An episode celebrating immigrant stories and the diversity that has always made America great, featuring stories from professionals and everyday people. Many of our stories are from the StoryCorps project, check out their website: storycorps.org.

Levi Del Rio's Immigration Story (1:28)

Levi comes to the U.S. for high school without knowing any English. He adapts to the culture, goes to college and finds a wife, our audio engineer Maren Del Rio, in America.

It's America! by Corinne Stavish (8:40)

Ethel and her family visit America from Galicia and Ethel stays, against her father’s wishes. She meets a boy in English class and they fall in love and get married. Learn more about Corinne Stavish by visiting: www.stavishstorytelling.com

Storycorps: Slava and Leon Leykin (22:11)

Ukrainian immigrants Slava and Leon Leykin talk about Leon’s hot dog business that he created in America.

Storycorps: Tariq Sheikh and Tabinda Sheikh (24:15)

Tabinda immigrated from the Dominican Republic and Tariq immigrated from Pakistan. They met working in a Manhattan hotel, and despite the fact that both of them didn’t speak English well, they fell in love.

Storycorps: Blanca Alvarez and Connie Alvarez (26:46)

Blanca tells her story of crossing the border from Mexico to the U.S. She tells her daughter, Connie how hard she and her husband had to work to support their family.

Storycorps: Mohammad Ashraf Faridi and Muhammad Faridi (29:55)

Muhammad Faridi talks about growing up with a dad whose a taxi driver. His father, also named Mohammad, immigrated from Pakistan to the U.S. in the 1980s.

Storycorps: Francisco Ortega and Kaya Ortega (33:08)

Francisco’s parents immigrated from Mexico to the U.S. when he was a little boy, just so they could get jobs and send money to their kids. Later, Francisco goes to the U.S. and when he’s in college he is an English tutor for his peers.

One More Day by John McCutcheon (37:38)

Song about immigrants working hard each day to put food on the table. Learn more about John McCutcheon by visiting: www.folkmusic.com

Travellin’ Con by Yvonne Healy (41:42)

Yvonne’s grandfather, Con, sailed to America from Ireland, and then, not wanting to be interrupted mid-story, stays on the boat and goes straight back where he came from. Learn more about Yvonne Healy by visiting: www.yhealy.com

Grandma’s Lullaby by Dan Keding (52:50)

Song about all the different lullabies sung by grandmas who are from all over the world. Learn more about Dan Keding by visiting: www.dankeding.com