New Mainers Speak
WMPG 90.9 and 104.1 FM
  • Home
  • Archived Shows
  • Resources
  • Mission
  • About the Host
  • Contact

242 Suzan Ali

11/13/2020

 
Picture
Suzan's family is originally from the Darfur region of Sudan.  She was born in   Khartoum and moved to Egypt at the age of 8 and to Maine at 14.  She deeply understands how overwhelming huge moves are on the lives of refugee families.  

Suzan is studying social work at USM while working in the field.  Her career goal is to become a psychologist so that she can be a significant help to the Sudanese-American population in Maine.  

Mental health issues are significant in families that have experienced a lot of loss, violence and grief as immigrants so often have.  Suzan already organizes people and resources to create a place inside her community to let people know that is is OK to ask for help.  Suzan's love for her cousin who died by suicide drives her even more toward her goal of helping others.  If you need help Suzan wants you to tell someone:
The Maine Crisis Line: 1.888.568.1112
or call 2-1-1 for free, confidential referrals to any social service resources in the state.

​Music: "Sudania"

nms_242_suzan_ali_sudan_111520.mp3
File Size: 27072 kb
File Type: mp3
Download File

236 El-Fadel Arbab

8/9/2020

 
Picture
El-Fadel came to the US in 2004 and became a citizen in 2009.  He was originally from Darfur, Sudan.  On July 30th, 2020 he hosted a candlelight vigil in Portland to remember the people who have been killed in violence and genocide in his home area, and for those who still suffer in refugee camps.  The exciting part is, people in those camps can watch the vigil occurring in Portland, ME from their camps in Sudan where they are not only vulnerable to violence in the area, but are also susceptible to hunger and diseases, including Covid-19. El-Fadel and others offer solidarity and hope to people who sometimes feel forgotten. Sudanese Youth 4 Better Future continues to organize for more awareness and action in the region.

To hear more of El-Fadel's insights and life stories click here and here. 

​Music: Bob Marley sings "Get Up, Stand Up."

nms_236_el-fadel_arbab_sudan_aug_9_2020.mp3
File Size: 43264 kb
File Type: mp3
Download File

196 El-Fadel Arbab

11/18/2018

 
Picture
El-Fadel came to Maine in 2004 after being forced from his home in Darfur, Sudan.  El-Fadel was previously on New Mainers Speak in August (NMS 188) and September (NMS 191) of 2018.  He continues to share his stories and his insights regarding all he has learned throughout his epic journey, to date. This interview was timed well to coincide with Thanksgiving.  There are few people more grateful for what they have than he.
In this segment El-Fadel focuses on the way people from his village show respect to elders.  He also helps listeners to understand the powerful respect Sudanese people feel for the earth and the very dirt from which all life flows.  He discusses the way they grow their foods, find their well water, make their homes of mud bricks and grasses (also born of the earth) and even make their toys from the hard baked clay earth.  Their gratitude and thanksgiving always starts with a respect for the earth and soil that make life possible and holds us at the end of our lives.

For regularly updated news about Sudan, El-Fadel suggests Darfur Women Action Group. 
If you wish to book El-Fadel to speak at a school event he can be reached at Elfadelfcr@gmail.com.

Music: An Ethiopian song for joy and peace.


nms_196_el-fadel_arbab_sudan_nov_18_2018.mp3
File Size: 28562 kb
File Type: mp3
Download File

191 El-Fadel Arbab

9/2/2018

 
Picture
El-Fadel watched his house and village burn when he was 12 years old.  What followed were ten years of running, hiding, escaping genocide and childhood slavery.  While he might have been a boy in school he was leading a very difficult life.  That is why he values education and appreciates all his elders ever taught him. 
He came to the US in 2004 and started learning English.  Now he works with students to cultivate compassion and share information about his life and the political realities of war and genocide.  He is also working two jobs and is going to finish his high school diploma (through Adult Education) in just 10 more credits. 
El-Fadel believes that if you have money for one month that is enough, the real richness of life comes from "raising others up."  He has many awards and certificates recognizing the humanitarian work he does with youth.  He supports the efforts being done by other groups here in the US: STAND and Darfur Women Action Group.  If you wish to book him for a school event he can be reached at Elfadelfcr@gmail.com.

Music: "Ethiopian Instrumental Music" by Habeshaw Abel (and the video portrays his village).  

nms_191_el-fadel_arbab_sudan_sept_2_2018.mp3
File Size: 29338 kb
File Type: mp3
Download File

129 Ekhlas Ahmed

2/5/2017

 
Picture
Ekhlas Ahmed arrived in Maine in 2005 at the age of twelve. Her family came from Darfur, Sudan.  She tells the story of her first day on the school bus in Maine and how she vowed after that to never be voiceless again.  Ekhlas attended King Middle School, Casco Bay High School and the University of Southern Maine.  Now she works for AmeriCorps and teaches English to immigrant students back at her alma mater.  She also leads the Make it Happen program there, which helps immigrant students through the college application process. 

Ekhlas offers an alternative view of Darfur aside from the war there, sharing her impressions of the beauty, people's warmth and acceptance.  While visiting relatives in Sudan she became inspired to raise funds to help complete the building of a local school.  She is selling calendars to help raise the needed $5,000.

As founding member, Ekhlas explains that Darfur Youth of Tomorrow is a small organization in Portland, ME for survivors of genocide.  It is a young women's peer support circle.
Ekhlas recites "How Could We Forget You?" in Arabic.  It is a poem she wrote for her extended family which will be included in a book called The Bridge Between which she continues to write.
Music: Sudanese vocalist Hissan Asidge sings "In the Diaspora."
*On Feb 16th Ekhlas was flown out to be on Ellen.  They are going to sell her calendars in the online store. 

nms_129_b_ekhlas_ahmed_sudan_feb_5_2017.mp3
File Size: 31644 kb
File Type: mp3
Download File

047 Linda Nag

2/1/2015

 
Picture
Linda Nag was born in Sudan and raised in Egypt before coming to Portland at the age of 16.  She attended Portland High School and then went into JobCorps and AmeriCorps.  Linda returned to Maine and is happy to be around family again and likes to help care for her four younger sisters.  She is presently a full-time college student with plans to become a surgical nurse.

nms_047_linda_nag_-_south_sudan_and_egypt.mp3
File Size: 25548 kb
File Type: mp3
Download File

    Archives

    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014

    Upcoming Show

    Please enjoy the archives.  There are no new shows scheduled.  2021

    Categories

    All
    Afghanistan
    Albania
    Angola
    Argentina
    Armenia
    Authors
    Azerbaijan
    Belgium
    Bhutan
    Bosnia
    Brazil
    Bulgaria
    Burkina Faso
    Burundi
    Cabinda
    Cambodia
    Cameroon
    Canada
    Cape Verde
    China
    Cuba
    Czech Republic
    Democratic Republic Of Congo
    Denmark
    Djibouti
    Dominican Republic
    East Germany
    Egypt
    ELL
    England
    Eritrea
    France
    Georgia
    Ghana
    Great Britain
    Green Card
    Guatemala
    Guinea
    Guinea-Bissau
    Haiti
    Holiday
    Hong Kong
    House Of Languages
    ILAP
    India
    Indonesia
    Iran
    Iraq
    Ireland
    Italy
    Jamaica
    Japan
    Jordan
    Kenya
    Lebanon
    Libya
    Maine Equal Jusice
    Mali
    Mexico
    Morocco
    Muslim
    Netherlands
    Nigeria
    Northern Ireland
    Pakistan
    Palestine
    Papua New Guinea
    Partners For World Health
    Peru
    Portland Culture Exchange
    Portland Public Schools
    Puerto Rico
    Republic Of Congo
    Russia
    Rwanda
    Soccer
    Social Justice
    Somalia
    South Africa
    South Korea
    South Sudan
    Spain
    Sudan
    Syria
    Thailand
    Turkey
    Uganda
    Ukraine
    United Kingdom
    United States
    USM
    Vietnam
    Zambia

    RSS Feed

Proudly powered by Weebly