Sticky Family #2 emerged from The Sticky Family Workshops, a series of generative and participatory workshops that invited students in ARAB009/ENGL009: Refuge: Resettled in Philadelphia (Fall 2023, Swarthmore College) and community collaborators–drawn from the Arabic-speaking resettled community in Philadelphia–to imagine what our world might look like if we, quite literally, had to stick together across differences. Each of the three workshops was preceded by lunch cooked by a workshop participant. These workshops were led by two teaching artists–josh graupera and Yaroub Al-Obaidi with Professors Smith and Price participating as part of the group.
The Sticky Family Workshops took place on November 1, November 8, and November 15, 2023 in person at Swarthmore College. Participants included nine students enrolled in the course, two course instructors, and five community members.
About the Teaching Artists
Yaroub Al-Obaidi is an Iraqi - American conceptual and social artist born in Diyala-Iraq and is currently in a PhD program at Duquesne University. josh graupera is an artist living in Philadelphia, PA. Their practice explores the relationship between visual art and participatory action.
About the Illustrator
Eric Battle is an American curator, art director, graphic novelist, and freelance illustrator based in Philadelphia.
Acknowledgements
Thank you to all of our funders for making this project possible. Thank you to Fadaa Ali and Asmaa Diab for cooking delicious food for us during the workshops. And thank you to all who made food for the potluck before our third workshop. Thank you to Yaroub Al-Obaidi, who helped to identify community collaborators. Thank you to josh grapuera for designing this zine. Thank you to Delores Robinson and Jessica Bawgus for providing logistical support. And, most of all, thank you to the students and community participants who were willing to share their stories, imaginations, and hearts with each other to create something larger than any one of us–a family.
The Eugene M. Lang Center for Civic and Social Responsibility and the Engagement Scholarship Consortium provided major funding for this project. Additional support was provided by the Constance Hungerford Faculty Support Fund, Engaged Humanities Studio, the President’s Fund for Racial Justice, Swarthmore College Libraries, and the Teaching and Learning Commons—all at Swarthmore College.
