Arkansas Atoll

Melisa Laelan, Chief Executive Officer of the Arkansas Coalition of Marshallese, describes the imminent dangers of climate change in the Islands and her plans to assist Marshallese communities in Arkansas and in the Islands.

Neisan Laukon is an employee at a Tyson chicken processing plant in Springdale, Arkansas. As the novel coronavirus spreads through the Marshallese community, Neisan and her daughter Faith reflect on the experience of being an essential worker during a pandemic.

Benetick Maddison shares the history of the atomic testing in the Marshall Islands and how the nuclear legacy continues to affect his community.

This episode recounts the immigration stories of several nuclear refugees to Northwest Arkansas and the complicated status of the Compact of Free Association.

Faith and Neisan Laukon along with Dr. Sheldon Riklon discuss the health care disparities that Marshallese in the United States face.

Closing remarks and an update on the effects of COVID-19 on the Marshallese community

An introduction to Arkansas Atoll podcast.