The Courage to Begin Again
Mohsin Jamal is a quick learner. It was an essential survival skill for a young child from Afghanistan’s Hazara minority, a persecuted ethnic group
Tag: I Am an American
Valley of War with no Peace
Fifteen year-olds can be… a lot. It’s often when a rebellious streak first emerges, when a kid might start sneaking out, breaking curfew or perhaps,
Behind the Mountain: A Story
Naw Abikaila Ki (Nawbi) started life in a refugee camp in Thailand. As members of the ethnic minority, the Karen, Nawbi’s family has no territory to call their own
I Am An American: I Do Belong Here
Growing up in Vietnam, Thao Nguyen always felt like an outsider. As one of 23,000 mixed-race children left behind by US servicemen,
A Love Worth Fighting For
It took sneaking out of school for a coffee date, countless phone calls, a year of opening just one love letter a day, getting two families to agree
Het Dee, Dai Dee (Do Good To Get Good)
Exploring the fields in the Laotian village where she lived as a small child, Soulayvanh Beisel wasn’t afraid of anything – except snakes.
One Voice Brings a Big Change
Meghna Damani grew up in the thriving city of Mumbai, India and established herself in a flourishing career in marketing. But when she married her long-time boyfriend
Caught Between War and Paperwork
Newly married, Ghassan Bin Hammam came to get a graduate degree in the US, planning to return to Yemen to teach. But, on a quick trip back
Discovering Our Stories
Growing up close to his paternal grandparents in southern Oregon, Toby Asai Loftus was always intrigued by the other half of his family,
I’m Not Supposed to Be Here
Chanpone Sinlapasai was born in war-torn Laos and came to the US at age four. As a child acting as interpreter for her parents, she soon realized
I Am An American – Panel Discussion
Panelists explored their experiences as Asian American women, offering personal reflections as well as highlighting current xenophobia and intolerance against
A Different Kind of Inner Calling
Balamurali Balu, who goes by Bala, immigrated to the United States from Southern India. He completed his PhD at Georgia Tech.
Conversation Series: 200% American
Mitzi Asai Loftus and her son Toby talk frankly about her memories of growing up in Hood River, Oregon; her childhood incarceration
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.
Opera Was Never on the Radar
Growing up in the bohemian beach town of Encinitas, near San Diego, California, Priti Gandhi showed early interest in music and performance.