Karen Weliky

Opportunity in Every Hurdle

Ng Lai Goon, eager to fit in with her American grade school peers, chose her American name, Sally, from an elementary school reading primer,  

Sankar Raman

Following Music to Freedom

It has always been music that has guided Ahmad Fanoos’ life. “My whole family liked music,” he explains. “And it was part of my life from a very early age.”

Sankar Raman

Finding Strength in a Complex Heritage

“Being 100% American means fully accepting your heritage — whatever it is,” Mitzi Loftus says, reflecting on her experience growing up in Oregon

Sankar Raman

Gaza Is Full of Dreams

Living in Gaza — one of the most dangerous places on earth — the Al Ghussein family learned years ago that where there is smoke,  

Karen Weliky

History Keeps People Thinking

Jack Boas counts his career as historian as beginning at conception. “Or maybe even before,” he suggests. “I could not avoid it, as a child of

Brooke Hoyer

It’s All a Matter of Perspective

His left arm lay dangling from his body. The angle was alarming–entirely unnatural. His midsection was in shreds, ripped apart by Serbian shrapnel that had punctured  

Sankar Raman

Starting Over—and Over and Over Again

The Japanese phrase Ikoi No Kai translates in English to “the gathering place.” It could also mean a haven, a welcoming spot where people gather for fellowship. 

Sankar Raman

Artist Invites Viewers To Think

What’s the ideal training for a conceptual artist? Roberta Wong credits the time she spent chopping vegetables, washing dishes, and making dim sum pastries  

Karen Weliky

After Many Moves, The Music Still Plays

Ainur Zabenova vividly remembers her first violin audition at 7 years old: “The window was open and it was a beautiful sunny day with a little breeze.  

Ricki Mudd

A Daughter of Two Countries

Ricki Mudd is a young girl sitting on the back of a bicycle–in front of her, an unidentified man pedals; above her, an umbrella shields them from the rain. The […]

Karen Weliky

Coming Full Circle At Last

“You are an Indonesian mama,” the local tour guide told Jane Mantiri as she wound up her recent visit to Indonesia. “At first I thought you were American, but now […]

Sankar Raman

A Life Shaped by War

Tim Tran is quite the jokester.  “Old professors never die,” he told an otherwise serious meeting at Pacific University in Forest Grove, Oregon.  

Sankar Raman

A Foothold On Two Continents

A Foothold On Two Continents He is a husband, a father and a dedicated Amazon employee. But Rudwan Dawod is also an impassioned freedom fighter,  

John Rudoff

Fleeing Hatred, Finding Home

The sanctuary of the First United Methodist Church in Southwest Portland is a cavernous space, and on Aug. 16, 1958,  the pews bulged as Evelyn Diamant  

Karen Weliky

A Nation Without Borders

Shabnam Rostami stood in her backyard with her children, watching the Oregon International Air Show. Suddenly, childhood memories