Two former students, Colin McCormick and Itzel Garcia, were visiting just before classes started up again in August. I hustled them into a recording studio and made Colin tell me about his incredible experiences this summer. While Colin studies international relations at DePaul University in Chicago during the school year, he makes a compelling case in this conversation that to REALLY understand what's happening somewhere in the world, you really need to go there and meet the people.

Colin mentioned reporting in August about Rashida Tlaib and Ilhan Omar having been denied entry into Israel. Here's a link to remind yourself what happened: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/rashida-tlaib-ilhan-omar-israel-bars-entry-to-outspoken-us-congresswomen-netanyahu-says/

We also discussed a book called "The Lemon Tree," by Sandy Tolvar. You can get a copy here: https://amzn.to/2LG7wit

Read the author's reflection on the process of writing the book here: https://sandytolan.com/the-lemon-tree

And listen to the audio documentary that preceded publication of the book, produced (and told) by Sandy Tovar: https://beta.prx.org/stories/25320

If you'd like to donate to the umbrella organization that supports Colin's volunteer work at the Chicago Greyhound Bus Station (assisting refugees and immigrants with their immediate needs while in transit), you can do so here: https://www.icirr.org/ (Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights)