New Faces is a multimedia project for youth and adults that addresses the cultural and economic contributions of Latinos in North Carolina. It is a tool for educators who want learners to think critically about issues such as immigration, globalization, and cultural identity. The New Faces educational materials pair documentary film clips with lesson plans and have been designed for use in middle and high school classrooms as well as in community-based settings with adult learners.

Why New Faces Is Needed

In the past 15 to 20 years North Carolina has experienced a sharp increase in Latino populations in all 100 counties, from the coast, to the piedmont, to the mountains. While many North Carolinians have welcomed the cultural and economic contributions of this growing community, the unfortunate reality is that other citizens have not. Latino populations in North Carolina have experienced significant anti-immigrant sentiment and prejudice, often in classrooms and school settings. Several years ago teachers and community leaders expressed concern over a lack of compelling curricular materials with which to engage students in learning about North Carolina's changing demographics and in particular about Latinos in the state. Working Films recognized the need for a curriculum that would break down stereotypes and misunderstandings about North Carolina's booming Latino population and developed and launched the New Faces curriculum and media project.