Many Roads to Here

Sindy Avila Gutierrez was born in Morelos, Mexico. At the age of two, she was brought to the United States to live with her parents in Oregon. Arriving without formal paperwork,  Sindy's family was considered "undocumented." Without any legal protections, they faced hardships and uncertainty. These experiences fueled a fire in Sindy, who became an advocacy leader in the growing movement for DACA, or Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, to give undocumented immigrants like her greater legal protections and opportunities in the United States.

Many Roads to Here is a production of The Immigrant Story. This episode was produced by Natalia Lopez. Audio editing was done by Todd Baize. Our executive producer is Sankar Raman.

For more episodes, https://theimmigrantstory.org/category/episode/ or subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.

Many Roads to Here is expanding. We’re looking for radio producers, especially those from immigrant communities and communities of color, to join our team. We’re all-volunteer for now, but we’ve got dreams. Please email [email protected] for more information.

For more stories, visit theimmigrantstory.org/manyroads, listen live at prp.fm, or stream us wherever you get your podcasts.

Twenty-one-year-old Samir Mustafic was in the small orchard behind his home in Bosnia when Serbian bombs rained down upon his family’s property. His mother and sister died in the bombing on June 30, 1993, 14 months into the Bosnian war. Mustafic’s injuries were so severe that few gave him any chance of survival. But a series of unlikely events—miracles or coincidences, depending on one’s perspective—sent him to the United States for treatment. Doctors in Roseburg, Ore., worried at first that there was little they could do to assure him a productive life. But today Mustafic is a software architect for the state of Oregon. He is married to his high school sweetheart and is the father of teenage twins. “I truly had so many miracles,” he marvels.

Many Roads to Here is a production of The Immigrant Story. 

This episode was produced and edited by Elayna Yussen, with post production by Gregg Palmer. Our Executive producer is Sankar Raman.

Thank you to St. Andrew Lutheran Church in Beaverton, Oregon, for letting us use their space to record this interview. This episode is made possible by a generous contribution by Oregon Cultural Trust. 

To watch Samir Mustafic tell his story in front of a live audience, or for more stories, visit The Immigrant Story website, listen live at prp.fm, or stream us wherever you get your podcasts.

Portland artist Roberta Wong is the daughter and granddaughter of Chinese immigrants. She grew up partly in Chinatown, itself a product of segregation. She spent her childhood developing close ties to her heritage. As she grew up, she experienced racism firsthand, as well as the decline of Chinatown and the cultural history that is maintained there. Through art and volunteerism, Roberta now seeks to combat the stereotypes and erasure that continue to harm the Asian-American community.

Many Roads to Here is a production of The Immigrant Story. Many thanks to the Japanese American Museum of Oregon for allowing us to record there. This episode is part of the I Am an American series, generously funded by Anne Naito-Campbell. For more episodes in the series, please visit our website. To learn more about the Oregon Rises Above Hate Coalition, please visit https://oregonrisesabovehate.com. Listen to our podcast monthly on Portland Radio Project, or stream us wherever you get your podcasts.

This episode was produced by Stephanie Valance. Audio editing and post production was done by Todd Baize. Our executive producer is Sankar Raman.

For more episodes, https://theimmigrantstory.org/category/episode/ or subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.

Many Roads to Here is expanding. We’re looking for radio producers, especially those from immigrant communities and communities of color, to join our team. We’re all-volunteer for now, but we’ve got dreams. Please email [email protected] for more information.

Chanpone Sinlapasai was born in Laos during a bloody civil war, and narrowly escaped to the US with her family at just four years old. Her experiences growing up in the United States have now propelled her into a staunch advocate of immigrant rights in her community. 

Many Roads to Here is a production of The Immigrant Story.  This episode was produced by Natalia Lopez

Audio editing was done by Gregg Palmer. Our executive producer is Sankar Raman. 

This episode is made possible by a generous contribution by Oregon Cultural Trust.

For more episodes, https://theimmigrantstory.org/category/episode/ or subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.

Many Roads to Here is expanding. We’re looking for radio producers, especially those from immigrant communities and communities of color, to join our team. We’re all-volunteer for now, but we’ve got dreams. Please email [email protected] for more information.

For more stories, visit theimmigrantstory.org/manyroads, listen live at prp.fm, or stream us wherever you get your podcasts.

Ghaith Shahib fled Iraq as the United States prepared to invade his country. Instead of finishing high school, he left home on a harrowing journey across the globe  in search of safety and a life away from conflict. It’s been years now since Ghaith has felt the confrontation of war in his daily life, but an unexpected incident in the relative comfort of the city he now calls home, brings a new perspective on what it means to be a victim of war.

Many Roads to Here is expanding. We’re looking for radio producers, especially those from immigrant communities and communities of color, to join our team. We’re all-volunteer for now, but we’ve got dreams. Please email [email protected] for more information.

Many Roads to Here is a production of The Immigrant Story. 

This episode was produced by Natalia Lopez and with audio editing post production were done by Greg Palmer. The original interview was conducted by our illustrious executive producer, Sankar Raman, in March of 2022.

Thank you to St. Andrew Lutheran Church in Beaverton for the use of their space to record the interview.

This episode is made possible by a generous contribution by Oregon Cultural Trust.

Kambiz GhaneaBassiri is one of the nation’s leading scholars of Islam in the United States. In this conversation, he sat down with writer and educator   Flamur Vehapi  to talk about the often ignored presence of Muslims in American history, from Revolution-era figures to Beyonce’s children’s names.

Many Roads to Here is a production of The Immigrant Story. Many thanks to Kambiz and Flamur for their time and wisdom, and to St. Andrew Lutheran Church in Beaverton, Oregon for allowing us to record there. This episode is part of the I Am an American series, generously funded by Anne Naito-Campbell. It was produced as part of the Oregon Rises Above Hate Coalition.

This episode was produced by Caitlin Dwyer. Audio editing was done by Caitlin Dwyer, assisted by Gregg Palmer. Music was composed by Corey Larkin. Our executive producer is Sankar Raman.

For more stories, visit our website, listen live at prp.fm, or stream us wherever you get your podcasts.

Emmanuel Turaturanye was born and raised in a small town in Rwanda called Ngoma. His whole life he was taught by his parents to love and respect everyone,  regardless of their background.  At an early age, he learned that wasn’t true for everyone. Out of the 11 people in his household, he was one of three that survived when the Rwandan genocide took the lives of hundreds of thousands of Tutsis in the spring of 1994. Here is his journey of survival and forgiveness.

Many Roads to Here is a production of The Immigrant Story. This episode was produced by Giulia Fiaoni. Audio editing was done by Giulia Fiaoni, with post production by Gregg Palmer. Our executive producer is Sankar Raman.

This episode is made possible by a generous contribution by Oregon Cultural Trust.

For more about Emmanuel's experience, head to our website where you can watch the documentary, “To Bear Witness: Reconciliation" produced by The Immigrant Story in collaboration with NW Documentary.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bmQ5hMFuu2U

Many Roads to Here are expanding. We’re looking for radio producers, especially those from immigrant communities and communities of color, to join our team. We’re all-volunteer for now, but we’ve got dreams. Please email [email protected] for more information.

For more stories, visit theimmigrantstory.org/manyroads, listen live at prp.fm, or stream us wherever you get your podcasts.

Saron Khut was only ten years old when he and his family fled the Khmer Rouge-led genocide in Cambodia. His mother’s strength and a key decision one scary  night to take a risk for freedom has guided his sense of purpose ever since.

Many Roads to Here is a production of The Immigrant Story, a nonprofit based in Portland, Oregon. This episode was written by Degen Larkin and Fran Silverman. Our audio editing was done by Degen Larkin assisted by Gregg Palmer and Richard March. Original music by Corey Larkin. The original interview was conducted in Fall of 2020 by Garrett Russell. Our executive producer is Sankar Raman.

For more about Saron’s experience, head to our website where you can watch the documentary, “To Bear Witness: Building Community” produced by The Immigrant Story in collaboration with NW Documentary. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5T4NiXOtjic

This episode is made possible by a generous contribution by Oregon Cultural Trust. 

For more stories, visit theimmigrantstory.org/manyroads, listen live at prp.fm, or stream us wherever you get your podcasts.

Originally from Taiwan, Janet Liu's family spent years trying to build a home together in the United States despite restrictive immigration policies at that time.  Janet had always wanted an opportunity to build a relationship with her father, who had left to study in the United States when she was only four years old. After six years, they were finally able to reunify and connect, until a single unexpected day shattered Janet’s family.

Many Roads to Here is a production of The Immigrant Story.

This episode was produced by Natalia Lopez with audio editing by Rick March and assisted by Greg Palmer. The original interview was conducted by our Executive producer, Sankar Raman. Thank you to St. Andrew Lutheran Church in Beaverton, Oregon for the use of their space for recording.

This episode is a part of a series exploring the stories and experiences of Asian Americans in a climate of Anti-Asian rhetoric and increasing violence. It is produced as part of the Oregon Rises Above Hate coalition and made possible by a generous contribution by Anne Naito-Campbell.

To learn more please visit oregonrisesabovehate.com. For more stories, visit theimmigrantstory.org/manyroads, listen live at prp.fm, or stream us wherever you get your podcasts.

Sara Houranpay describes herself as a child of the revolution. She grew up during the Iranian Revolution. Her family fled to the United States,  hoping for greater freedom. But they instead found themselves again at the center of conflict, when the protests of summer 2020 threatened their family livelihood.

Many Roads to Here is a production of The Immigrant Story. 

This episode was produced by Mae Ghylin with audio editing by Rick March and assisted by Greg Palmer. The original interview was conducted by our Executive producer, Sankar Raman. Thank you to St. Andrew Lutheran Church in Beaverton, Oregon for the use of their space for recording.

This episode is a part of a series exploring the stories and experiences of Asian Americans in a climate of Anti-Asian rhetoric and increasing violence. It is produced as part of the Oregon Rises Above Hate coalition and made possible by a generous contribution by Anne Naito-Campbell.

To learn more please visit oregonrisesabovehate.com. For more stories, visit theimmigrantstory.org/manyroads, listen live at prp.fm, or stream us wherever you get your podcasts.