Since you graduated in 2002, you have found your passion in teaching art here in New York. Tell us more.
Everything I have done since 2002 has culminated into the creation of a bilingual picture book series for children called “Voltaire: The Franco-American Hipster dog” (www.voltairelivi.com). Even though I spent most of my life rejecting teaching and fearing referring to myself as an artist while struggling with the duality of being Franco-American, I ended up becoming a happy and fulfilled teacher and artist making a living off of my heritage.
Julia Livi.
I studied Art History as an undergrad and realized I wanted to study more. I was offered a partial scholarship at the Pratt Institute in the Art Education Masters program. After graduating from Pratt, I started my teaching career at Rikers Island correctional facility, where for two years I taught juvenile boys who were tried as adults. It was challenging and rewarding, especially with the amazing coworkers I now call friends; however, the restrictions in materials and school events motivated me to transfer to a school where my skills would be better utilized.
Thankfully, William McKinley Intermediate School IS259 in Bay Ridge hired me during the Department of Education hiring freeze. I have been teaching visual arts and set design there for over four years. I am given the freedom to create what the kids and I love and I have the help of some of the most knowledgeable and helpful colleagues in the world.
© Julia Livi
Then you started to look into bilingual books and felt there was something missing…
Three years ago, some of our after-school program funding fell through and I needed a part-time job. I looked everywhere but teaching French was the only option I could find. Luckily, I was hired by Fluent City to teach conversational French to adults. While I was developing my teaching skills in both French and Art, both of my sisters had children on both sides of the pond.
We realized quickly that bilingual books are hard to find. Both of my sisters struggled to simultaneously teach French and English to their kids. I wanted books for them that felt familiar and represented the Franco-American culture with the heart and the messiness I’ve grown to love. I decided to pool together my passion for art education and French education and create books that felt like us, like the “Franglish” blend we are.
I’m proud to say that the first two volumes of “Voltaire: The Franco-American Dog” are finally available on Amazon. For my adult French students, I created the Voltaire Instagram daily bilingual flashcard feed @voltairelivi. Instagram was supposed to be a platform for advertising the books and a way to enhance my French students’ vocabulary but something magical happened. The flashcard feed bloomed into an enriching art project for me. It has put me in contact with artists all over the world as well as students. Promoting and selling “Voltaire se Promène” and “Voltaire and Tonton Joe” was my priority, but the learning and artist community on Instagram has become somewhat of a focus for me.
All these years later, I feel so thankful to call myself Franco-American an art teacher, a French teacher and an artist.
What do you tell people who, like you, have different cultures?
Being a third culture kid can feel isolating and frustrating at times, especially when you are young and want to feel normal. The more children hear how beneficial and fun it is to be bilingual and to study hard, the more they will be able to thrive. We have the ability to mentor them and teach them the tricks we’ve figured out and share our mistakes thus ensuring their success.
Photo credits: Julia Livi (http://instagram.com/voltairelivi)
About the Author :
Claude’s goal is to develop a thriving program that alumni of multiple promotions will find engaging and compelling. Prior to coming to the Lycée, Claude co-directed the start-up and development of two Gates Foundation High schools, Food and Finance High School and the High School for Hospitality Management (HSHM). At these schools, he designed and implemented a work-based mentoring program for students. Claude is an avid Olympique de Marseille fan.