Nothing Prepares a Child Like Stories
“What I really want to do is make people feel good about themselves, and help them change their perspective.” explains Baba Wague Diakite,
Category: Portland
Searching for Her Birth Family
A tiny slip of paper stating the place and date of her birth — Shaoyang, Feb. 24, 1995 — was the only thing identifying Olivia Wolf when she was found […]
Forging Resilience and Community
Rima Ghandour’s earliest memory is of being wrapped in her mother’s arms with her siblings around them, crying. The building shook as bombs exploded
The Entrepreneurial Spirit Is Baked-In
Imene Barkat remembers her first event at Portland Night Market as a resounding success. “I sold out everything within the first few hours,” Barkat said of her first foray
More Than One Way to Fly
When her calligraphy teacher, Sekko Daigo, gave Rie O’Doherty the artistic name Sora, meaning universe or sky, it reminded her of her childhood
A Modern Day Odyssey
Farzad Larki was born in Iran prior to the Revolution. He grew up in a comfortable middle class family, but when the Shah was overthrown, everything changed.
Finding the Roots of Home
Until she met her mentor, one of the best-known art dealers in Bangalore, India, Mrunalini Giri did not think of herself as an artist. “I was just somebody who painted
The Hard Way is What Saves You
In middle school, Yamini Rajan dealt with bullying, isolation, and a sick parent. Her mental health suffered, and destructive habits and self-harm nearly ended her life.
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
Nurture Community Wherever You Are
When Wilber Ramirez-Rodriguez found he couldn’t continue his work as a dentist in the United States, he started his own mobile dental hygiene clinic to educate
Standing Firm Against Persecution
For as long as she can remember, her Asian features had made Hadia Sadiqi a target for ostracism in her native Afghanistan. Anyone who saw her knew instantly
Helping Others Find Their Voice
Growing up as a U.S. citizen in Venezuela, Giselle Rincón knew what it felt like to be an immigrant. But it wasn’t until she moved back to the land
Where Are You From?
It took Dr. Elizabeth Flores through high school, college, and medical school to really understand herself. Born in America, raised in Mexico,
Physician Works to Tackle Racism
There was the patient who made a sarcastic remark when she wouldn’t prescribe an antibiotic that was the wrong one for the ailment being treated.
Creating Community In Portland
“The moment I stepped into the Chinese classroom, I knew it felt different,” Aria Chen says, remembering her first day at Franklin High School. “The teacher