Speak Up/Speak Out

Genesis Mendez-Garcia, a student at St. Mary’s Academy, a musician and photographer, reflects on her experience moving from Honduras at age five, navigating the language barrier and a new home environment. She talks about family experiences in Honduras, ESL learning, and her goals, which include developing a cultural connections club at her school.

Maéline Bringuier, a sophomore at St. Mary’s Academy, reflects on her experiences of finding a new community and adjusting to school life in the U.S. after leaving France at age 7. Listen as Maéline shares her pandemic experiences, compares living in the U.S. and France, and discusses her future aspirations.

Shivi Dua, a student at Barnard College from Jersey City, recounts the cultural changes she experienced moving from New Delhi, India to New York City. Listen as she reflects on how current events have affected her and her family, how her family dynamic has shifted since moving to the U.S, and how her early experiences in New York City compared to those in India.

Jospin and Japhety continue to share their experiences with the Black Lives Matter movement in Portland, the role of the pandemic in solidifying their family dynamics, and the development of their clothing brand, Bproud, as college students.

Jospin and Japhety, cousins and undergraduate students at Portland State University, share stories about their experiences moving from a Tanzanian refugee camp to the Portland Metro Area. They reflect on how their identities as Black immigrant youth have impacted their experiences in school, in their neighborhoods, and with their siblings and parents.

Bahar Madani, a high school junior at Oregon Islamic Academy, shares stories of living in Portland as an Iranain immigrant. Listen to Bahar reflect on her childhood in Iran, adapting to the rainy Portland weather, youth advocacy efforts, and aspirations for the future.

Sahlan Farah, now a sophomore at Portland State University, returns to Speak Up/Speak Out to discuss how being the first in her family to go to college has impacted her as well as how both college and home life drastically shifted during the spread of COVID-19. Later on, she shares her reactions and emotions surrounding police brutality and the Black Lives Matter movement.

Bethy Temelso, a freshman at Portland State University, shares powerful and moving stories about her experience growing up under a dictatorship in Eritrea, living in Sudan, overcoming the language barrier, and living under different systems of law enforcement.

Tsiyon Geremew, a high school senior, shares stories of growing up in Portland, Oregon as an Ethiopian immigrant. Listen as Tsiyon reflects on her experiences of finding community, acting as a role model for her younger sister, and re-connecting with family during the COVID-19 pandemic.