‘History’s Attic’: The Role of Legends and Family Stories in Gendering and Decolonizing US Immigration and Ethnic History Through Laurie Fabiano’s Family Saga Elizabeth Street (2006)

This article explores the role of legends and family stories in gendering and decolonizing US immigration and ethnic history, particularly through the lens of Italian/American literature and culture. Using the theoretical framework of the politics of representation, the analysis concentrates on the function of mythic and passed-down stories not only as naturalizing agents of cultural norms but as a means to destabilize hegemonic narratives, particularly gendered history and media influence. Laurie Fabiano’s family saga Elizabeth Street (2006) is a debut novel that intertwines the strands of history, autobiography and journalistic research, among others. Precisely the status of this novel as a hybrid genre sheds light into the additional use of alternative sources such as legendary and familial narratives to study migration and ethnic history, as well as to (re)imagine the past from a feminist perspective.

Social partnerships addressing affordable housing and homelessness in Australia

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine the formation of a cross-sector partnership in which a collaborative response addressed the issue of affordable housing and homelessness in Melbourne, Australia. Factors leading to the formation and evolution of the relationship reveal how social partnerships in the housing/construction industry can be formulated. Design/methodology/approach – Semi-structured interviews were held with representatives of the three sectors involved in an innovative social housing model, the Elizabeth Street Common Ground project. Supported with background documentation, interviews were coded and the results contrasted against theories pertaining to cross-sector collaboration. Findings – Several factors contributed to the formation of this partnership, most notably the strong social imperative found within the organisational ethos of the participating organisations. The opportunity to replicate a well-trialled and successful model coincided with the desire among all partners to be part of the solution. Originality/value – The results provide an insight into the ingredients pivotal to the formation of a successful multi-sector partnership. It highlights the value in sharing the best practice and the importance of networks when tackling major global problems such as affordable housing and homelessness.