national origin

Travel Bug

“These interpersonal relations are the ones that are really the most meaningful.” Edited by Nick Ladeau. Transcript for Travel Bug I grew up in St. Paul, Minnesota, although I was born in Wabasha, Minnesota, and the family moved to St. Paul when I was two, and my father died shortly thereafter. So my mother raised […]

To Germany and Back

“It really makes you a woman and makes you responsible.” Edited by Nick Ladeau. Transcript for To Germany and Back I graduated from Froebel High School, and my intention was not to go anyplace. I wanted to go to school. And I wanted to be a teacher. And my husband then because we were, after […]

Barrier Number One

“If we can communicate with people then, you know, I think some of these other fears and reservations may subside a little bit.” Welcome Project at Valparaiso University · Barrier Number One from an interview with Michael Brickner, City of Valparaiso Chief of Police, 2013 Transcript for Barrier Number One Michael Brickner, City of Valparaiso […]

“Us/Them” Mentality

“If you’re such a tight part of a certain community, you are more likely to see everyone else as the other.” Welcome Project at Valparaiso University · "Us/Them" Mentality Transcript for “Us/Them” Mentality I consider my home country to be the Netherlands. I grew up in what we call a row-house: it’s basically a street […]

Connective Tissue

“…that was fascinating, having a process where I feel I really met those actors and that creative team and really shared something with them. But I’ve never met them in real life.” Welcome Project at Valparaiso University · Connective Tissue The Coronavirus pandemic has clearly thrown up barriers to our ability to gather physically together, […]

War Zone

“…there’s a legacy around the capacity to stand one’s own ground and say, ‘No, this is who we are. And this is what we stand for. And this is what we can do.’” Welcome Project at Valparaiso University · War Zone This interview was recorded using Zoom. Transcript for War Zone I grew up in […]

Settling in Gary

“So my dad said, ‘Well, you know what, I don’t have to live here.’” Edited by Nick Ladeau. Transcript for Settling in Gary My dad left, he ran away from his father, at the age of thirteen. He left Mexico and worked on a tramp steamer. A tramp steamer was a boat, I think, that […]

I’m Terrible at Being Angry

“These were fifth graders, I don’t think they really mean to be racist. They’re probably just trying to get a laugh.” Edited by Nick Ladeau. Transcript for I’m Terrible at Being Angry I don’t think they really saw me as a Middle Easterner. I mean, some people have even made mistakes, thinking me a Chinese, […]

I Belong in Art

“Most of my childhood that I actually really remember is in the United States, so I am still struggling to find a home.” Edited by Nick Ladeau. Transcript for I Belong in Art I think if I was a fundamentalist and Muslim, I would not feel welcome here. Not in the sense that they’re… that […]