Immigrants Wake America's Podcast

Immigrants Wake America is back with a new season titled “Hidden Heroes in a Small Town”. During this season we will get to know the staff and case workers at the American Civic Association in Binghamton, NY. A non-profit organization whose mission is to help refugees and immigrants start a new life while preserving their ethnic and cultural diversity. This six-episode installment showcases the amazing work and journeys of migration of the people “behind the scenes”.

Our guest today is Tamar Boyajian, who acted as program coordinator at the American Civic Association until summer 2024. Tamar is of Armenian heritage and miigrated to the United States from Lebanon. In this episode, Tamar shares with us her journey of migration, and the many ways in which the ACA helps immigrants in Broome county to celebrate their cultures, and come together as one diverse community. Have you wondered how you can help the ACA? Tamar tells us the best ways to contribute to this non-profit at the end of the episode. 

Transcript for this episode: https://www.immigrantswakeamerica.com/transcripts#h.vl0lad9c6w2z

This podcast is supported by Humanities New York, Institute for Advanced Studies in the Humanities, Centre for Civic Engagement, Department of English, Asian and Asian American Studies, Institute for Asia and Asian Diasporas at Binghamton University. In partnership with the American Civic Association and the Tenement Museum.

For more information visit our Website: https://www.immigrantswakeamerica.com/

For more information about the America Civic Association visit: https://americancivic.com/

Instagram: @immigrantswakeamerica
X: @ImmigrantsWake

Immigrants Wake America is back with a new season titled “Hidden Heroes in a Small Town”. During this season we will get to know the staff and case workers at the American Civic Association in Binghamton, NY. A non-profit organization whose mission is to help refugees and immigrants start a new life while preserving their ethnic and cultural diversity. This six-episode installment showcases the amazing work and journeys of migration of the people “behind the scenes”.

Goretti Mugambwa is an immigration caseworker at the ACA for over 10 years. She shares her arduous and inspiring journey of migration and re-migration as a single mother, starting in Uganda and then to Kenya, Nigeria, Canada, and the United States. She also sheds light on the struggles  of immigrant women as they arrive the United States and settle in local communities. Goretti is the inspiration for Season II.

Transcript for this episode:
https://www.immigrantswakeamerica.com/transcripts#h.4rnwichsfvlj

This podcast is supported by Humanities New York, Institute for Advanced Studies in the Humanities, Centre for Civic Engagement, Department of English, Asian and Asian American Studies, Institute for Asia and Asian Diasporas at Binghamton University. In partnership with the American Civic Association and the Tenement Museum.

For more information visit our Website: https://www.immigrantswakeamerica.com/

For more information about the America Civic Association visit: https://americancivic.com/

Instagram: @immigrantswakeamerica
X: @ImmigrantsWake

Immigrants Wake America is back with a new season titled “Hidden Heroes in a Small Town”. During this season we will get to know the staff and case workers at the American Civic Association in Binghamton, NY. A non-profit organization whose mission is to help refugees and immigrants start a new life while preserving their ethnic and cultural diversity. This six-episode installment showcases the amazing work and journeys of migration of the people “behind the scenes”.

Our guest today is Aye Aye Mar. Aye Aye was an immigration case worker at the ACA through 2024. In this episode, Aye Aye shares with us many aspects of her complex journey of migration from a refugee camp in Thailand to the US. She also talks about her work helping immigrants and refugees at the American Civic Association.
 
Transcript for this episode:
https://www.immigrantswakeamerica.com/transcripts#h.xqioxqr2dt3i

This podcast is supported by Humanities New York, Institute for Advanced Studies in the Humanities, Centre for Civic Engagement, Department of English, Asian and Asian American Studies, Institute for Asia and Asian Diasporas at Binghamton University. In partnership with the American Civic Association and the Tenement Museum.

For more information visit our Website: https://www.immigrantswakeamerica.com/

For more information about the America Civic Association visit: https://americancivic.com/

Instagram: @immigrantswakeamerica
X: @ImmigrantsWake

Immigrants Wake America is back with a new season titled “Hidden Heroes in a Small Town”. During this season we will get to know the staff and case workers at the American Civic Association in Binghamton, NY. A non-profit organization whose mission is to help refugees and immigrants start a new life while preserving their ethnic and cultural diversity. This six-episode installment showcases the amazing work and journeys of migration of the people “behind the scenes”.

Edward Marte was a caseworker at the ACA until 2023, where he worked helping immigrants and refugees settle in Broome County. Edward, an immigrant himself, shares with us the difficulties he encountered as a young person in a new country, and the ways in which he tirelessly gives back to the community both in the US and in the Dominican Republic. Edward also speaks about his experience with the Hispanic Youth Leadership Institute, with which he has often collaborated in different charity and solidarity programs.  

Transcript for this episode: https://www.immigrantswakeamerica.com/transcripts#h.boujrfk32p9z

This podcast is supported by Humanities New York, Institute for Advanced Studies in the Humanities, Centre for Civic Engagement, Department of English, Asian and Asian American Studies, Institute for Asia and Asian Diasporas at Binghamton University. In partnership with the American Civic Association and the Tenement Museum.

For more information visit our Website: https://www.immigrantswakeamerica.com/

For more information about the America Civic Association visit: https://americancivic.com/

Instagram: @immigrantswakeamerica
X: @ImmigrantsWake

Immigrants Wake America is back with a new season titled “Hidden Heroes in a Small Town”. During this season we will get to know the staff and case workers at the American Civic Association, a non-profit organization in Binghamton, New York, whose mission is to help refugees and immigrants start a new life while preserving their ethnic and cultural diversity. This six-episode installment showcases the amazing work and journeys of migration of the people “behind the scenes”. 

Our guest in this episode is Laila Hernandez, Deputy Director of the American Civic Association in Binghamton NY.  Laila shares her journey as a remarkable woman wearing many hats -  as an immigration caseworker accredited by the department of justice, as the chief mentor for her busy staff, as an educator for student interns, as a mother homeschooling her children, and more.

Transcript for this episode: https://www.immigrantswakeamerica.com/transcripts#h.ghdtqwdoaqoh

This podcast is supported by Humanities New York, Institute for Advanced Studies in the Humanities, Centre for Civic Engagement, Department of English, Asian and Asian American Studies, Institute for Asia and Asian Diasporas at Binghamton University. In partnership with the American Civic Association and the Tenement Museum.

For more information visit our Website: https://www.immigrantswakeamerica.com/

For more information about the America Civic Association visit: https://americancivic.com/

Instagram: @immigrantswakeamerica
X: @ImmigrantsWake

Immigrants Wake America is back with a new season titled “Hidden Heroes in a Small Town”. During this season we will get to know the staff and case workers at the American Civic Association, a non-profit organization in Binghamton, New York, whose mission is to help refugees and immigrants start a new life while preserving their ethnic and cultural diversity. This six-episode installment showcases the amazing work and journeys of migration of the people “behind the scenes”. 

Hussein Adams is the director of the American Civic Association in Binghamton NY. Hussein gives an overview of the breadth of critical work that immigration caseworkers do for the local community and for new immigrants and refugees. He also narrates his personal journey of migration as a Muslim man through the Caribbean and North America, and especially, the impact of post 9/11 on him and his family.  As a community leader and as a father, Hussein’s story touches on the complexity and richness of becoming American today.

Transcript for this episode: https://www.immigrantswakeamerica.com/transcripts#h.vvmysecwva7n

This podcast is supported by Humanities New York, Institute for Advanced Studies in the Humanities, Centre for Civic Engagement, Department of English, Asian and Asian American Studies, Institute for Asia and Asian Diasporas at Binghamton University. In partnership with the American Civic Association and the Tenement Museum.

For more information visit our Website: https://www.immigrantswakeamerica.com/

For more information about the America Civic Association visit: https://americancivic.com/

Instagram: @immigrantswakeamerica
X: @ImmigrantsWake

Immigrants Wake America is back with a new season titled “Hidden Heroes in a Small Town”. During this season we will get to know the staff and case workers at the American Civic Association, a non-profit organization in Binghamton, New York, whose mission is to help refugees and immigrants start a new life while preserving their ethnic and cultural diversity.

This six-episode installment showcases the amazing work and journeys of migration of the people “behind the scenes”. 

This podcast is supported by Humanities New York, Institute for Advanced Studies in the Humanities, Centre for Civic Engagement, Department of English, Asian and Asian American Studies, Institute for Asia and Asian Diasporas at Binghamton University. In partnership with the American Civic Association and the Tenement Museum.

For more information visit our Website: https://www.immigrantswakeamerica.com/

For more information about the America Civic Association visit: https://americancivic.com/

Instagram: @immigrantswakeamerica
X: @ImmigrantsWake

Our guests today are Nicole Perkins and Tori Atkins. Nicole and Tori are cousins who have been trying to trace their grandmother’s life and history of immigration from Italy to the United States. In this episode, we see a unique blend of storytelling across generations.

Transcript for this episode: https://www.immigrantswakeamerica.com/transcripts#h.dfjqt6jmzuit

Nicole's story in Your Story, Our Story at the Tenement Museum, New York:
https://yourstory.tenement.org/stories/social-history-application

This podcast is supported by Humanities New York, Institute for Advanced Studies in the Humanities, Centre for Civic Engagement, Department of English, Asian and Asian American Studies, Institute for Asia and Asian Diasporas at Binghamton University. In partnership with the American Civic Association and the Tenement Museum.

For more information visit our Website: https://www.immigrantswakeamerica.com/

For more information about the America Civic Association visit: https://americancivic.com/

Instagram: @immigrantswakeamerica
X: @ImmigrantsWake

 Our guests today are Phariha Rahman and Theresa Alarcon. Both Phariha and Theresa have been Binghamton University students and involved in community engagement.

Phariha and Theresa talk about the memories of their grandmothers and the complications of stereotypes about immigrants and their descendants. They also discuss how the bonds and values constructed around food influence their sense of self and belonging.

Transcript for this episode: https://www.immigrantswakeamerica.com/transcripts#h.11rmto5vk4t4

Phariha's story on Your Story, Our Story at the Tenement Museum:
https://yourstory.tenement.org/stories/rice-and-daal

Theresa's story on Your Story, Our Story at the Tenement Museum:
https://yourstory.tenement.org/stories/empanadas-1936

This podcast is supported by Humanities New York, Institute for Advanced Studies in the Humanities, Centre for Civic Engagement, Department of English, Asian and Asian American Studies, Institute for Asia and Asian Diasporas at Binghamton University. In partnership with the American Civic Association and the Tenement Museum.

For more information visit our Website: https://www.immigrantswakeamerica.com/

For more information about the America Civic Association visit: https://americancivic.com/

Instagram: @immigrantswakeamerica
X: @ImmigrantsWake

Our guests today are Kojo Senoo and Max Kurant. Kojo was a student at Binghamton University and currently works as a photographer in New York City and at the Tenement Museum. Max is a student at Binghamton University who is actively involved in work related to community engagement.

Kojo and Max talk about how they perceive their personal identity, their relationship with their families, and the conflicts or contradictions they negotiate within their families and in the world at large.

Transcript for this episode: https://www.immigrantswakeamerica.com/transcripts#h.yt6agdmmp7e4

Kojo's story on Your Story, Our Story  at the Tenement Museum:
https://yourstory.tenement.org/stories/internal-medicine-sign
 
Max's story on Your Story, Our Story  at the Tenement Museum:
https://yourstory.tenement.org/stories/my-mother-s-manti-pot

This podcast is supported by Humanities New York, Institute for Advanced Studies in the Humanities, Centre for Civic Engagement, Department of English, Asian and Asian American Studies, Institute for Asia and Asian Diasporas at Binghamton University. In partnership with the American Civic Association and the Tenement Museum.

For more information visit our Website: https://www.immigrantswakeamerica.com/

For more information about the America Civic Association visit: https://americancivic.com/

Instagram: @immigrantswakeamerica
X: @ImmigrantsWake