►
From YouTube: Cultural Conversation April 2022
Description
No description was provided for this meeting.
If this is YOUR meeting, an easy way to fix this is to add a description to your video, wherever mtngs.io found it (probably YouTube).
A
A
A
A
I
know
many
of
you
have
been
on
the
zoom
platform
for
over
two
years,
but
I
still
want
to
just
do
a
quick
overview,
we're
familiar
with
the
the
mute
in
unmute
and,
for
the
most
part,
we're
going
to
be
quiet,
except
for
those
who
are
telling
their
stories
towards
the
end
of
the
program.
That's
when
you're
really
going
to
have
an
opportunity
to
chat
and
that's
going
to
be
in
the
the
conversation
rooms.
Next,
please
turn
on
your
video.
A
It's
always
good
to
see
who
is
with
us
in
the
gallery
and
for
the
the
storytellers
to
be
telling
a
story
and
being
able
to
see
the
faces
so
that
that's
wonderful
next
for
chat.
Okay,
the
chat
window
is
open,
but
I'm
going
to
ask
if
you
could
reserve
chat
until
the
end
of
the
program,
because
often
it
can
be
a
little
distracting.
A
We
may
miss
the
story.
We
may
miss
that
special
thing
that
a
storyteller
is
going
to
share
if
we're
also
reading
the
chat.
So
if
you
can
be
present
and
not
utilize,
the
chat
until
we
get
later
into
the
the
program,
but
you're
welcome.
You
know
through
the
gallery
to
you
know,
you
know,
show
signs
of
support
and
emojis.
You
know
that
is
great.
A
A
We
have
activated
closed
captioning
and
you
should
be
seeing
down
at
the
bottom
of
your
screen
a
live
transcript.
You
may
need
to
to
click
on
that.
Little
button
that
has
the
the
cc
down
below
says,
live,
transfer,
live
transcript
and
enable
the
subtitles
next.
B
C
B
Helping
us
to
have
great
conversations
as
we
as
we
hear
and
share
stories
and
then
share
some
of
the
things
that
we
learned
from
the
speakers
this
evening
tonight.
It
is
my
honor
to
be
able
to
introduce
one
of
our
council
members
to
to
provide
the
welcome
from
council.
This
evening.
Our
council
welcome
comes
from
council
member
janice.
Zahn
janice
has
lived
in
bellevue
since
1994
and
she
has
been
on
city
council
since
2017..
B
She
has
a
number
of
number
of
interests
and
expertise,
but
one
of
the
things
I
would
highlight
that
fits
so
very
well
with
this
evening
is
that
janus
is
committed
to
ensuring
that
the
city
of
bellevue
continues
to
work,
to
be
both
more
inclusive
and
to
celebrate
the
richness
of
our
culture
so
janice.
Thank
you
so
much.
You
are
always
with
us.
It's
great
to
have
you
to
be
able
to
to
to
provide
our
welcome
this
evening.
Councilmember
janice,
sun.
D
Yes,
thank
you
mark.
You
know
I'm
excited
to
be
here,
even
though
it's
virtual,
I
mean,
as
you
know,
I
wish
we
were
able
to
be
in
person,
because
I
think
that
the
conversations
can
be
so
much
richer,
and
yet
we
we
are
here
we're
continuing
the
program
and
so
welcome
to
this
meaningful
night
of
recognizing
the
lived
experiences
and
migration
and
personal
journeys
that
shape
each
and
every
one
of
us
and
who
we
are
and
our
influence
on
on
others.
So
we
are.
D
Our
stories
is
such
a
a
deep
part
of
that,
because
the
more
we
know
about
each
other,
the
more
that
we
can
be
in
community
together.
So
I
look
forward
to
hearing
the
stories
of
community
members
who
carried
their
personal
culture,
history
and
passions
with
them
to
bellevue
and
are
sharing
them
with
us.
They
also
carry
their
hopes
and
dreams
for
the
future
in
their
stories
and
migration
and,
as
you
know,
in
bellevue,
our
vision
is
to
welcome
the
world
and
see
our
our
community's
rich
diversity
as
one
of
our
key
strengths.
D
D
Their
peoples,
as
our
peoples
and
the
thought
of
having
to
leave
their
homes,
carrying
only
what
they
have
in
their
few
belongings
is,
is
tragic
and-
and
I
will
just
share
personally
that
I
I
don't
know
that
I've
actually
shared
this
with
the
bellevue
community.
But
many
years
ago
my
father
was
born
in
china
and
in
the
late
40s
during
the
cultural
revolution.
D
He
never
talked
about
it,
and
what
I
always
heard
is
that
you
know
when
you
get
to
these
painful
traumatic
times.
Sometimes
it's
too
difficult
to
even
talk
about,
and
so,
as
I
think
about
what's
happening
around
the
world.
These
are
just
so
meaningful
and
so
for
some,
the
areas
that
they're
going
to
return
to
will
be
nothing
like
the
community.
D
They
once
knew
they'll
be
forced
to
rebuild
their
cities
and
their
lives,
and
that
is
is
just
tragic
as
well,
so
for
many
others
they
will
not
be
able
to
return
to
their
homes
at
all,
and
then
there
are
members
of
the
ukrainian
community
who
live
elsewhere,
including
in
bellevue
that
are
grieving.
This
loss
experiencing
anxiety,
sadness
and
helplessness
for
their
fellow
ukrainians
also
important
to
point
out
that
these
actions
of
war
do
not
reflect
the
feelings
of
many
russian
americans
who
call
bellevue
home.
D
So
we
also
lift
up
the
russian
community
here
and
abroad
that
condemn
these
actions.
The
experiences
and
stories
of
those
displaced
from
their
homelands
will
go
with
them
to
make
their
new
home
a
richer
place,
one
where
we
hope
the
lessons
of
history
are
not
lost,
but
that
are
shared,
learn
from
and
their
understanding
spread
to
others.
D
So
for
tonight,
I
invite
you
to
be
fully
present,
as
we
immerse
ourselves
in
the
sharing
of
these
journeys
from
our
speakers
celebrate
what
we
have
in
common
value.
The
stories
that
have
come
with
each
of
us
on
our
individual
paths
and
find
ways
to
use
our
experiences
and
knowledge
to
support
each
other.
D
A
Thank
you,
so
much
council
members
on.
Thank
you
for
the
support
for
this
community
and
for
sharing
your
own
heartfelt
story
carried
by
your
family,
your
father.
A
We
so
appreciate
your
support
of
this
program
now
in
its
12th
year,
and
I
also
want
to
say
thank
you
to
our
city
manager,
brad
miyaki,
who
has
allowed
employees
to
have
the
flexibility
to
manage
our
work
and
take
care
of
our
health
during
this
pandemic
and,
finally,
the
community.
Thank
you
for
your
support,
as
we've
been
virtual
these
past
two
plus
years.
A
So
tonight,
over
the
next
hour,
we're
gonna
hear
three
different
stories
from
the
community.
Then
you'll
have
an
opportunity
to
share
in
small
group
conversation
for
about
25
minutes
mark,
and
I
are
going
to
try
to
stay
online
to
about
8
15
for
those
of
you
who
might
like
to
continue
the
conversation.
A
You
know
as
we
put
away
the
refreshments
and
you
know,
take
away
the
the
coffee
cups,
but
at
this
moment,
in
this
space,
if
we
could
honor
some
agreements,
let's
commit
to
a
safe
space
for
connection
and
conversation,
let's
be
present
for
each
share.
I
know
we
do
a
lot
of
multitasking
when
we're
in
this
environment,
but
if
you
could
just
stay
focused
and
be
here
right
now
with
those
who
are
going
to
be
sharing
their
stories.
A
So
you
don't
miss
a
word
that
they're
saying
understand
that
a
single
person
does
not
speak
for
everyone
who
looks
like
them.
Let's
respect
those
who
are
brave
enough
to
tell
their
story,
let's
be
sensitive
to
topics
that
should
stay
in
the
room
and
share
what
is
good
and
what
I
would
do
is.
I
would
invite
you,
you
know
to
maybe
have
a
piece
of
paper
and
a
pen
beside
you
as
things
come
up,
you
may
want
to
write
a
note.
A
A
So
what
what
unlocks
those
stories
you
know?
Sometimes
you
know
in
in
doing
this
work,
I
find
that
we
don't
know
that
our
stories
carry
value,
so
we
keep
the
stories
to
ourselves.
Often
what
it
takes
is
it.
It
takes
kindness,
empathy
in
a
community
where
we
create
a
space
to
genuinely
connect,
share
or
offer
a
level
of
support.
A
When
I
think
about
migration
stories
that
have
been
shared
over
the
past
12
years
of
cultural
conversations,
I
think
of
the
stories
of
a
very
special
group
of
women
from
ukraine.
Tatiana
natalia
and
larissa
next
slide.
Please
tatiana
or
tanya,
as
you
might
know,
or
may
recognize,
has
taken
amazing
pictures
at
cultural
conversations
and
of
the
immigrant
community,
who
have
also
shared
their
story
in
a
photo
exhibit.
A
A
Jorge
from
colombia
ruchika
from
india,
they
carry
their
stories
when
I
think
about
these
women,
I
also
think
of
natalia
in
the
center
there,
who
shared
her
love
of
ikebana,
the
art
of
arranging
flowers
at
the
botanical
gardens.
This
past
fall.
I
also
think
of
larissa.
You
may
know
her
from
the
community.
She
may
be
on
the
call
this
evening,
esl
and
culture
coach,
who
is
always
spreading
her
message
of
love
welcoming
in
bellevue
in
on
the
east
side,
including
this
past,
fall.
She
helped
organize
a
ukrainian
folk
performance
in
redmond.
A
A
A
Sujata
came
to
the
us
in
2015,
from
india,
with
a
career
in
corporate
communications,
telling
the
stories
of
tata
the
largest
company
in
india.
Now,
coincidentally,
when
when
sujata
first
arrived
on
the
east
side,
she
was
invited
to
cultural
conversations
by
a
friend.
She
was
so
moved
by
what
she
experienced
and
she
said
she
came
up
to
myself
and
barbie.
She
said
you
must.
Let
me
help
tell
the
story
of
cultural
conversations,
and
that
is
just
what
she
did
through
a
wonderful
collaboration.
A
E
E
E
E
E
E
He
found
his
community
in
bellevue
and
is
currently
working
at
the
boston,
consulting
group.
As
a
software
engineer,
we're
going
to
share
a
short
video
that
franco
has
created
to
introduce
his
homeland
and
his
family
and
after
the
video
franco,
is
going
to
share
his
story.
So
let's
sit
back
and
watch
the
video.
F
I
was
born
8
000
miles
away
pretty
far
bro.
I
grew
up
in
the
democratic
republic
of
the
congo
in
the
center
of
africa.
The
capital
is
kinshasa.
It's
a
small
urban
city
where
traffic
gets
crazy.
People
use
bikes
to
commute
it's
pretty
trendy
most
areas.
Are
rural
people
live
off
their
trade?
That's
my
daddy!
After
running
a
boot
camp
in
israel
age,
let's
see
my
family
yeah,
I
have
pre-sister
and
I'm
the
second
to
send
us
to
the
state.
Daddy
worked
hard
to
get
the
bacon.
F
Mommy
took
care
of
us
and
the
house
our
family's
hero.
Now,
let's
get
down
to
some
facts
about
the
congo.
I
am
a
programmer.
This
light
is
like
a
read
me.
If
I
forget
citation
the
data
is
from
wiki.
Congo
boasts
in
diversity
of
languages
and
ethnicities,
a
collectivistic
society
where
most
people
believe
in
christianity.
G
Hi
everyone
hi
everyone
pleasure
to
be
here.
My
name
is
francois
mukaba.
G
I
hope
that
was
a
helpful
video
to
get
to
know
a
little
bit
where
it
come
from,
but
it's
time
for
me
to
just
share
a
little
bit
with
you,
my
story,
how
I've
been
hockey
in
the
united
states
and
what
the
experience
has
been
like
for
me.
So
I
moved
in
the
united
states
in
2016..
G
I
came
here
as
an
international
student
to
study
at
bellevue
college
computer
science.
G
Some
of
the
reasons
why
I
came
I
wanted
to
do
is
I
wanted
to
pursue
computer
science
and
and
do
some
music
and
just
felt,
like
my
country,
wasn't
a
lot
of
like
room
for
that
in
terms
of
like
career,
and
so
that's
why
I
moved
here
and
I
had
some
expectation
coming
to
the
united
states.
You
know
like
maybe
most
people
that
move
here.
G
You
know
from
media
and
video
and
movies,
like
everything
that
we
see
from
tv
is
like
america
is
just
like
this
american
dream.
This,
like
it's
kind
of
almost
like
heaven
on
earth.
You
know
what
I
really
appealed
to
me
from
america
was
like
the
ability
to
be
yourself
to
do
whatever
you
want
to
do.
You
know
you
have
freedom
of
like
beliefs,
freedom
of
speech
and
all
these
things
and
so
very
good.
G
I
thought
it
was
just
a
good
stage
for
a
human
self-actualization,
and
so
I
jump
on
that
board,
and
so
I
came
here
like
in
the
fall
and
the
first
couple
months,
a
little
bit
of
a
background
as
well.
I
mentioned
congo
is
like
very,
like
christian
likes.
G
90
of
people
will
claim
to
be
christian
for
the
data,
and
so
I
grew
up
into
like
a
a
christian
home
catholic
home
and
so
a
lot
of
like
you
know
like
a
lot
of
like
values
and
stuff,
and
I
I
kind
of
grew
away
from
that
growing
up,
and
so
I
just
didn't
want.
G
I
just
wanted
to
come
in
a
spot
where
I
could
just
be
me
and
not
to
be
like
religious
or
so
I
thought,
and
so
the
expectation
the
first
first
couple
months
coming
here
was
exactly
what
I
thought
you
know.
We
saw
the
esl
taking
classes
and
I
just
went
out
you
know
like
meeting
new
people.
You
know
like.
I
don't
have
any
parents
to
look
after
me,
so
you
just
go
crazy
in
life
and
do
some
some
some
things
like
dating
apps
trying
to
meet
girls.
G
Trying
to
do
this
just
trying
to
have
fun.
You
know
what
you
can
think
about
and
and
then
it
worked
it
worked
for
a
couple
months,
but
at
the
beginning
we
we
had
some
to
face
reality.
It's
a
cultural
shock
there,
so
some
of
it
is
like
congo
is
very
like
collectivistic,
and
so
people
will
say
hi
to
and
they
really
mean
it.
G
But
when
I
came
here
like
the
first
people
like
they've
seen
me,
they
give
me
like
smiles
and
stuff,
and
then
I
was
like
okay
and
then
I'll
smile
back.
But
then
it
it
didn't,
feel
genuine
to
me.
After
a
while
people
meet
you
and
then
they
forget
your
name,
the
second
letter
and
then
all
of
those
things
just
felt
like
it
was
kind
of
fake.
G
But
I
was
like
yeah:
it's
okay,
like
just
gonna,
keep
moving
on,
and
so
when
I
came
here,
I
had
like
a
great
support
system
as
well
like
the
first
was
my
community
of
at
bellevue
college.
G
We
have
a
new
young
congolese
scholar,
it's
just
a
group
of
congolese
students
that
have
come
here
to
study
at
bellevue
college,
and
so
it's
about
like
170
or
200
right
now,
but
back
then
in
2016,
when
I
first
came,
it
was
probably
like
30
people,
30
students,
so
that
community
is
very
helpful,
was
very
helpful
to
me
because
you
can
feel
homesick.
But
when
you
have
like
all
these
people
from
your
culture,
it's
very
helpful,
like
we
have
a
annual
gala
that
we
do
so
you
can.
G
I
have
my
congolese
food
really
next
to
me.
I
have
friends
and
family.
I
speak
four
languages
now
with
including
english.
I
speak
a
couple
language
from
home
and
then
just
being
able
to
speak.
Your
native
language
with
people
like
friends,
is
just
very
helpful
and
we
share
books.
We
help
each
other
like
find
room
and
you
know
like
we
really
include
each
other
in
our
lives.
G
It
was
my
first
community,
but
I
had
another
community,
which
was
the
church
very
funny
enough,
like
I
came
here
to
run
away
from
all
relig
religion
and
stuff,
but
when
I
came
here
like
two
months
later
or
so,
I
had
an
encounter
with
jesus
and
I
became
a
christian,
and
so
I
found
the
church,
blue
sky
churches
in
bellevue
and
so
yeah
that
church
helped
me
with
my
spiritual
life
and
just
growing
as
a
as
a
that's
a
human,
a
christian.
G
But
yes,
so
one
time
we
were
doing
delivery
with
friends.
We
were
going
to
the
inner
city
in
redmond.
I
think,
and
then
there
was
our
church
does
like
food
delivery
for
like
some
at
some
areas.
We
fill
our
bags
and
then
we
go
and
then
we
deliver
and
then
first
thing
I
noticed
there.
I
was
super
shocked.
I
saw
poverty,
you
know
something
that
I
didn't
think
I
would
find
in
the
united
states.
G
I
saw
homelessness
and
I
saw
different
things
like
that
and
that
just
like
made
me
like
whoa,
okay,
I
never.
I
didn't
expect
to
see
this
here.
This
is
supposed
to
be
america
right.
This
is
supposed
to
be
the
land
of
the
free
and
people
are
supposed
to
be
like
just
like
this
fake
on
this,
this
fake
reality
that
I
have
about
america
right
like
oh,
it's,
heaven
right,
everything's
supposed
to
be
good,
but
it
wasn't,
and
that
was
my
first
shot.
The
first
thing
that
shocked
me
there.
G
I
remember
one
time
I
was
meeting
with
my
friend
after
church
and
then
outside
of
his
house.
There
was
this
girl
that
just
sat
there
and
she
had
nowhere
to
go
because
the
housing
spot
where
she
were
she
got
kicked
out,
and
so
a
lot
of
things
like
that.
Just
got
my
heart
a
little
heavy
about
like
things
and
then
that's
where
it
leads
to
just
go
to
2020.
G
When
we
had
a
lot
of
you
guys
know
what
happened
with
the
racial
racial
injustice,
the
climate
and
all
of
those
things,
the
george
floyd
and
all
of
the
the
events,
and
then
I
always
thought
I
was
that
kind
of
person
like
a
church,
I
used
to
be
a
leader
and
help
people
just
like
navigate
through
things
in
life,
and
so
I
used
to
think
that
was
that
person.
G
That
would
be
that
to
be
strong
for
people,
but
I
didn't
know
I
needed
to
also
realize
that
I
was
a
human
and
I
was
about
to
make
that
connection
and
understand
that
for
myself,
and
so
I
was
helping
friends
process
things,
you
know
like
2020,
everything
is
hard,
I'm
sitting
with
my
friends,
african-americans
africans
and
I'm
just
talking
to
like
helping
them.
You
know
praying
for
them
being
there
for
them,
and
then
you
know
when
you
you
do
that
a
lot
it.
G
There
is
a
baggage
and
I'm
I'm
naturally
very
compassionate,
and
so
I
just
tend
to
accumulate
things
on
my
mind
and
so
after
that,
and
even
through
that
I
was
about
to
graduate
at
the
end
and
then
I
had
school.
I
was
stressed
about
school.
I
didn't
know
what
stress
was
until
until
then
or
I
thought,
and
so
I'm
international
student.
You
have
to
think
about
work.
You
have
to
think
about
your
work
permit
after
school,
like
what
are
you
going
to
do?
Are
you
going
to
go
back
home?
G
You
know,
I'm
not
american,
so
I
don't
have
the
legal
right
to
stay
indefinitely
and
so
a
lot
of
stress
accumulated
through
that
year,
but
I
always
shove
it
down.
I
always
told
myself
just
go,
keep
going
move
forward,
you
know
it's
gonna
get
better.
I
never
took
time
to
take
a
break.
G
All
of
that
went
down
for
me
one
time.
So
I
remember
the
capitol
hill
upheaval
in
seattle
and
just
remember
all
people
are
shooting
and
things
of
that
nature
and
that
triggered
something
in
me.
I
didn't
share
in
that
video,
but
when
I
was
when
I
was
about
like
eight
years
old,
I
was
I
got
stuck
into
a
rebellion
in
my
country.
G
You
know
I
was
a
kid
I
was
going
to
school
and
then
my
sister
out
of
nowhere
there's
a
rebellion,
a
coup
d'etat
that
they
wanted
to
get
the
president
out,
and
so
I
got
cut
into
that
people
shooting
over
my
head.
I
was
trying
to
catch
the
bus
the
bus
couldn't
leave
because
rebels
were
coming
and
stuff
of
that
nature.
I
was
trying
to
join
my
sister
and
then
that
day
they
they
were
able
to
securely
take
the
bus
and
leave,
but
like
we
I
got.
G
We
got
splits,
our
schoolers
were
like
neighbors,
and
so
I
stayed
there
until
like
8
p.m.
So
or
so
I
just
hunkered
down
with
other
students
and
teachers
until
at
night
it
kind
of
ended.
My
parents
tried
to
send
my
uncle
come
to
get
me.
He
couldn't
make
it
all
the
way
because
of
the
shooting,
and
so
they
went
back.
I
got
back
that
day
at
night
by
myself.
G
I
lost
one
sandal
and
I
got
there
I
didn't
know
I
was
when
they
dropped
me
at
the
bus,
so
I
asked
people
around,
they
led
me.
There
I
get
there
and
on
the
street
I
see
my
mom
and
my
parents.
They
are
like
very
anxious,
and
then
they
see
me
they're
happy.
They
give
me
a
drink
and
I
take
a
shower.
I
go
to
bed
and
that
was
it.
We.
G
We
didn't
talk
about
it
that
much
after
that
and
so
that's
trauma,
and
so
that
stayed
there
and
I
didn't
know
how
much
of
that
I
was
carrying
until
I
made
that
connection
with
what
happened,
capitol
hill
and
so
feeling
is
a
very
that
really
led
fear
down
and
anxiety.
G
After
that,
I
had
to
go
through
therapy
for
a
couple
couple
months.
You
know
just
to
like
unearth
what
was
going
on
in
my
heart,
and
so
a
friend
of
mine
at
church
recommended
therapy
actually
and
therapy
was
really
helpful
because
it
allowed
me
to
be
vulnerable.
Just
talk
about
what's
going
on
in
my
heart
and
everything,
and
so
at
the
end
of
that
there
is
some
three
things
I
took
away
from
this
story.
You
know
one
of
it
is
humans
are
humans.
G
Everywhere,
congo
and
united
states
are
very
different,
like
people
go
through
stuff,
but
people
go
through
stuff
in
both
countries
you
know,
and
we
are
still
human
and
having
expectation
of
of
america
as
like,
like
heaven
was
like
really
hurtful.
You
know
for
me
another
things
that
I
realize
is,
and
that
includes
me-
I'm
also
human.
You
know
I'm
not
a
superhuman.
You
know
it's
okay
to
struggle
and
be
vulnerable.
G
I
grew
a
lot
just
opening
up
about
my
struggles
and
and
and
everything
that
was
in
my
heart
and
I
feel
like
I
really
got
led
by
god
to
do
that
and
with
people
that
I
trusted
and
that
were
there
for
me
and
so
just
a
human
being.
You
are
also
just
human
beings
and
it's
okay
to
struggle
it's
okay,
to
take
a
day
off,
it's
okay,
to
say:
hey,
let's
talk
about
this
tomorrow.
G
The
last
thing
I
learned
is
that
congo
is
home,
so
that's
my
land
and
that
will
never
change.
You
don't
choose
where
you
are
born,
and
so
that's
forever
in
my
heart,
but
I'm
discovering
that
there
is
another
type
of
home.
You
know
beyond
borders,
beyond
lands
beyond
landmarks.
G
There
is
a
home
of
of
in
my
heart
with
that
that
is
filled
with
the
people
that
I
I've
met
throughout
this
journey.
In
my
life
you
know,
that's
like
I
feel
like
that's.
Sometimes
I
feel
like
wow,
that's
like
even
more
important.
You
know,
because
I'm
not
home
in
congo,
you
know,
but
I
have
people.
I
have
a
support.
I
have
people
that
I
can
call
and
that
are
kind
of
like
my
family.
Here,
though
I
live
with
my
sister
as
well.
They
are
also
great
support
to
me,
but
yeah.
G
E
Your
courage
and
acknowledging
that
being
vulnerable
can
make
us
strong,
well,
I'm
sure
resonate
with
so
many
of
us,
especially
in
light
of
what's
happening
the
last
two
years
and
also
what
we've
learned
that
you
know
the
importance
of
having
a
supportive
community
and
we're
so
glad
that
you
found
yours
in
bellevue.
E
E
Thank
you,
and
now,
let's
welcome
our
next
storyteller
naily
mandeville
naili
is
passionate
about
providing
pathways
to
help
people
achieve
their
dreams.
Her
experiences
growing
up
in
arizona
influenced
her
to
spread
her
wings
travel
to
different
cities
and
find
her
own
place
in
the
world.
Please
join
me
in
welcoming
nayeli.
C
C
I
made
my
way
to
the
pacific
northwest
in
2001
as
a
graduate
student
in
international
relations
at
the
university
of
washington.
I
never
imagined
staying
here.
I
thought
I
would
be
living
in
far
and
exotic
places,
but
I
remained
here
because
I
found
places
and
a
need
where
I
could
put
my
bilingual
and
my
cultural
skills
to
good
use.
C
I
want
to
make
sure
families
feel
welcomed
and
supported,
while
navigating
their
way
through
systems
whatever
they
may
be.
I
want
people
to
know
and
see
the
opportunities
that
they
can
have
for
themselves
and
their
children,
and
this
is
likely
based
on
my
own
experiences
growing
up
within
an
immigrant
family.
C
And
now
for
my
back
story,
I
was
born
and
raised
in
tucson
arizona,
a
city
that
is
just
45
minutes
away
from
the
border.
I
myself
did
not
go
through
the
hardship
of
leaving
my
country
of
origin
for
another,
but
my
mexican
parents
did
and
before
that
my
chinese
grandfather
did
too.
I
didn't
cross
the
border
as
an
immigrant,
but
growing
up
so
close
to
the
border.
Influenced
me
greatly.
C
C
C
C
I
learned
about
the
duality
of
being
legal
versus
illegal,
documented
versus
undocumented
and
the
repercussions
of
it.
Despite
those
distinctions,
I
learned
to
recognize
that
those
traits
are
not
real,
that
we
are
all
fundamentally
the
same.
I
became
aware
of
what
privilege
is
citizenship,
gender
family,
education
and
what
one
could
do
with
it.
C
C
When
I
looked
back,
it
was
these
experiences
that
I
saw
as
a
child
that
influenced
what
I
wanted
to
do,
seeing
the
flip
side
of
immigration,
witnessing
deportations
of
people
regardless
of
age
and
gender,
and
also
seeing
people
from
other
countries
moving
here
I
recall
one
incident.
In
particular,
I
was
10
or
so
years
old
and
learned
of
a
girl
from
central
america
about
my
age,
who
was
staying
at
the
convent
next
door
to
my
after-school
program
site.
C
C
I
was
surprised
by
all
someone,
so
young
had
lived
and
once
again
I
saw
the
privilege
I
had
in
my
life.
It
was
my
first
understanding
that
good
people
live
in
circumstances
beyond
their
control.
People
leave
their
homes,
for
so
many
reasons
in
search
of
a
safety,
a
better
life
and
future
for
themselves.
C
These
experiences
were
probably
building
the
foundation
of
who
I
wanted
to
be
and
guided.
The
work
I
wanted
to
do.
It
also
made
me
curious
about
what
was
beyond
the
borderland.
I
lived
in
my
family
is
a
typical
conservative,
mexican
patriarchal
family,
where
a
girl
is
expected
to
grow
up,
get
married
and
have
children.
C
C
C
It
helped
me
embrace
my
identity
as
a
latino
woman
in
the
united
states.
This
meant
I
didn't
have
to
conform
to
the
traditional
mexican
idea
of
my
value
being
rooted
in
being
a
mother
or
a
wife.
I
could
choose
to
be
an
independent
and
self-sufficient
woman
living
life.
On
my
terms,
the
world
opened
up
for
me
with
opportunities
such
as
being
able
to
study
and
work
abroad
to
travel
and
live
alone.
C
C
Who
took
me
under
her
wings
and
helped
me
network
and
learned
my
way
around
bellevue
to
colleagues
who
became
friends
like
cecilia
who
models
going
after
opportunities
fearlessly
because
I
deserve
to
and
ken
who
helps
me
figure
out
what
I
don't
know
or
don't
know
that
I
do
know
these
and
many
more.
I
respect
and
hope
to
imitate
in
some
shape
or
form.
C
It
takes
a
village
not
only
to
raise
a
child
but
for
an
entire
community
to
grow
and
feel
safe,
healthy
and
welcomed
in
our
community.
Through
my
work
and
the
experiences
I
have
had,
I
have
learned
that
the
latino
community,
or
anyone
who
feels
marginalized
or
underrepresented,
wants
to
be
recognized
and
acknowledged.
They
need
a
hand
up,
not
a
hand
down
or
a
handout.
C
E
A
Next
slide,
please
teresa
hi,
my
name.
My
name
is
carol,
as
I
said
earlier,
and
I'd
love
to
introduce
my
my
dear
colleague
ben
shahabi,
the
man
behind
the
lens.
You
know
ben
works
for
the
city
as
an
I.t
content
developer
and
back
in
2018.
We
were
so
honored
to
bring
ben
from
behind
the
lens
to
in
front
of
the
lens
to
tell
his
story
at
a
cultural
conversations
in
2018.
A
A
We
we
will
show
a
three-minute
digital
video
clip
of
ben's
story,
something
that
was
prepared
for
my
story,
boards
that
we
had
on
display
here
at
city
hall
and
then
ben
is
going
to
join
us
on
the
other
side.
For
a
few
comments.
So
sarah,
if
you
can
start
that
video,
that
would
be
great.
H
Hi,
I'm
ben
shahabi
and
work
for
city
manager's
office
as
the
I.t
content
developer.
I
was
born
in
iran.
I
remember
a
happy
early
childhood
when
I
was
seven.
The
iranian
revolution
toppled
the
monarchy.
The
new
regime
put
an
end
to
much
of
the
western
modernity.
T-Shirt.
Lujin,
non-religious,
music
and
movies
from
the
western
countries
were
banned
and
women
were
required
to
wear
whales.
H
As
I
got
older,
I
sought
a
carrier
in
film
industry
strike
regulations
and
the
film
industry
and
heavy
censorship
from
the
government
made
it
difficult
to
fulfill
my
desire
to
work
in
this
form
of
arts.
During
this
time
I
met
mona.
My
future
wife
muna
was
one
of
the
baha'I's
faith.
Since
the
revolution,
baha'is
had
been
systematically
persecuted,
tortured
and
imprisoned
for
mona's
protection.
Her
family
decided
to
send
her
to
turkey.
H
I
decided
to
go
with
her
within
two
weeks.
I
left
everything
and
everyone.
I
knew
we
married
in
turkey
and
waited
18
months
before
being
granted
refugee
asylum
to
the
us
mona,
and
I
arrived
first
in
arizona
to
stay
with
relatives.
My
first
job
was
a
gas
station
attended
because
it
offered
a
better
option
for
learning
english.
H
H
H
A
Ben,
thank
you
so
much
for
sharing
that
story.
Again,
I
don't
know
what
does
that
feel
like
to
see
that
story?
You
know
encapsulated
three
minutes.
You
know
telling
telling
a
bit
of
your
story.
I
Yeah
and
one
of
my
pictures-
I
see-
oh
my
god,
I
was
so
younger,
so
hello,
everyone.
Thank
you
for
having
me.
This
is
great
opportunity.
I
know
I
got
two
minutes
and
it's
so
hard,
but
let
me
start
with
this.
We
all
came
for
reason,
some
of
us
because
of
the
war,
some
of
us
different
reason,
but
imagine
the
kids
in
ukraine
were
playing
yesterday
and
because
of
this
damn
war,
they
gotta
leave
everything
they
may
lose.
They
chill
the
parents,
the
family
member
and
they
gotta
go
somewhere
in
the
world.
I
So
it's
really
tough.
I
I
was
eight
years
old
when
iran
and
iraq
war
happens,
and
I
still
after
45
years.
I
still
remember
the
time
of
the
alarm
island.
We
have
to
go
to
the
under
grand
to
be
safe
and
I
was
worried
about.
Oh
my
god,
my
parents,
can
they
come
faster?
Am
I
going
to
lose
them?
So
still
I'm
thinking
about
that.
So
it's
is
it's
really
hard,
so
I
just
want
to
bring
it
back
to
you
guys.
I
Can
you
close
your
eyes
and
imagine
what
if
happen?
If
it's
happened
to
you
any
reason,
you
have
to
leave
your
country
now
for
war
or
for
any
reason,
what
do
you
expect
for
the
other
countries
when
you
go
there?
What
do
you
want
from
there?
Don't
you
don't
you
want
they?
They
they
welcome
you
warm
they
accepting
you
they're,
respecting
you.
They
don't
judging
you
because
of
color
religion
and
all
those
things.
So
it's
the
same
thing
and
when
we
leave
everything
behind
it
includes
family
include,
you
know
anything.
I
We
have
money,
we
I
didn't
have
any
things.
We
came
here
me
and
mona,
and
so
we
have
affair.
We
have
a
lot
of
mixed
feeling.
So,
of
course,
if
I
see
someone
make
me
smile,
try
to
understand
me
give
me
a
chance
to
introduce
myself.
I
say
why
I'm
here
and
why
I
go
through
all
those
things
and
I'm
here
who
I
am.
I
What
do
I
have
to
offer
so
have
this
opportunity
to
listen
us
to
accepting
to
respecting
us
is
hugely
at
least
at
least
it
was
for
me
it's
two
minutes,
too
short,
I'm
so
sorry.
I
want
to
read
a
poem.
Probably
lots
of
you
know
the
rooney,
but
this
guy
is
sadie.
He
was
from
southern
part
of
iran
called
shiraz.
I
I
A
A
So
thank
you
for
reminding
us
of
what
stories
people
who
may
have
immigrated
here
are
currently
carrying.
A
You
know
how
how
this
triggers
memories
from
childhood
and
how
you
have
that
heart
for
humanity,
and
it
begins
by
creating
that
that
space,
that
welcoming
the
hello
and
believing
in
the
dreams
that
people
also
carry
when
they
come
from
so
far
away
as
we
welcome
the
world.
So
thank
you
ben.
Thank
you.
So
much
for
sharing
tonight.
I
A
So
audience
I
just
want
to
you
know
just
take
a
moment
here.
I
think
we
can
well,
let's,
let's
just
hold
it
here
for
a
minute
to
thank
sujata
and
the
storytellers
this
evening,
francois,
nailly
and
ben.
We
appreciate
all
the
hard
work
that
you
put
in
tonight's
presentation,
the
heart
and
soul
and
the
sharing
and
with
the
hope
that
somebody
learned
something
new.
A
B
Well,
thank
you,
each
the
three
of
you
in
in
sujata,
for
working
with
and
and
just
helping
people
to
feel
comfortable
to
share
their
story.
I
just
appreciate
the
the
friendship
of
nyali,
ben
and
and
and
francois.
We
are
just
so
grateful
for
your
contributions
tonight
and
into
our
community.
So
thank
you
for
the
vulnerability
of
sharing
your
story.