Presentation Feedback.

The generous comments and suggestions after my already over-timed presentation are all really helpful for me to go into the next steps.

After given some thoughts to the reality of pulling new immigrants out of their comfort zone, I've decided to focus my direction on the Cultural Meet-up Event.

Here's why...

1. People interactions encourage positive learning. New information tends to be easier to absorb and more memorable especially for new immigrants between the age of 45 to 55.

• I remember when my dad enrolled in adult school 6 years ago, he had a hard time learning all the high school materials in English (except for Math). It's been more than four years since he has graduated now, and he still can't stop talking about (and I stress, talk about) how he learned the secret of making mash potato from his Canadian teacher...

• Theresa Wong at 4:49pm September 24 (Research from Facebook)
  Hi Chloe, I don't know if a kit is what immigrants need when they arrive. My brother was a volunteer immigrant buddy at a local community center when he was younger. "Recent arrivals who make a positive connection with their peers often adjust to their new community more readily." Human interaction is important to getting adjusted in a new life... Perhaps you could look into immigrant buddy programs. There are immigrant buddy programs for all ages.

2. Avoid the awkward blind date anxiety/experience for new immigrants by using the Events to introduce Canadian local volunteers to new immigrants.

• Use the events to bring more awareness to the program as not enough people (both the immigrants and Canadian locals). The new immigrants tends to jump right to the little circle of friends and relatives not knowing about this program... (yes, we're back into discussing the "comfort zone" topic. Don't worry, I'm not ignoring the issue. But I'm thinking this event can be something that compliments the "comfort zone." Like what Don said about how the Neighbourhood Houses becomes this one connection between the diverse age, gender, ethnic groups and bring them together...)

• Customized Buddy Program: use the event as an opportunity to get people who share similar interests together. Allowing people who speak different languages to be connected (help each other to share their resources) with something that they have common with (ie. music, crafts, food, profession, movies, etc...). This could be the fuel to help immigrants adapt better and quicker by already having something in common with the Canadian local. Similarly, the Canadian locals would gain more knowledge at an international level about what they're interested in–so helping doesn't become a task and time out of their schedule because they're likely to gain something back as well through this cultural exchange...

Like what Don and Tak mentioned, my role in project is a designer. Before I get started and get myself overwhelmed with the actual execution of the event, I need to keep in mind that my role is a designer, not a PR representative. So the focus should be devoted to developing the visuals pieces to promote this event and the visual components that will go into the event.

This week, I will be developing a moodboard for visuals. The look and feel of this project will be locked down this week.

Stay tuned... Thanks again for everyone's feedback yesterday. It helpe a lot.