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The essence of upstate New York can be found in its ever-changing communities, which have been shaped by generations of migration and the mixing of various cultures.

This spring, the Benton Scholars course GEOG 150: Migrants, Settlers, and Strangers: Human Mobility and the Making of Upstate New York, focuses on understanding the global migration that has led to the development of such rich landscapes, exploring how historical and contemporary movements have affected the region.

Benton Scholars are students who exemplify high levels of curiosity and intellectual creativity. During their first year at ������Ƶ, they take a course together — this year’s class explores themes like citizenship, immigration, and belonging. Specifically looking at upstate New York, the class dissects how the region’s welcoming population, growing job opportunities, and lower cost of living have led to an influx of migration.

Taught by Assistant Professor of Geography Emily Mitchell-Eaton, the class has included two field trips, one to Syracuse on February 28 and one to Utica on March 7. “I wanted students to gain familiarity with the region beyond Hamilton and ������Ƶ, teaching them to be more aware and engaged citizens,” Mitchell-Eaton says.  

On the trip to Syracuse, students visited La Casita Cultural Center and the Erie Canal Museum. La Casita is a place where Latino communities can gather and celebrate their cultures. Students toured the space and discussed its current art installation, Weird Barrio by Syracuse-based Puerto Rican artist Manuel Matías, which portrays the Latin experience by intricately depicting familiar neighborhoods, streets, and environments in New York City on a miniature scale.

At the Erie Canal Museum, Benton Scholars saw canal-related artifacts and heritage detailing how various groups in upstate New York led to its development.

Through this field trip, students learned about the history of migration in upstate New York, places that currently support migrant communities, and how Syracuse has been shaped by immigrants.

During the Utica trip, students visited The Center (formerly the Mohawk Valley Resource Center for Refugees), which helps refugees and immigrants settle and integrate into the Mohawk Valley community. Students learned about The Center’s programs — from English as a Second Language Classes to job applications and medical insurance enrollment — and how services are being affected by the recent actions at the federal level.

This approach to studying human mobility directly introduced students to a range of upstate New York institutions, organizations, and actors. It exposed students to various methods and frameworks for studying a range of contemporary issues and for understanding how issues impact individuals, communities, neighborhoods, and economies.

“There is not a more important time to be learning about the experiences of immigrants in New York and how we are all affected by policies that affect them,” says Gabriella Moreira ’28.