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict last spring that have slowed the collaboration, the students remain enthusiastic, curious and engaged. They want to communicate with each other and are looking forward to video calls planned for the immediate future.
Arcidiacano says the program is professionally refreshing and potentially awe-inspiring. “We have two populations on different sides of the world largely dealing with similar social realities, but in ways that are indicative of their cultures and sub-cultures,” she says. “We want students to discover, discuss, and dream of the beauty that comes humanity when the stories are told through art, through a single image important enough to the photographer that sharing it with the world might actually make the difference. This is the challenge of the educator, providing an environment for these lessons to surface. ACIT and A-CAT are figuring out how to do that well, together.”
