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Ghana ThinkTank at the Mexican Border (2012-20XX)
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Since 2006, the Ghana ThinkTank has been "developing the first world," collecting problems in the "first" world, and sending them to think tanks in the "developing" world to propose solutions. We take local problems collected in the US and Europe and send them to think tanks in Iran, Ghana, Mexico, El Salvador, Palestine, Cuba and several prisons in the U.S. These think tanks analyze us and our problems, and then send us back solutions which we enact, whether they strike us as brilliant or impractical. As Ghana ThinkTank has developed, we have realized it can be used to forge links between unlikely partners. So, we are bringing the project home. Currently, we are adapting the Ghana ThinkTank model for a long-term project that sparks collaboration between immigrants and anti-illegal immigrant groups on the U.S./Mexico border.
Using focus groups, on-the-street interviews and anonymous postcards, Ghana ThinkTank collects problems from people living on both sides of immigration issues, forming think tanks of deported Immigrants and civilian border patrols, undocumented workers and Patriot Groups, Mexican and US citizens, all the while giving the public insight into the complex issues surrounding immigration.
Problems are exchanged with members of the opposing group, and each "think tank" offers solutions to the other. Ghana ThinkTank then returns to each community to mobilize its members to implement those solutions. The solutions are put into action, documented and shared in a roving exhibition that continues the conversation. We are also working with non-profits and civilian organizations working on all sides of immigration issues along the border to develop a toolset for conflict-prevention based on the Ghana ThinkTank model.
Ghana ThinkTank at the Mexican Border is a Creative Capital project.