Block 2.2: Connectivities built by people and groups. Dahlia Mahmoud & Elisabeth Stoney (Zayed University, Abu Dhabi): Community, creative practice and sharing marginal narratives.

1. POEM | CONFERENCE I
Community, crea/ve prac/ce and sharing marginal narra/ves
Dahlia.Mahmoud@zu.ac.ae | Elisabeth.Stoney@zu.ac.ae

2. The Community Effect
Inobservingtheparticipationofpeopleofspecialneeds,orasreferredtointheUnitedArabEmiratespeopleofdetermination,incommunity
and education events over the past 4 year it was clear that there is a need to streamline the engagement processes for all parties involved.
Workingwithintheeducationalcontext -theclassroom-toenhancethelearningexperienceforstudentswithdifferentabilitiesleadtothe
inclusionoftechnologicalassistivelearningaswellasheightenedinterpersonalcommunicationskillstoensurethestudentsremainabreast
with the information shared. While the instructional environment benefits from structured academic support networks, the clear issue
remainingwaswhathappenswhenthestudentsgohomeorneedtoparticipatewithinacommunalsetting?Dotheacademicskillslearned
transfertoeverydaycommunicativeuse,andiftheydohowpalpableisthechangewithoutcommunityinvolvement?
articleinlocalnewson specialneedsstudent,withherfather'scommentaryonstatusofinclusion

3. The Community Effect
The community effect instilled a sense of social cohesion into the classroom and prompted the use of communicative
technologieslikewhatsappandsocialmediawithintheteachingenvironments,studentswouldresorttoalternatemethodsof
critiquingandsharingfeedbackwiththeircolleagueandsoonerthanlatertheassistivetechnologiesandsupportstaffreceded
into the background and what remained was an eager animator engaging with her colleagues and learning how to interact
anew. Itisworthytomentionthathercapstoneprojectwasamusicvideo–afineartinterpretationofheraudio-visualjourney
articleinlocalnewson specialneedsstudent,withherfather'scommentaryonstatusofinclusion

4. The Community Effect
This experience lead to a series of observation sessions on and off campus to explore the importance of participatory workshops and
thepositiveimpactofonetooneengagementeventswithcommunitiesandfamilies.Theseriesofengagingsessionsweresettoexplore
theuseofparticipatorypracticesinthefieldofeducationandthecommunityatlarge.Documentingtheoutcomesandaddressingthe
differencesinoutputwasnecessarytoprovideaframeworkfortheseparticipatoryplatformswithintheparametersifthisdiscussion.
Themainobservationherebeingthepositiveoutcomessurmisedasresultofengagementwithinthecommunitycontext.
https://www.zu.ac.ae/main/en/_zumedia/2015/zu_atrc.aspx

5. The Community Effect
While participatory photography, a creative practice centered on the active engagement of participants, has been applied to
documentationandresearch,thispresentationproposesitsuseineducationwithinandbeyondinstitutionalwalls.Itexaminesthe
practiceofparticipatoryphotographytobuildfundamentalskillsforself-realizationwithinmarginalizedgroups.Highlightingthe
positiveoutcomesofincludingthecommunityeffectwithintheeducationaluseofparticipatorypractices.Globallythedigitaldivide,
fueledprimarilybyeconomicduressinareasofstrifeanddisaster,hasexcludednumerousgroupsofpeoplefromthemainstream
ofcommunicationandparticipation.InthecaseofspecialneedsparticipationintheMiddleEastandNorthAfrica(MENA)region,
thescarcityofmobilityandsocialinfrastructureshavefurtherexacerbatedthelackofcommunalmembership.

6. The Community Effect
2018 | Online Magazine | Self Published by artist.
Current Community events
In the Arabian Peninsula, recent social initiatives have included programs focused on the inclusion of people of special needs to
maximize communication potentials. Through digital media this group can create their own community circles that otherwise would be
logistically impossible. The participatory program designed as part of this research initiative provides the required skills and therefore
offer the participants the possibility of social independence. Disenfranchised communities are set to benefit from this program, as it is
designed with innovative education strategies in the field of participatory photography to promote positive communication.
Participants and their families gain a diverse skill set in digital practices. This practice is being introduced as a path to active vocational
and technical participation through the provision of visual communication skills within digital environments. In the case of youth of
difference, that is, young people managing a range of physical and intellectual challenges, teachers and parents worldwide are working
with innovative programs to not only reinforce school learning, but go beyond to promote social cohesion

7. Community Events
Community Par>cipatory Workshops
Some of the community based groups and projects in Abu Dhabi are: The New England Center for Children, Sedra
Foundation and Goals UAE. Engaging in a range of activities some of which are:
Designing tactile art displays to introduce the general public to creative participatory practices engage the audience of
Abu Dhabi Art (an annual international art fair based out of Abu Dhabi)
Planning and participating in creative workshops on and off campus with said organizations.
Judging panel for participatory photography program for Special Olympics MENA , 2018

8. Community Events
Community Par>cipatory Workshops
The key problem addressed here is the challenge of social inclusion of marginalized communities in a
technologically competitive world. The challenge extends beyond school curricula and is not restricted to one
specific group; however, education is a key field that takes up this challenge introducing a body of innovative
studies. Recent theories and practices in the field emphasize the importance of student-centered, community-
based and family-focused initiatives. Concurrently in art and design practice, the distance between the artist and
the public has collapsed. Cutting edge art projects begin with the concept of inclusion making the creation of art
and its experience united as one

9. Community Events
Community Par>cipatory Workshops | Case Studies | Harvard University
Process Basics
Learner centered: visual/ tangible learning
Learner centered: practice based _ Pre-Texts Professor Doris Somer director of Cultural Agents
Learner centered: treats / observations on physical and emotional treats
Analysis: Document / map interactions _ group photos- certificates
Analysis: Behavior changes and awareness
Analysis: story telling realities
Issues: Monopolizers, trying to fit too much in / expecting too much vs. participants expectations

10. Community Events
Community Par>cipatory Workshops | Selfies, Singing Videos, Treats and
group observa>ons
Community Plans
Over the past 10 years mobile photography and social community network platforms cites the UAE and the Gulf states in
general with some of the highest numbers worldwide. This has not historically included the active participation of all
residing groups in the region, due to economic and social divides. The lack of information and skill as in numerous other
regions worldwide hinders the active participation of marginalized groups, in this case people of special needs. For the
upcoming international events in the UAE 2019 and 2020, we intend to mobilize trained volunteers to provide technical
assistance to event participants willing to engage in social media storytelling throughout the events. The uploads would be
analyzed and collected via streamlined hash-tags and sharing booths constructed on site for people to share their images
and stories live.

11. Future Plans
Community Par>cipatory Workshops | Training Volunteers, Interna>onal
Compe>>ons, Impact Analysis
The UAE a leading Arab state in excellence and innovation, currently aspiring to diversify its substantial wealth into
investing in initiatives and projects beyond oil, has indicated social cohesion as matter of national agenda and KPI.
Sustainable proactive pilot plans; research and multiple projects have embarked to ensure the public and private practices
of inclusion and tolerance at institutional and communal levels. Here it is important to note the role of Zayed University
both as an educational institution and also a federal government entity. Thus the involvement in national interest events
to the likes EXPO 2020, Special Olympics World Games and participating in building their legacy projects is not only an
academic service it is a governmental / civic service as well. In understanding the importance of this research body, its
workshops, focus groups and outcomes

12. Future Plans
Community Par>cipatory Workshops | Changing Narra>ves locally & Globally
The workshop program in participatory photography builds a range of communicational skills with contemporary
digital media in the Abu Dhabi community of youth with physical and intellectual disabilities. The skills are designed to
enhance self-confidence, boost enthusiasm and motivate the participants towards full participation in their respective
communities. This is a pioneering approach in local special needs education initiatives. Uniquely, in this region, the
program is based on collaborations between academic professors and community facilitators. Importantly, the online
diffusion of digital narratives originating in this program exponentially impacts the visibility of Abu Dhabi and its
government as a regional leader in participatory practices in education and inclusion for all

13. Future Plans
Community Par>cipatory Workshops | One of the winning Photographs 2018
In conclusion, by addressing the rigid structures of governmental educational systems and the propelling the
positive involvement of community outreach programs, inclusion should become the norm. By engaging the people
of determination in the UAE digitally through creating social participatory communities, an institutionally
engineered world of friendship and networks of support appears. This level of engagement, not available in
curricula before, would now include a participating and diverse narrative of marginalized groups despite logistical
or physical constraints.

14. Contact Informa/on
Dahlia Mahmoud
Assistant Professor in Photographic Prac>ce, College of Arts and Crea>ve
Enterprises, Zayed University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Email: dahlia.mahmoud@zu.ac.ae
Telephone: +971 522419388
Dr. Elisabeth Stoney
Assistant Professor in Photographic Prac>ce, College of Arts and Crea>ve
Enterprises, Zayed University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Email: elisabeth.stoney@zu.ac.ae
Telephone: +971 526317446