This oral history interview with Johana Amani was conducted by Sankar Raman and Julianna Robidoux on March 13, 2019. The interview was recorded for The Immigrant Story, an organization that documents and archives the stories of immigrants and refugees in the United States.

In this interview, Amani discusses her family background and early life in the Democratic Republic of Congo, including her parents' divorce, the abuse she suffered as a child, and her education. She then describes her escape to Rwanda with her mother and sister. She shares her memories of life in Rwanda. She talks about relocating to Kenya and her life there, including her education and learning English and Swahili. She discusses the process of applying for asylum in the United States and adjusting to life in Portland, Oregon, in 2016. She talks about her education in Portland, including continuing to learn English, teachers that supported her, and classes that she took. She also describes finding resources to afford housing. She talks about her interest in engineering and architecture, as well as gender roles in the Democratic Republic of Congo. She closes the interview by discussing her hopes and plans for the future, as well as her involvement with the Africa House Youth Council.

This oral history interview with Belise Nishimwe was conducted by Elanya Yussen on June 10, 2019. The interview was recorded for The Immigrant Story, an organization that documents and archives the stories of immigrants and refugees in the United States. Erin Weisensee was also present and occasionally contributed to the interview.

In this interview, Nishimwe discusses her early life in Portland, Oregon, including her education, her love of reading, and making friends. She also talks about how her parents have adjusted to life in the United States, particularly their experience with the language barrier. She speaks about her cultural and ethnic identity, including her family background in Burundi, foods she grew up with, and languages she speaks. She talks about racism she experienced and how she internalized it at a young age. She revisits the topic of her education; talks about how her sister inspires her; and describes the cultural significance of her family's names. She speaks at length about her love of poetry, publicly performing her poems, and her participation in the Oregon Poetry Out Loud competition. She then describes her trip to Washington, D.C., in 2019, to participate in the national Poetry Out Loud competition. She closes the interview by talking about her accomplishments and her plans for the future, and by sharing advice for other young people and immigrants.

This oral history interview with Divine Irambona was conducted by Sankar Raman on May 18, 2019. The interview was recorded for The Immigrant Story, an organization that documents and archives the stories of immigrants and refugees in the United States. Shea Seery was also present and occasionally contributed interview questions.

In this interview, Irambona discusses her family background in Burundi and the reasons her parents fled to Tanzania. She talks about her early life in the Kanembwa refugee camp in Tanzania, including an attack on her home just before the family was resettled in the United States; living conditions in the camp; and her education. She also discusses the significance of her name. She then talks about being resettled in the United States and adjusting to life in Beaverton, Oregon, including jobs her father and stepmother worked. She speaks at length about her education, including racist bullying she experienced, learning English, and making friends. She talks about her experience studying sociology at Western Oregon University, and discusses continued racist bullying she endured, founding the African Students and Friends Association, and health problems that affected her education. She closes the interview by describing her work with Northwest Human Services at the time of the interview in 2019, her volunteer work with refugees in Salem, and her plans for the future.

This oral history interview with Jeanette Amisi Mmunga was conducted by Julianna Robidoux on July 10, 2019. The interview was recorded for The Immigrant Story, an organization that documents and archives the stories of immigrants and refugees in the United States. Sankar Raman was also present and occasionally contributed interview questions.

In this interview, Mmunga discusses her family background and early life in the Nyarugusu refugee camp in Tanzania, including living conditions in the camp, daily chores, and recreational activities. She also describes experiencing night terrors as a child and her belief that she was the target of witchcraft. She then talks about the process of being resettled in the United States and adjusting to life in Boise, Idaho, in 2010, including experiencing culture shock, learning English, and her education. She talks about relocating to Portland, Oregon, in 2013, and talks about her education and making friends. She also discusses the birth of her younger sister and her sister's early health problems. She talks about applying for college and earning scholarships, her extracurricular activities in high school, and people who inspired her. She discusses her involvement in I Am M.O.R.E., an organization that encourages young people to tell their stories in order to inspire other young people. She closes the interview by talking about her work educating young women about their bodies, about her plans for the future, and about the meaning of her birth name as well as her chosen name.

This oral history interview with Mohammed Husson Ali was conducted by Elizabeth Mehren and Sankar Raman from September 25 to November 20, 2018. The interview was recorded for The Immigrant Story, an organization that documents and archives the stories of immigrants and refugees in the United States. The interview was conducted in two sessions.

In the first interview session, on September 25, 2018, Mohammed Husson Ali discusses his early life in the farming village of Myo Thu Gyi in Burma, also known as Myanmar. He talks about his education and his early career as a teacher. He discusses the political changes in Burma during the 1960s and 1970s, then shares his experience of fleeing with his family to Bangladesh during Operation Dragon King, during which the government of Burma expelled many Rohingya. He talks about returning to Burma; about working for the World Food Organization and with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees during the 1980s and 1990s; and about ongoing political changes during this time period. He describes the slow erosion of Rohingya rights beginning in the 1990s, including the systematic displacement of Rohingya people for Buddhist settlers. He talks about his flight to Bangladesh in 2008, about his recovery from a heart attack while in Malaysia, and about his arrival as a refugee in Portland, Oregon, in 2011. He speaks at length about the ongoing genocide of the Rohingya people, and also talks about the living conditions of his family still in Bangladesh.

In the second interview session, conducted on November 20, 2018, Mohammed Husson Ali revisits the topics covered in the first session and adds additional details. He closes the interview by talking about the current legal status of the Rohingya people and shares his hope that the United States could help resolve the situation.

This oral history with Norman Sepenuk was conducted by Jeffrey Batchelor at Sepenuk's home in Black Butte, Oregon, from March 5-7, 1993, and on September 22, 2002. The interview was conducted in four sessions.

In the first interview session, conducted on March 5, 1993, Sepenuk discusses his family background and early life in New Jersey, including his education. He then talks about his experience at Princeton University, including some of his professors and classes, his involvement in the ROTC, and his social life. He also talks about discrimination he faced as a Jewish person. He then talks about his service in the U.S. Army from 1954 to 1956. He talks about his experience at Harvard Law School, including some of his professors, classes, and classmates. He describes practicing law in Jersey City after his graduation in 1959.

In the second interview session, conducted on March 6, 1993, Sepenuk discusses leaving his law practice to work for the Department of Justice Tax Division in Washington, D.C. He talks about the relationship between the Department of Justice and the U.S. Supreme Court, cases he worked on, lawyers he worked with, and judges he argued before. He also talks about his marriage to Barbara Hammond. He then talks about being called to Oregon in 1965 to assist on a case. He describes relocating to Oregon and working as an assistant U.S. attorney from 1965 to 1972, with a focus on white collar crime. He talks about his fellow assistant U.S. attorneys, cases he worked on, and judges he argued before. He particularly talks about his relationships with Judge Gus Solomon, Judge Robert Belloni, and U.S. Attorney Sid Lezak. He also talks about attending the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard from 1968 to 1969, and later returning to Washington, D.C., in 1971 as part of the Brown Commission. He then talks about leaving the U.S. attorney's office in 1972 and entering private practice in Portland, Oregon. He discusses focusing on white collar crime, describes his legal strategies, and compares the work of a prosecutor to that of a defense lawyer. He talks about cases he worked on and judges he argued before.

In the third interview session, conducted on March 7, 1993, Sepenuk continues to discuss working as a defense attorney focused on white collar crime, cases he worked on, and judges he argued before. He also talks about his involvement in various legal associations, changes in the legal field during his career, and sentencing guidelines, particularly with regard to drug related crimes. He discusses his health, his hobbies, his wife and children, and their careers. He closes the session by reflecting on his career and achievements, and by sharing his plans for the future.

In the fourth and final interview session, conducted on September 22, 2002, Sepenuk revisits the topic of judges that he argued before, including Helen Frye, Owen Panner, and Malcolm Marsh. He also talks about some of the cases he worked on. He then talks about his activities since the previous session, recorded a decade earlier, including his work as a volunteer lawyer in post-Communist countries, trying a case at The Hague, and cases he worked on in Oregon. He also revisits the topic of sentencing guidelines. He closes the interview by talking about his plans for the future.

This oral history interview with Peter Magai Bul was conducted by Nancy E. Dollahite and Sankar Raman on November 26, 2018. The interview was recorded for The Immigrant Story, an organization that documents and archives the stories of immigrants and refugees in the United States. Tim O'Brien was also present.

In this interview, Bul discusses his early life in Sudan as a member of the Dinka tribe. He speaks about tending cattle, about his childhood activities, and about Dinka culture. He talks about the Second Sudanese Civil War and the attack on Wangulei village in 1988. He describes fleeing by foot to Ethiopia; talks about life as one of many displaced children, known as the Lost Boys and Girls of Sudan, in a refugee camp in Dima; and speaks about training as a child soldier. He then describes fleeing to Kenya during the Ethiopian Civil War. He talks about life in the Kakuma refugee camp in Kenya, including attending school for the first time; discusses the process of earning refugee status to the United States in 2001; and describes his journey to Chicago, Illinois. He talks about adjusting to life in Chicago, about attending Truman College and Northeastern Illinois University, and about helping to build a school in Wangulei. He closes the interview by discussing his plans for the future.

This oral history interview with Baher Butti was conducted by Sankar Raman on January 10, 2019. The interview was recorded for The Immigrant Story, an organization that documents and archives the stories of immigrants and refugees in the United States. In this interview, Butti discusses his early life in Baghdad, Iraq, talks about his family's history of political activism, and describes his experiences during the 1980 Iran-Iraq War. He speaks about life under the authoritarian governments in Iraq, particularly the Saddam Hussein regime. He also talks about practicing as a psychiatrist in Iraq. He describes his experiences during the U.S. invasion of Iraq in 2003, and talks about the series of events that led to an assassination threat against him. He discusses the process of leaving Iraq and immigrating to the United States with his family. He talks about his life in Oregon, including his career, organizations he founded, and his work with refugees. He discusses the historical religious diversity of Iraqis. He closes the interview by talking about the process of applying for asylum in the United States and sharing his hopes for the future.

This oral history interview with Chang-Shee Chang was conducted by Dora Totoian on October 18, 2019. Sankar Raman was also present and occasionally contributed to the interview questions. The interview was recorded for The Immigrant Story, an organization that documents and archives the stories of immigrants and refugees in the United States. In this interview, Chang discusses his family background and early life in Taiwan during the Sino-Japanese War; speaks about his ethnic and cultural identity; and talks about life during the White Terror period. He discusses his education and social life in Taipei, including his experience studying medicine at National Taiwan University, and speaks about how his feelings about China changed after coming to the United States. He talks about his marriage to Hwei Chang, discusses completing his medical residency in Baltimore, Maryland, and speaks about adjusting to life in the U.S., particularly the food. He talks about the process of becoming a naturalized citizen in 1973, and about his career as a vascular surgeon in Portland, Oregon, beginning in 1974. He speaks about raising a family in the Pacific Northwest. He talks about the origins of his nickname, "George," about incidences of racial discrimination his family experienced in the United States, and about his children and their careers. He closes the interview by discussing his experience with lung cancer and his retirement activities.

This oral history interview with Ruby Chen was conducted by Jessica Pollard and Sankar Raman on January 8, 2019. A woman identified only as Nancy was also present and occasionally contributed to the interview questions. The interview was recorded for The Immigrant Story, an organization that documents and archives the stories of immigrants and refugees in the United States.

In this interview, Chen discusses her family background and early life in Taipei, Taiwan, and talks about her early violin lessons and participation in music competitions. She speaks about moving with her family to Toronto, Canada, including adjusting to life in Canada, her education, and participating in music competitions. She also talks about the origins of her English name, Ruby. She discusses studying violin at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York, and talks about making friends, adjusting to life in the United States, and living away from her family. She then briefly talks about studying violin at the Yale School of Music and playing in a string quartet. She also shares an anecdote about working with Josh Groban and with Celtic Thunder while a student at Eastman. She describes the process of auditioning for symphonies, and discusses her career as a violinist for the Oregon Symphony. She talks about teaching violin, about how Taiwan has changed since she left, and about her life in Portland, Oregon. She closes the interview by discussing her activities outside of her career with the symphony, talking about her cultural identity, and sharing advice for aspiring musicians.

This oral history interview with Milen Gebreamlak was conducted by Caitlyn Malik and Sankar Raman on March 4, 2019. The interview was recorded for The Immigrant Story, an organization that documents and archives the stories of immigrants and refugees in the United States.

In this interview, Gebreamlak discusses the reasons that her family fled Eritrea and talks about her early life in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, including her education and social life. She then speaks about the process of receiving refugee status in the United States and about moving to Portland, Oregon, in 2014. She discusses adjusting to life in the U.S., including joining a Bible study group and making friends. She talks about her experience in high school, including being bullied, learning English, and playing soccer. She talks about her family, speaks about her involvement with extracurricular activities, and discusses her educational priorities. She talks about the Women's Empowerment Club at Reynolds High School, which she co-founded, and her involvement with Africa House and the Multnomah County Youth Commission. She talks about learning to say no, about her political ambitions, and about her plans for the future. She closes the interview by sharing advice for people who experience bullying and by talking about her personal philosophy.

This oral history interview with Anna Giurgiev was conducted by Caitlyn Malik and Sankar Raman on June 7, 2019. The interview was recorded for The Immigrant Story, an organization that documents and archives the stories of immigrants and refugees in the United States. One of Giurgiev's daughters, Vesna Giurgiev, was also present.

In this interview, Giurgiev discusses her family background and early life in communist Romania, including working on a farm, her education, and the national athletics program. She speaks about her marriage to Sava Giurgiev and describes their wedding. She talks about rationing and traveling to Yugoslavia to buy food. She describes Sava Giurgiev's flight from Romania and talks about reuniting with him in Chicago, Illinois. She describes the process of getting a visa to the United States. She also looks at photographs and talks about them. She talks about adjusting to life in the U.S., about earning her nursing degree, and about working in Chicago and in Florida. She then talks about the reasons the family moved to the Portland, Oregon, area. She closes the interview by reflecting on her experiences as a Romanian immigrant and talking about her hopes for her children.

This oral history interview with Gitanjali J. Hursh was conducted by Elayna Yussen on April 15, 2019. The interview was recorded for The Immigrant Story, an organization that documents and archives the stories of immigrants and refugees in the United States.

In this interview, Hursh discusses her family background and early life as a biracial second-generation Indian American. She also talks about her mother's immigration to the United States in 1973, as well as her mother's adjustment to life in the U.S. She talks about her family's frequent moves during her childhood, speaks about her early interest in music and dance, and discusses making friends in new schools. She speaks about her mother's life, career, and cultural background. She talks about her cultural and ethnic identity during her early life, and about connecting to her Indian cultural heritage in her 20s. She talks about studying art at Portland State University, and discusses working various jobs. She describes how she first got into being a DJ while helping to organize workers at Powell's Books into the ILWU Local 5 union. She speaks about her partnership with Stephen Strausbaugh to form the duo of DJ Anjali and the Incredible Kid; describes the music scene in Portland during the late 1990s and early 2000s; and talks about the enduring popularity of the duo's monthly Desi dance party, ANDAZ. She describes how the party has changed since its early days at the Fez Ballroom, talks about other dance parties that they play, and discusses her plans for the future. She closes the interview by discussing her involvement in the Portland Indian community, offering advice on negotiating wages, and talking about challenges she faced during her career.

This oral history interview with Farhia Ibrahim was conducted by Shea Seery and Sankar Raman on February 2, 2019. The interview was recorded for The Immigrant Story, an organization that documents and archives the stories of immigrants and refugees in the United States.

In this interview, Ibrahim discusses her early life in Somalia and in Egypt and speaks about her family's reasons for relocating to Egypt. She talks about life in Cairo, Egypt, and discusses her education, including learning Arabic, bullying she experienced, and transferring to a madrassa. She also talks about experiencing street harassment in Cairo. She shares her memories of the Arab Spring, talks about the process of applying for refugee status in the United States, and describes her living conditions in Egypt. She then discusses adjusting to life in the U.S., her experiences at an American high school, and learning English. She speaks about harassment she experienced for wearing a hijab. She then talks about studying at Portland Community College, about her experiences studying at Portland State University, and about the ethnic diversity of the student body. She closes the interview by sharing her plans for the future, by further describing instances of harassment she experienced for wearing a hijab, and by talking about her interest in photography.

This oral history interview with Irakoze Diane was conducted by Sankar Raman on December 14, 2018. The interview was recorded for The Immigrant Story, an organization that documents and archives the stories of immigrants and refugees in the United States. Julianna Robidoux was also present.

In this interview, Irakoze Diane discusses her family background in Burundi, and the reasons her parents came to the Democratic Republic of Congo, then the reasons her family fled to Tanzania shortly after her birth. She speaks about her early life in a refugee camp in Kigoma, Tanzania, including living conditions, her education, and daily life. She describes the process of applying for refugee status in the United States. She also talks about the death of her sister in 2010, and how that experience influenced her choice of college major. She discusses traveling to the United States in 2007 and settling in Milwaukie, Oregon. She talks about adjusting to life in the U.S., including learning English and trying to fit in. She speaks about her education in public schools and her involvement in various extracurricular activities. She discusses her decision to attend Portland State University and talks about her college experience. She closes the interview by talking about her family and her plans for the future, and shares advice for other immigrants.

This oral history interview with Susheela Jayapal was conducted by Sankar Raman on June 1, 2019. The interview was recorded for The Immigrant Story, an organization that documents and archives the stories of immigrants and refugees in the United States. Monica Salazar was also present.

In this interview, Jayapal discusses her family background and early life in India, Singapore, and in Jakarta, Indonesia, including her education. She talks about her reasons for going to the United States for college, and shares her experiences as an international student studying economics at Swarthmore College in Pennsylvania. She talks about working for Goldman Sachs in New York State after graduating, then shares her experiences studying law at the University of Chicago. She also discusses the availability of Indian cuisine in the U.S. She talks about practicing law in San Francisco, California, about her marriage to Bradley Stuart Miller, and about raising biracial children in Portland, Oregon. She then talks about working as a lawyer for Adidas, shares her reasons for quitting in 2000, and discusses her involvement in several non-profit organizations in Portland. She shares her reasons for running for the Multnomah County Board of Commissioners in 2017, talks about her campaign, and discusses the issues she plans to address while in office, including housing. She closes the interview by talking about communicating with her constituents, and about encouraging more Indian Americans to run for office.

This oral history interview with Libby Solomon was conducted by Jim Strassmaier at Solomon's apartment in Portland, Oregon, from October 25 to November 22, 1989. In this interview, Solomon discusses her family history and early life in Russia and Portland, including assimilating to American culture as a young child; the death of her older sister, Roza Willer; her Jewish upbringing; and her education. She then discusses her brief education at Reed College and her love for microscopic work. She briefly discusses her Democratic politics. She talks about working in medical labs with various doctors, particularly Edmund Sears. She discusses her involvement in the Democratic Party and the Oregon Commonwealth Federation, as well as the people she met through those organizations, including Monroe Sweetland, Ruth Haefner, and Gus Solomon, who became her spouse. She speaks at length about Gus Solomon's appointment to the U.S. District Court of Oregon. She discusses some of her later activities, including taking classes at the Portland Art Museum School, and serving on the Portland art and zoo commissions. She also talks about her and Gus Solomon's decision to quit all clubs and organizations that had discriminatory admittance policies. She closes the interview by discussing her work on integrated housing.

This oral history interview with Anne Johnson was conducted by Julianna Robidoux and Monica Salazar on November 29, 2019. The interview was recorded for The Immigrant Story, an organization that documents and archives the stories of immigrants and refugees in the United States. Sankar Raman was also present.

In this interview, Johnson discusses her family background and early life in Nairobi, Kenya, including her education. She talks about turning her love of creative pursuits into a tea and chocolate business in Oregon. She discusses her reasons for relocating to Portland, Oregon, for college. She describes the tea sommelier course she took, talks about starting her business, and discusses ethically sourcing her products. She talks about her partnership with her husband, Mark Johnson, about the importance of tea in her family life, and about her reasons for including chocolate in her business. She talks about her future plans for Mamancy Tea Co. She closes the interview by discussing discrimination that she experienced as a Black woman and an immigrant.

This oral history interview with Joe Kye was conducted by Sankar Raman and Allison Merkel on December 23, 2020. The interview was recorded for The Immigrant Story, an organization that documents and archives the stories of immigrants and refugees in the United States. The interview was conducted remotely using Cleanfeed software due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In this interview, Kye discusses his family background and early life in Seoul, South Korea, and talks about his family's reasons for immigrating to the United States in 1993. He describes his experiences as a Korean immigrant in the U.S., including learning English, adjusting to American culture, and acting as a translator for his parents. He discusses his early interest in music and playing violin, talks about his early career ambitions, and shares his experiences at Yale University. He speaks about his reasons for not majoring in music at Yale, instead pursuing a career as a high school teacher; talks about his marriage to Natasha K. Kye; and discusses his decision to pursue a career as a musician. He speaks at length about the development of his music career in Sacramento, California, and in Portland, Oregon, and talks about telling stories while performing his music onstage. He closes the interview by discussing the difficulty of working as a musician as a new parent and during the COVID-19 pandemic.

This oral history interview with Liliana Luna was conducted by Dora Totoian and Sankar Raman on July 12, 2019. The interview was recorded for The Immigrant Story, an organization that documents and archives the stories of immigrants and refugees in the United States.

In this interview, Luna discusses her early life in Mexico City, Michoacán, and Nuevo Laredo, Mexico, including her family life, her education, and the houses her family lived in. She describes the dangers of life in the border town of Nuevo Laredo, and shares the reasons her family came to Portland, Oregon, in 2005. She speaks about her experience as an undocumented immigrant. She talks about adjusting to life in the United States, about her experience in high school, and about racism she experienced. She discusses studying at Portland Community College; talks about her involvement with Oregon Dream Activists, an organization that advocates for rights for undocumented immigrants; and speaks about her participation in the 2012 May Day protest in Portland, in which she was arrested. She talks about her experiences studying at Portland State University as a person of color and an undocumented immigrant, shares her plans for the future, and speaks at length about her activism. She talks about her accomplishments, and shares her opinion about American culture. She closes the interview by discussing the experience of immigrants during the presidency of Donald Trump, and by discussing the abolition of borders.

This oral history interview with Wilondja D. Mashimango was conducted by Julianna Robidoux and Sankar Raman on March 8, 2019. The interview was recorded for The Immigrant Story, an organization that documents and archives the stories of immigrants and refugees in the United States.

In this interview, Mashimango talks about immigrating to the United States in 2015. He discusses his family background in the Democratic Republic of Congo, and his early life in the Nyarugusu refugee camp in Tanzania, including his education, living conditions, and recreational activities. He discusses common cultural beliefs about witchcraft. He talks about adjusting to life in the United States, including learning English; his experience in high school in Portland, particularly playing soccer; and his experience at Portland State University. He closes the interview by sharing his plans for the future, and advice for other immigrants.

This oral history interview with Jenny Munezero was conducted by Julianna Robidoux and Sankar Raman on May 2, 2019. The interview was recorded for The Immigrant Story, an organization that documents and archives the stories of immigrants and refugees in the United States.

In this interview, Munezero discusses her family background and early life as a Burundian refugee in the Kanembwa refugee camp in Tanzania. She describes living conditions in the camp, her family life, and her education. She describes the dangers of the camp, discusses her father's business, and talks about the process of resettlement in the United States. She speaks about adjusting to life in Beaverton, Oregon, including her experience during her first Independence Day; talks about her high school and college education in the U.S.; and discusses her career after graduating with a degree in business management from Portland State University. She talks about her relationship with her fiance, Innocent Irakoze, and closes the interview by sharing advice for other immigrants and her plans for the future.

This oral history interview with Bernal Cruz was conducted by Sankar Raman on February 25, 2019. The interview was recorded for The Immigrant Story, an organization that documents and archives the stories of immigrants and refugees in the United States. Julianna Robidoux was also present.

In this interview, Cruz discusses his family background and early life in Guatemala City, Guatemala, including his father's career in the Guatemalan army; his Mayan heritage and culture; and his education. He shares the history of the civil war in Guatemala and talks about his family's experiences during the war. He describes the reasons his family sought asylum in the United States, and talks about the asylum process. He discusses his experiences in Portland, Oregon, as a Guatemalan immigrant, including his education, his social life, and adjusting to cultural differences. He talks about working as a mediator during high school, about his education in neuropsychology at the University of Massachusetts, and about working as a therapist for Providence in Portland. He then talks about his career change in 2014, after earning a master's degree in community-based social work from Portland State University; about his marriage to Karey B. Lakey; and about his work with unaccompanied minors and immigrant youth for Morrison Child and Family Services. He speaks at length about his volunteer work with organizations assisting refugees, and closes the interview by discussing his experience in Italy as part of Harvard's online refugee trauma and recovery program.

This oral history interview with Abdi Nazemian was conducted by Sankar Raman and Nancy E. Dollahite on November 8, 2019. The interview was recorded for The Immigrant Story, an organization that documents and archives the stories of immigrants and refugees in the United States.

In this interview, Nazemian discusses his family background and early life in Paris, France; Toronto, Canada; and New York City. He shares the reasons his family left Iran for France, then Canada; talks about his experience growing up multilingual and about raising his own children to also be multilingual; and about adjusting to life in the United States. He discusses his cultural and ethnic identity, and his identity as a gay man, and talks about how those identities inform his writing. He speaks about his experiences and education at a boarding school in New York, talks about coming out to his family in his twenties, and describes his early career as a screenwriter in Los Angeles, California. He speaks at length about writing books telling queer Iranian stories, and about his writing process. He closes the interview by talking about how the AIDS pandemic affected him, by describing the themes of his novels, and by discussing public reception of his novels.

This oral history interview with Abdulah Polovina was conducted by Elizabeth Mehren and Sankar Raman on January 7, 2019. The interview was recorded for The Immigrant Story, an organization that documents and archives the stories of immigrants and refugees in the United States.

In this interview, Polvina discusses his experiences as a Muslim in Bosnia during the Yugoslav Wars. He talks about the history of Muslims, and of genocide against Muslims, in the region, and about politics in Yugoslavia leading up to the wars. He speaks at length about his Islamic faith, about his early life and education in Bosnia, and about changing his name to Abdulah. He talks about his marriage to his wife, Hatidza, about being separated while he served in the war, and about his reasons for leaving Bosnia for Seattle, Washington, in 2001. He talks about his experience as the first Muslim student at Seattle University's School of Theology and Ministry, and about his experience serving as imam at a mosque in Portland, Oregon. He closes the interview by talking about the Portland Muslim community, and reflecting on the experiences of Bosnian Muslims during the war.

This oral history interview with Hatidza Polovina was conducted by Elizabeth Mehren and Sankar Raman on January 7, 2019. The interview was recorded for The Immigrant Story, an organization that documents and archives the stories of immigrants and refugees in the United States. Abdulah Polovina was also present.

In this interview, Hatzida Polovina discusses her marriage to Abdulah Polovina and her experiences as a Muslim in Bosnia during the Yugoslav Wars. She talks about her early life in Bosnia, including her education, and practicing Islam in a communist country. She describes the atrocities committed against Bosnian Muslims during the war, including her father and older brother, and talks about escaping to and living in Austria. She then describes returning to Sarajevo to marry Abdulah Polovina, and talks about making a life in the middle of a war zone. She speaks about her Islamic faith. She then talks about emigrating to the United States and about adjusting to life in Seattle, Washington, and in Portland, Oregon. Polovina and Mehren discuss the reasons behind the many genocides around the world in recent decades. She speaks further about her education at a madrassa in Sarajevo. Polovina closes the interview by talking about social conditions in Bosnia at the time of the interview.

This oral history interview with Nong Poonsukwattana was conducted by Monica Salazar on August 12, 2019. The interview was recorded for The Immigrant Story, an organization that documents and archives the stories of immigrants and refugees in the United States. Poonsukwattana's landlord was also briefly present.

In this interview, Poonsukwattana discusses her family background and early life in Bangkok, Thailand, and talks about experiencing child abuse. She talks about immigrating to the United States after marrying an American citizen in 2003; about adjusting to life in Portland, Oregon, including learning English; and about working as a waitress in Thai restaurants in Portland, including Pok Pok. She discusses developing recipes, opening Nong's Khao Man Gai, a food cart in downtown Portland, in 2009, and then a restaurant of the same name in 2011. She then describes opening a second location for her restaurant in 2018. She closes the interview by sharing her plans for the future, by talking about managing her restaurant staff, and by discussing her experience with the immigration process.

This oral history interview with Yamini Rajan was conducted by Monica Salazar and Sankar Raman on February 20, 2019. The interview was recorded for The Immigrant Story, an organization that documents and archives the stories of immigrants and refugees in the United States.

In this interview, Rajan discusses her family background and early life in Delhi and Bangalore, India, including Diwali celebrations and being bullied at school. She talks about immigrating to the United States in 2012 and adjusting to life in Portland, Oregon, particularly at school. She discusses her social life and her family life. She speaks at length about her mental health during her teenage years, including a suicide attempt. She talks about her experience in high school, including her interest in art and making new friends. She discusses her college plans, and talks about doing public speaking about her mental health with ASHA International, A Source of Hope for All. She closes the interview by talking about her plans for the future.