Dimitri is a Greek Albanian and moved to Portland, ME in 1994 with his wife and young child.  He believes in working hard and being open to opportunities that both challenge the individual to grow, as well as benefit the community, as a whole.  He tells about his version of the American Dream.

Dimitri Gribizis is a classical trained musician who has played in multiple settings from principle violinist in Gjirokastra's symphony orchestra to a Greek band called "Opa Opa."  He has been teaching violin to children K-12th grade, as well as adult learners, for more than 25 years. Lessons are offered at 1158 Forest Ave in Portland, ME at his studio: Apollon School of Music.

Music: Johannes Brahms "Hungarian Dance No. 5" is performed in a recital by the violin students of Dimitri Gribizis from Apollon School of Music. (Click on highlighted title to hear song in its entirety).

*Correction Note: The communist system ended in 1990 and leaders were voted out in 1992, (not in 1997) in Albania.

Caroline was born and raised in Croydon, England.  A teacher since 1973, Caroline had classrooms on three continents.  In 2014 she retired from teaching English and Social Studies to English Language Learners (ELL) at Lewiston High School.

Coming from a country where police don't carry firearms she understood her students concerns about the high levels of gun violence in US culture.  Many refugees and asylum seekers have fled horrible violence and hope to find more peace in Maine. She discusses the upcoming referendum question (Question 3) which supports background checks for people buying guns.  (FMI: Mainers for Responsible Gun Ownership). 

Caroline serves on the Board of Managers for Gateway Community Services.  This organization supports refugees and asylees to process the substantial traumas and losses sustained previously.

Additionally, Caroline is involved with Wabanaki REACH and is not only mindful of the needs of Maine's newest residents but also the indigenous people of this state.

Music: "Imagine" by John Lennon

John Ochira was born in Imolongo, South Sudan.  Due to the violence of the civil war he and his siblings fled to a refugee camp in Uganda where they lived for six years before coming to Maine in 2005.  Today John manages disability claims for UNUM and is the Vice Chairman for the South Sudanese Community Association of Maine. 

John speaks about how South Sudanese Immigrants contribute to the city and state economies in numerous ways.  He points out that as a group they are hard-working, pay taxes, and spend money locally. They also often own and operate businesses that may go unnoticed (convenience stores, barber shops, and services such as painting, translations, transportation, wedding planning, etc.)  And, being community-minded, South Sudanese people also frequently volunteer with non-profits for many causes, regularly engage in civic discussions, and exercise their right to vote.

People interested in learning more are invited to visit the Portland office located a 500 Forest Ave., Unit 8.

*** Correction: at 15:37 I said South Sudan has "many, many tribes, like 100." Although the number of all the tribes may reach 100 if counted thoroughly, there are only 64 which have been counted are are recognized. 

Music: Twongweno Opiyo sings "Opiyo Mwunu"

David is originally from Nyanza in the southern province of Rwanda.  As a statistician, he evaluated poverty elimination and economic development programs at Rwanda's National Institute of Statistics.  David has just begun a master's degree program in statistics at USM so that he might return to meaningful work for which he has a passion, here in Maine. 
During this interview David speaks about the stigma that surrounds the lives of homosexual people in Rwanda today.  He has had the courage to get himself to a safe place, sort out his situation, and then share it with others publicly. 

Music: Liza Kamikazi sings "Mwanawa"