Blog Archives

090 Rifat Zaidi

1/31/2016

Rifat Zaidi is from Lahore, Pakistan. After years of medical training in Pakistan and abroad, he and his growing family left his practice in Islamabad and moved to Maine in 2002. Dr. Zaidi works as an orthopedic surgeon at Miles Memorial Hospital in rural Damariscotta, Maine.
Dr. Zaidi is part of an organization called Rawalpindi Medical College Overseas Foundation--a group of doctors trained in Pakistan who now work in the United States. Together they pool resources to help alleviate suffering of the poor people of that region, by promoting health and education. He oversees the administration of the girl's primary school. Using his love of Pakistani cooking, and his interest in photography, he is in the process of publishing a Pakistani cookbook to sell as a fundraiser for the girl's school.

Music: "Jungi Ji" by Arif Lohar and Meesha. A Punjabi folk song with a Sufi twist from Coke Studios.

nms_090_rifat_zaidi_-_pakistan_january_31_2016.mp3
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089 Juliana Bean

1/24/2016

Juliana Bean is originally from Brazil. She was raised in Natal, the "Sun City," with 360 sunny days a year. Natal, the northeastern most state of Brazil, is a sister state to the state of Maine. FMI: Partners of the Americas.
From a surprisingly young age, Juliana had a passion for learning and teaching. Having had access to English books from her aunt's school set her on a trajectory to be the English, Spanish and Portuguese translator/interpreter/cultural broker she is today.
Juliana describes her work for the Portland Public Schools and the Multilingual Multicultural Center as a Parent Community Specialist (Portuguese/Spanish). She also suggested other ways the community could be involved: Volunteering, Contributing to current Crowd Funding Campaign, and attending the Rock Around the World cultural event March 18, 2016.

Music: Housefires sings "This Love"

nms_089_juliana_bean_brazil_january_24_2016.mp3
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088 Christian Bisimwa

1/17/2016

Christian was raised in Eastern DRC, the eldest of five children on a farm, raising goats and cows, and walking to town for school. He studied International Trade while attending university in Ivory Coast and became a higher level manager in a marketing business, after college. In 2011 Christian came to the US and settled in Maine, where he was recently reunited with his wife and three young children.

Christian works as a Community Health Outreach Worker (CHOW) for Maine Immigrant Access Network (MAIN). The organization helps new immigrants (in many languages) to get established. One can get assistance signing up for health insurance, and access to local resources such as career centers, English classes, medical help. MAIN also offers peer support, nutrition and health workshops, etc. They are located at 237 Oxford Street, Portland, ME. Website: www.MAIN1.org

Music: "I Believe In You" by Lokua Kanza

nms_088_christian_bisimwa_e_drc_january_17_2016.mp3
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087 Sarai Manyiel

1/10/2016

Sarai was born to South Sudanese parents in Khartoum, Sudan. Her family moved to Egypt when she was a small child before being resettled to the USA, first in CA, then in Maine.
Sarai has recently graduated from Arizona State University with a degree in cross cultural literature. She now works locally for a social service agency as well as teaching at a unique preschool called Roots and Fruits, which emphasizes embracing diversity and honoring the earth.
Peacefully integrating the different parts of her identity has been difficult and in this interview Sarai shares an example of her poetry, which expresses her creative response to this challenge.
Music: "Mi Alright" by Kabaka Pyramid and Chronixx.

nms_087_sarai_manyiel_south_sudan_january_10_2016.mp3
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090 Rifat Zaidi

089 Juliana Bean

088 Christian Bisimwa

087 Sarai Manyiel

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