Blog Archives

148 Nawar Al Obaidi

7/30/2017

Nawar and his wife and three children came to Maine in 2012 from Baghdad, Iraq. An electrical engineer, Nawar had served the US Army and US Air Force making power plants, diesel engines and generators.
Since arriving in the US he has held a variety of jobs, and currently is the Employment Case Manager Supervisor for Catholic Charities of Maine . He and his colleagues offer a training called In Their Shoes to offer awareness around the issues immigrants face in Maine.
Nawar loves photography, cars and has recently purchased a family grocery store business at 630 Forest Ave. in Portland, ME named Foodies and Friends. Eventually, Nawar hopes to use his new project management degree to re-enter the field of electrical engineering.

Music: "Hotel California" by the Eagles.

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147 Judith Sloan

7/23/2017

Judith Sloan is an artist who will be performing a show on immigration around Maine over the coming weeks. Her one-woman show is called "Between a Laugh and a Hard Place." Judith is an American-born Jewish woman (family originally from Belarus and Ukraine) who was raised in a refugee family in CT and NYC. She has spent summers in Stonington, ME for over 20 years, and thus is a part-time Mainer. Her upcoming show will benefit refugees and asylum seekers in the Brunswick area. Click here for ticket information.

Judith and her husband founded an organization in 1999 called EarSay which is dedicated to uncovering and portraying stories of the uncelebrated. Their intent is to foster understanding across cultures, generations, gender and class and they do this through recorded interviews, written word, spoken word, and electronic media. NPR's Public Radio International says, "Judith Sloan does Oral History with a twist!"
Music: "Listen to Me" by EarSay Youth Voices
Link to Judith's Maine Schedule: www.facebook.com/newmainersspeak.com

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146 Parivash Rohani

7/16/2017

Parivash was one of five recipients of the Trailblazer award given by Empower the Immigrant Woman Conference in the spring of 2017. Trailblazers are Maine women with a multicultural background who inspire others through their character, service and leadership. (To become involved or make a nomination: www.empowerimmigrantwoman.org).

Parivash is dedicated to an international non-profit organization that raises awareness regarding Baha'i people in Iran that are denied higher education, and it is called Education is not a Crime. There are two documentary films that she shares and uses to promote conversation around injustice. The movies are "To Light a Candle" and "Changing the World, One Wall at a Time." She also points out that this October the global Baha'i community is celebrating the 200 birthday anniversary of Baha'u'llah, the prophet founder of the Baha'i faith.
Parivash is also dedicated to her family and to this community--making sure there is as much unity as possible everywhere.

Music: We Are One

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145 Julia Trujillo Luengo

7/10/2017

Image: Julia and her mother at World Refugee Day 2017. To contact her office call 207-874-8432 or email her at jtrujillo@portlandmaine.gov.

Julia Trujillo Luengo came to Maine from Gran Canaria, Spain (one of the Canary Islands off the coast of Morocco), while in high school on an exchange program. She attended USM, has worked for the state, and now is employed by the City of Portland as the Director of the Office of Economic Opportunity.
Her new office is to work with immigrants, people of multicultural backgrounds and youth to help them to feel like Portland is their home so they will stay and contribute their gifts to our community. Likewise, she is charged with attracting others to this great city. She leads with respect for the organizations and people who have created good systems already and hopes to support and unify. She recognizes an urgency to her work and tells about her mapping of current resources before charting a bold future with and for Portland.

Julia is married to a Maine native and they raise their young daughters in Portland.

Music: "Corazon Partio" sung by Alejandro Sanz

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144 Christ Vie Mbalazamo

7/2/2017

Christ Vie arrived in the US on Sept. 29, 2015 from Kinshasa, DR Congo as a 19 year old who had recently won the Diversity Visa lottery (Green Card Lottery). He quickly learned English, found work and made a lot of friends.
Ever since he was young Christ Vie knew he wanted to go into banking. He currently attends Southern Maine Community College while studying Business Administration as the first step to his goal of being an International Banker.

Music: "Congratulations" sung by Post Malone

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148 Nawar Al Obaidi

147 Judith Sloan

146 Parivash Rohani

145 Julia Trujillo Luengo

144 Christ Vie Mbalazamo

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