Search Interviews

Andrew Taylor (Student, Chicago) spoke with Xanat Sobrevilla (Organizer, Chicago) of Organized Communities Against Deportation about her work, the deportation process, and her vision of migration justice in the future.

Facilitator Jhaleh Akhavan (30) interviews Kryszelda Mendoza (27) about her early life, growing up without her father (who was deported), how she became a teacher, and why she continues to teach today.

Judith Barba Perez (31) y su esposo, Lehabim Escoto Flores (34), comparten una conversación sobre sus experiencias al inmigrar a los Estados Unidos desde México y el trabajo que ahora hacen para apoyar a otros inmigrantes. [Judith Barba Perez (31)...

Colleagues Margarita [No Name Given] (31) and Pat Medige (57) share a conversation about immigration, focusing in particular on Margarita's experience coming to the United States and eventually gaining DACA status. Margarita also reflects on the importance of education to...

Ashley Choker (38) interviews her colleague, Melody Woods (43), about her upbringing, her experience as a troubled teen struggling with substance abuse and the law, and her eventual recovery. Note: This recording has in-depth descriptions of substance abuse and domestic...

Sakhone Lasaphangthong (46) talks to StoryCorps interviewer Syma Mohammed (34) about coming to the US as a refugee, being incarcerated, and his current work with houseless people.

Crystal LaFontaine (24) and her boyfriend Hugo Alvarado (54) discuss their respective backgrounds and histories with drug addiction, their memories of living together in the Five Points neighborhood of Detroit, their experiences overcoming addiction, and their new home together in...

Esta es la historia de una mujer fuerte que tiene muchas ganas para tiene una mejor vida. Ofelia es una mujer libre de ser pobre y ahora vive sin preocupaciones.

Sisters Beth Papatones Wheland (66) and Jan Papatones Crowley (69) talk about Beth's time in the Marine Corps and its impact on her as a person.

Anna Paloma Williams (32) asks her mother, Luz Kenyon (58), about what life was like for her as she immigrated to the United States from Mexico and raised her children in a new country. They also discuss the female role...

life of kindness

Algis Kalvaitis (45) interviews his parents Irene Kalvaitis (85) and Ramunas Kalvaitis (82) about their experiences fleeing Lithuania as children during WWII, and their lives in various countries before eventually coming to the United States.

Veronica Guevara (25) talks with her comadre, Dawn Martinez Oropeza (50), about being one of only a few Latinos in Marshalltown in elementary school, the impact of immigration raids on her undocumented family members, her feelings on racism and classism,...

Best friends Dee Armstrong [no age given] and Martha Jones [no age given] talk about Martha's career as a teacher, Dee's career as a news anchor, and what makes the two of them such great friends. They also discuss the...

Travis Simon (31) interviews his friend Najhim Luke (23) about his life, what he's overcome and his goals for his future and his family. Najhim also shares his thoughts on the criminal justice system and what it's been like to...

Jumell Davis (23) is interviewed by Kemali Green (28), CHS staff person, about his childhood in the Bronx and the challenges he faced, including losing his older brother and friends to gun violence.

Jose Carrio-Castro (26) is interviewed by his wife Audrey Faunce (26). They speak about Jose, who is currently in med school, and his journey as an undocumented immigrant from Peru, to becoming a doctor, and the barriers that he has...

"We have to continue to fight to have these rights. That was when I was 15 or 16 when I realized that." - Annette of Mission, Texas talks about her experience with equal rights in the computer science industry. Annette...

Davaughntae Williams (29) talks about growing up in the Bronx, leaving his home at fourteen, his experiences with incarceration and frustration trying to leave the system. He also shares his goals for the future.

Janie sits with her daughter Emily to talk about her journey into and out of addiction.

On January 6, 2019, Diego Velazquez interviewed his grandfather Fernando De La Torre who describes his transition to the US from his home in Mexico in the 1960s. Fernando also explains the differences between Mexico and California. In this interview,...

Student, Natalie Vinogradsky (15), interviews her dad, Andrey Vinogradsky (43). He shares his story and reflects on his experience about getting arrested as a hungry teen for stealing food.

Janeth Ponce se vino a los 19 años después de quedar embarazada de su hija para una nueva vida para ambas. Ahora es habla de su viaje y proceso migratorio y como llegó a ser ciudadana americana.

My Aunt wanda had a few choice words for the tourists flooding Floridas beaches, Governor DeSantis and Donald Trump. When it comes to the virus she refuses to go down without a fight. Aunt Wanda has entered "Walking Dead Mode"...

Elias (68) talks to his daughter Patricia (40) about reasons why he moved to the U.S. He spoke about what he misses about Mexico, and he spoke of his experiences living in Michigan.