Rodrigo Aguirre, Perseverance

Rodrigo's story, Perseverance, is about how he chose to self-exile in the US after a lifetime journey plagued by obstacles and denial of his personal identity. Through hardship and pain, he found in Portland what was necessary for him to experience a life worth living. He talks with Lynne Duddy and Lawrence Howard about his years of working towards a master’s degree in teaching and how he now works as an elementary school teacher.

MAY THE NARRATIVE BE WITH YOU®

As both writer and storyteller, Leigh Hancock is fascinated with how our memories and stories shape who we are. This story, "Peaches," is about revisiting fond memories only to discover that the reality is something very different than the memory. Leigh talks with Lynne Duddy and Lawrence Howard about her process for creating a story, getting to the heart of what matters to her, and how this story triggered some deeply held memories.

Anto shares his story, "Home Is Where I Don't Belong," a story about how he discovered that he should appreciate what he no longer has. Then he talks with Lynne Duddy and Lawrence Howard about the reasons he came to the US, how he is coping with the realities of life here, and what Bali will always be home.

Lily Ningsih-Waldman shares her story "The Voice" about the prejudices she faced coming to America with limited skills in English. In her journey from ESL classes at PCC to graduating with high honors from Lewis & Clark College, she discovered something about herself that had been long suppressed. She talks with Lynne Duddy and Lawrence Howard about this discovery and how it transformed her life.

Yes, the book "Black Beauty" is definitely a gateway drug for little girls to discover who they are. This is the story of a horse who appeared as if by magic and taught Joan-Carrol to anticipate the delights of the universe. Joan-Carrol talks with Lynne Duddy and Lawrence Howard about the ways she is resilient and how she has continued to develop that throughout her life.

There are times when life's journey opens to allow us to touch the tender places and wash the pain of the past with the rains of new beginnings. Amanda talks with Lynne Duddy and Lawrence Howard about how she found her way to work that inspires courage and empowers lives.

There is no "us" and "them" and Maria-Luisa’s point of view makes that clear. Her story takes us from a sense of belonging in Argentina to having to pretend when she arrives in Portland, Oregon. In conversation with Lynne Duddy and Lawrence Howard she talks about how she has finally found her true voice and spirit within herself.

Sometimes there’s no GPS. But Chuck McConnell knows that the only way to travel is by trial and error, cut and try, look and loop back. Chuck shares his story, The Last Place I Knew Where I Was, and then talks with Lynne Duddy and Lawrence Howard about what draws him to storytelling and how he's finding his way back to himself.

MAY THE NARRATIVE BE WITH YOU®

Dana Dennis, a geriatric social worker, shares the story of a woman who taught her to love in new ways and to cherish the right of others to make choices in their own lives. Then Dana talks with Lynne Duddy and Lawrence Howard about her love of storytelling and what drew her to this amazing artform.

MAY THE NARRATIVE BE WITH YOU®

Steve shares his story of how he loved and cared for his dying wife, Amy, through her battle with breast cancer. Then he talks with Lynne Duddy and Lawrence Howard about this was the toughest job he ever had, how fighting cancer is definitely a team effort and ultimately, it involves loving and caring for your self.

MAY THE NARRATIVE BE WITH YOU®