  This paper outlines the Clarkston AR Gateways Project, a speculative process
and artifact entering its second phase, where Augmented Reality (AR) will be
used to amplify the diverse narratives of Clarkston, Georgia's refugee
community. Focused on anchoring their stories and presence into the town's
physical and digital landscapes, the project employs a participatory co-design
approach, engaging directly with community members. This placemaking effort
aims to uplift refugees by teaching them AR development skills that help them
more autonomously express and elevate their voices through public art. The
result is hoped to be AR experiences that not only challenge prevailing
narratives but also celebrate the tapestry of cultures in the small town. This
work is supported through AR's unique affordance for users to situate their
experiences as interactive narratives within public spaces. Such site-specific
AR interactive stories can encourage interactions within those spaces that
shift how they are conceived, perceived, and experienced. This process of
refugee-driven AR creation reflexively alters the space and affirms their
presence and agency. The project's second phase aims to establish a model
adaptable to diverse, refugee-inclusive communities, demonstrating how AR
storytelling can be a powerful tool for cultural orientation and celebration.
