Tales of Resilience

Inside The House on Mango Street

Driving Question:
How can people become empowered to leave abusive and unhealthy relationships?
What elements make up a healthy, loving relationship? What is love?
What situations allow for abusive and unhealthy relationships?
What happens psychologically/physically to people who are in unhealthy relationships?

Project Description:
Break the Silence Against Domestic Violence is a non profit organization that acts as the national voice of
domestic violence. Their mission is to Educate communities on the dangers of domestic violence, connect
victims and survivors, and assist in the transformation of lives of victims of domestic violence, by providing a
personal development retreat, educational programs, and an advocate hotline.

Our students will interview survivors of domestic violence, write vignettes in the style of Sandra Cisneros
The House on Mango Street, and create corresponding artistic representations of our survivors to capture
their tales of resilience. The stories will be collected into a book that will be on sale at this years Break the
Silence Against Domestic Violence Gala.

What will We Do?
*Read and analyze: http://www.cnn.com/2013/02/10/opinion/steiner-domestic-violence
*Read about, analyze and learn about Stockholm Syndrome:
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1920301,00.html
*Read and analyze Sandra Cisneros The House on Mango Street
*Prepare questions and practice interviewing skills (make sure the questions being asked will help create a
story that appeals to all 5 senses!)
*Interview survivors of domestic abuse focusing on understanding and exploring his or her story (each class
will have a different focus, listed below) : What is your story? How can women survive and escape domestic
abuse?
*Take interview material to write vignettes patterned after Sandra Cisneros The House on Mango Street
* Create linoleum stamps that represent their survivors story using two symbols and one word

Class 1 Interview Focus:
SYMBOLS: Is there an object that helped you get through your hard time? What was it? Maybe a piece of
clothing or a pin or a prayer, even that helped you through your obstacles?
Class 2 Interview Focus:
CHARACTER: One class will focus on a character (a person) in your life that helped you through your
difficult time. Was it a mother? A brother? An author of a book who wrote something that resonated with
you? Who was it? How did they help you? What was the moment like when you realized that they were
helping you? When did you open up your heart for the help?
Class 3 Interview Focus:
THEME: The third set of students will focus on a theme of your story. What is a lesson that you have
learned, a piece of wisdom that you can impart on the world by sharing your story with us?

Each group will turn in a revised, edited, polished version of the following
on January 16th. Work submitted AFTER the 16th will not be published in
the book:
~A 1-2 page vignette in the style of The House on Mango Street based on their
interview, including a title

~A transcript of the most interesting/potent moments of the interview

~A photograph or drawing that best captures the vignette

Guest Speakers:
Kristen Paruginog ~Founder/Executive Director of Break the Silence Against Domestic Violence
Survivors of Domestic Violence

Project Timeline:
January 6th- January 9th~
*Read The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros
-Focus on symbols, characters, theme
*Develop interview questions for survivors of domestic violence
January 12th~
*Guest speaker Kristen Paruginog
*Interviews with survivors of domestic violence
January 13th-January 15th~
*Vignette writing/Revision Process
* 2-1-0 drafting/revision process
*You will have time both in Ms. Mollys Class and Ms. Carols Class
January 16th~
*FINAL VIGNETTES DUE!
*FINAL 2-1-0 painting due
**Vignettes not turned in by this date will NOT be published in the final book.
Saturday, February 7th ~
*Break the Silence Against Domestic Violence Gala Exhibition
**This is a formal, black-tie event and only a select number of students will be allowed
to attend. Kristen, Ms. Molly, and Ms. Carol will take into consideration your work,
your work ethic, and any additional piece of writing that you would like to submit for
consideration.