Session 1. 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.

Session 1. This oral history interview with Ayan Salat was conducted by Sankar Raman and Jessica Pollard on March 22, 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, Salat discusses her family background and early life in Somalia. She also shares the reasons that her father fled to Kenya in the 1990s. She shares her experiences living in refugee camps in Kenya from 2005 to 2015, including her education, her home and family life, and living conditions in the camps. She talks about the markets that her parents ran in the camps, about her social life, and about the process of immigrating to the United States. She talks about adjusting to life in the U.S., describes racism she experienced, and discusses her education in Portland, Oregon. She talks about writing poetry and reads one of her poems. She closes the interview by talking about her plans for the future and by sharing advice for young immigrants.

Session 1. This oral history interview with Dilshad Karim Saatchi was conducted by Sankar Raman and Shea Seery on September 27, 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, Saatchi discusses his family background and early life as a Kurd in Iraq, including his experiences during the Iran-Iraq war, and during the Iraqi genocide of Kurds that began in 1991. He describes his family fleeing their home for the Kurdish countryside and talks about living in hiding from the Iraqi army in a makeshift refugee camp. He briefly talks about his education after returning home. He discusses working as an English translator for the U.S. military at a prison during the Iraq War, describes some of the interrogations that he was part of, and talks about the dangers of the job. He shares his reasons for immigrating to the United States. He talks about joining the U.S. Army, and shares his experiences during his 2012 deployment to Kandahar, Afghanistan. He discusses his reasons for settling in Portland, Oregon, and briefly talks about his marriage and his education at Portland State University. He closes the interview by reflecting on the fact that the majority of his life was spent in the midst of war, by sharing his experience with post-traumatic stress disorder, and by discussing his plans for the future.

Session 1. This oral history interview with Xiomara Y. Torres was conducted by Lisa Cohn and Sankar Raman on September 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, Torres discusses her family background and early life in El Paraiso, El Salvador. She shares her reasons for talking about her former status as an undocumented immigrant. She describes her family's journey to California in 1980 and talks about the reasons her family fled El Salvador during the country's civil war. She discusses her early life as an undocumented immigrant in Los Angeles, including learning English, and her education. She speaks about her experiences in the U.S. foster care system. She talks about the process of receiving her green card, her experiences at the University of California, Berkeley, and about how her experiences in foster care influenced her choice to attend law school. She also talks about receiving U.S. citizenship in 2002, and speaks about her work as a family law lawyer in Oregon. She discusses doing interviews about her experiences, and a play written about her life. She closes the interview by talking about her plans for the future.

Session 1. This oral history interview with Nader Rezvani was conducted by Dora Totoian and Sankar Raman on August 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. Rebecca Benoit was also present and contributed to the interview.

In this interview, Rezvani discusses his family background and early life in Tehran, Iran, including his education and his conversion from Islam to atheism. He describes life in pre-revolution Iran and talks about working as an inspector on a hydroelectric project after high school. He speaks about his experiences in Berlin, Germany, in 1963, and shares his reasons for immigrating to the United States that same year. He describes adjusting to life in the U.S., experiencing winter in New York, and his experiences living in Los Angeles and attending college to study mechanical engineering. He shares his reasons for moving to Beaverton, Oregon, and speaks about his 20-year career as an engineer at Tektronix, Inc. Rezvani talks about his children and grandchildren, and Benoit talks about the Iranian community in the Portland area. He discusses his retirement on a farm near Gaston, Oregon, and Benoit shares the story of meeting Rezvani. He closes the interview by sharing his opinion on events in Iran after he left in 1963, and by talking about U.S.-Iranian relations, and about his cultural and ethnic identity.

Session 1. 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.

Session 1, Part 2. This oral history interview with Resa Uddin was conducted by Allison Merkel and Sankar Raman on July 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.

In this interview, Uddin discusses his family background and early life in Maungdaw, Burma, in the 1960s and 1970s, including the relationship between Rohingya Muslims and Rakhine Buddhists. He describes the deterioration in the status of Rohingya Muslims after the 1982 change to the Burmese constitution that rescinded their citizenship, and talks about his experience in college in Rangoon, including his involvement in student organizations for Rohingya rights. He also discusses the history of oppression of the Rohingya, and describes the oppression he and his family experienced in the 1980s and 1990s. He speaks about coming to the United States on a student visa, and about his experiences living and studying in Pendleton, Oregon. He talks about the process of receiving asylum. He discusses his experiences at Portland State University, and as the only Rohingya in Portland until 2005. He also talks about his marriage and the process of getting a green card for his wife. He discusses jobs he held, including running a gas station with his wife in Salem, Oregon. He closes the interview by talking about his work to help other Rohingya refugees, and by sharing his thoughts about the future of the Rohingya people.

Session 1, Part 1. This oral history interview with Resa Uddin was conducted by Allison Merkel and Sankar Raman on July 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.

In this interview, Uddin discusses his family background and early life in Maungdaw, Burma, in the 1960s and 1970s, including the relationship between Rohingya Muslims and Rakhine Buddhists. He describes the deterioration in the status of Rohingya Muslims after the 1982 change to the Burmese constitution that rescinded their citizenship, and talks about his experience in college in Rangoon, including his involvement in student organizations for Rohingya rights. He also discusses the history of oppression of the Rohingya, and describes the oppression he and his family experienced in the 1980s and 1990s. He speaks about coming to the United States on a student visa, and about his experiences living and studying in Pendleton, Oregon. He talks about the process of receiving asylum. He discusses his experiences at Portland State University, and as the only Rohingya in Portland until 2005. He also talks about his marriage and the process of getting a green card for his wife. He discusses jobs he held, including running a gas station with his wife in Salem, Oregon. He closes the interview by talking about his work to help other Rohingya refugees, and by sharing his thoughts about the future of the Rohingya people.

Session 1, Part 2. This oral history interview with Miguel Rodriguez was conducted by David Lipoff on July 16, 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, Rodriguez discusses his sister’s injury, which led the family to leave Mexico and seek medical treatment in the United States; shares their reasons for staying; and talks about the legal barriers that prevented them from receiving U.S. citizenship. He discusses his early life in Los Angeles, California; his relationship with his father and step-father; and moving to Roseburg to live near his step-father’s family. He talks about the financial hardship that led his mother and step-father to return to Los Angeles, about attending Umpqua Community College, and about the deaths of some of his family members in L.A. He speaks at length about the limitations on his life and the feelings of vulnerability caused by his status as an undocumented immigrant. He talks about the positive effect that the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals policy had on his life, including the ability to find a job and attend Portland State University. He then talks about getting a green card along with his mother under the Violence Against Women Act. He speaks about his cultural and ethnic identity. He talks about his work as a college access coach at Madison High School, about his reasons for volunteering with AmeriCorps, and about difficult conversations with his conservative grandfather. He shares his hopes and plans for the future and talks about his career goals. He closes the interview by talking about his involvement in non-profit organizations focused on the Latino community, particularly the organization Portland Through a Latinx Lens.

Session 1, Part 1. This oral history interview with Miguel Rodriguez was conducted by David Lipoff on July 16, 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, Rodriguez discusses his sister’s injury, which led the family to leave Mexico and seek medical treatment in the United States; shares their reasons for staying; and talks about the legal barriers that prevented them from receiving U.S. citizenship. He discusses his early life in Los Angeles, California; his relationship with his father and step-father; and moving to Roseburg to live near his step-father’s family. He talks about the financial hardship that led his mother and step-father to return to Los Angeles, about attending Umpqua Community College, and about the deaths of some of his family members in L.A. He speaks at length about the limitations on his life and the feelings of vulnerability caused by his status as an undocumented immigrant. He talks about the positive effect that the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals policy had on his life, including the ability to find a job and attend Portland State University. He then talks about getting a green card along with his mother under the Violence Against Women Act. He speaks about his cultural and ethnic identity. He talks about his work as a college access coach at Madison High School, about his reasons for volunteering with AmeriCorps, and about difficult conversations with his conservative grandfather. He shares his hopes and plans for the future and talks about his career goals. He closes the interview by talking about his involvement in non-profit organizations focused on the Latino community, particularly the organization Portland Through a Latinx Lens.

Session 1. 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.

In the first interview session, conducted on July 1, 2019, Whiting discusses the life and career of his first wife, Pat Whiting. He talks about her education at San Jose State University and their early marriage. He discusses his own education at San Jose State University, Chico State University, and Oregon State University and his plan to become a veterinarian. He also briefly talks about his wife at the time of the interview, Amira Whiting. He discusses Pat Whiting’s service in the Oregon State Legislature, including her work on legislation regarding the ban of chlorofluorocarbons, and describes her personality. Whiting briefly discusses his family background and early life in Chicago, Illinois. He then talks about moving to Oregon with Pat Whiting around 1968, and his career with GlaxoSmithKline. He discusses Pat Whiting’s political philosophy and speaks at length about her 1972 campaign for the Oregon House of Representatives and how she interacted with her constituents. He speaks about the reasons Pat Whiting entered politics, her interest in environmentalism, and the environmental legislation she worked on.

Session 1. This oral history interview with Naskah Zada was conducted by Dora Totoian and Sankar Raman on June 27, 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, Zada discusses her family background and early life as a Kurd in Sangasar, Iraq. She describes the destruction of her hometown by the Iraqi Army in 1988, and talks about living in the camp near Mosul where her family was forced to relocate. She also shares her memories of life during the Iran-Iraq War, and talks about bigotry that she experienced. She speaks at length about a childhood friend who inspired her to become a feminist, and who was later murdered in an honor killing. She discusses her experiences at the University of Sulaimani, including her ongoing education in feminist issues. She shares the reasons her family was evacuated by the U.S. military in 1996 as part of Operation Pacific Haven, describes the journey, and talks about adjusting to life in Portland, Oregon. She discusses learning English, jobs she worked, and her education. She describes racism she experienced in Portland. She speaks at length about her first marriage, discusses working in radio broadcasting in Washington, D.C., and shares her reasons for returning to Portland. She speaks about The Zada Show, her YouTube show focusing on Middle East news and culture. She reflects on the challenges she faced, discusses her preference for the both-sides news style, and closes the interview by talking about her plans for the future.

Session 1. This oral history interview with Elijah Russell was conducted by Sankar Raman and Allison Merkel on June 26, 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, Russell discusses his family background and early life in Hamburg, Germany, including the music careers of his parents, and the reasons he and his mother moved to Portland, Oregon, in 2005. He talks about growing up with a famous father, about writing music, and about his education in Germany and Beaverton. He shares his experiences as a Black person in both Germany and Portland, and speaks at length about starting a school club called Kids of Color. He talks about writing songs, plays some of his music, and discusses his musical ambitions. He talks about his plans for college, about sharing music with his father, and about his identity. He closes the interview by discussing plans for the future.

Session 1. 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.