| New Mainers Speak |
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 Mohamed Mohamed is a senior at USM with a double major in International Studies and Political Science. His family moved to Maine when he was a young child and he grew up in Biddeford. He shares what that experience was like and tells about his internship at ILAP, also explaining what ILAP does in the state of Maine.
 In celebration of National Women's History month, WMPG (90.9 FM) hosted a special day of women's programming on Saturday, March 29th. Four young women from the University of Southern Maine's Muslim Student Association comprised a panel to discuss women's issues for an hour long radio show. Salma Hassan, Hani Ali, Hawo Mohamed and Hawa shared their perspectives on three major points: "Woman" vs. "Girl", the impact of recent budget cuts on women at the University of Southern Maine, and the role of Islam in their daily lives. Their bright and lively commentary was broadcasted live as they shared openly from their life experiences as first generation immigrants of Somali and Afghan descent.  Mia Ntahobari came to Maine from Burundi in the summer of 2010. In Burundi Mia attended college for a degree equivalent to Social Work, in the United States. Upon arrival she quickly learned English (her fourth language) at Learning Works, got a Certified Nursing Assistant certificate, and found work.
She is now is a Community Health Outreach Worker, as well. Her husband and four children joined her in the years that followed, and then they had their fifth child here, one year ago. The family has settled in Gorham, ME.  Patrick Kambu came from Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo where he was born and raised. On a scholarship, he attended an International Law program in Warsaw, Poland before moving to Portland, ME. He is currently the President of the non-profit group Congolese Community of Maine (www.cocomaine.org) designed to help support new arrivals and promote cultural events. Patrick has always cared about social justice and is finishing a Masters degree in Leadership this spring.
 Ina is from Semarang, Middle Java, Indonesia and arrived in Maine in 1974. She was a teacher by trade, but because of her Chinese ancestry was not allowed to be hired as a teacher in Indonesia. She came to the US, got her Bachelors, teaching certification and Masters degree from USM, and has been an educator since. She currently works in the Portland Public Schools as an Education Technician III, teaching English in an ELL classroom (English Language Learning). She is also active in the union to advocate for Ed Techs in the Portland Schools.
Ina has a passion for service and supports many programs including the Multi-Cultural/Multi-Lingual Center, The Center for Grieving Children, and runs a drop-in English Conversation program for adult learners, hosted at Whole Foods conference room in Portland.  Elise is from Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo and arrived in the USA as an Asylee in August 2012. She came with her three young children to reunite with her husband in Portland, ME. Her chief pursuit here, beyond caring for her family, has been to learn English (her fourth language) through Portland Adult Education. She hopes that improving her English skills will help her to apply her degree in Business Administration and Economics to a masters degree program so that she can then work in business and finance here, contributing her global perspective to the local community.
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April 2018
Upcoming Show
4/22/18 Burcin Kirik is a self-taught painter from Turkey. She is a delight. Join us next Sunday at noon to hear her story. Categories
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