Immigrants Wake America's Podcast

Hidden Heroes: Tamar Boyajian

Immigrants Wake America is back with a new season titled “Hidden Heroes in a Small Town”. During this season we will get to know the staff and case workers at the American Civic Association in Binghamton, NY. A non-profit organization whose mission is to help refugees and immigrants start a new life while preserving their ethnic and cultural diversity. This six-episode installment showcases the amazing work and journeys of migration of the people “behind the scenes”. Our guest today is Tamar Boyajian, who acted as program coordinator at the American Civic Association until summer 2024. Tamar is of Armenian heritage and miigrated to the United States from Lebanon. In this episode, Tamar shares with us her journey of migration, and the many ways in which the ACA helps immigrants in Broome county to celebrate their cultures, and come together as one diverse community. Have you wondered how you can help the ACA? Tamar tells us the best ways to contribute to this non-profit at the end of the episode.  Transcript for this episode: https://www.immigrantswakeamerica.com/transcripts#h.vl0lad9c6w2z This podcast is supported by Humanities New York, Institute for Advanced Studies in the Humanities, Centre for Civic Engagement, Department of English, Asian and Asian American Studies, Institute for Asia and Asian Diasporas at Binghamton University. In partnership with the American Civic Association and the Tenement Museum. For more information visit our Website: https://www.immigrantswakeamerica.com/ [https://www.immigrantswakeamerica.com] For more information about the America Civic Association visit: https://americancivic.com/ [https://americancivic.com/] Instagram: @immigrantswakeamerica X: @ImmigrantsWake

Hidden Heroes: Goretti Mugambwa (Special Re-edit)

Immigrants Wake America is back with a new season titled “Hidden Heroes in a Small Town”. During this season we will get to know the staff and case workers at the American Civic Association in Binghamton, NY. A non-profit organization whose mission is to help refugees and immigrants start a new life while preserving their ethnic and cultural diversity. This six-episode installment showcases the amazing work and journeys of migration of the people “behind the scenes”. Goretti Mugambwa is an immigration caseworker at the ACA for over 10 years. She shares her arduous and inspiring journey of migration and re-migration as a single mother, starting in Uganda and then to Kenya, Nigeria, Canada, and the United States. She also sheds light on the struggles  of immigrant women as they arrive the United States and settle in local communities. Goretti is the inspiration for Season II. Transcript for this episode: https://www.immigrantswakeamerica.com/transcripts#h.4rnwichsfvlj This podcast is supported by Humanities New York, Institute for Advanced Studies in the Humanities, Centre for Civic Engagement, Department of English, Asian and Asian American Studies, Institute for Asia and Asian Diasporas at Binghamton University. In partnership with the American Civic Association and the Tenement Museum. For more information visit our Website: https://www.immigrantswakeamerica.com/ [https://www.immigrantswakeamerica.com] For more information about the America Civic Association visit: https://americancivic.com/ [https://americancivic.com/] Instagram: @immigrantswakeamerica X: @ImmigrantsWake

Hidden Heroes: Aye Aye Mar

Immigrants Wake America is back with a new season titled “Hidden Heroes in a Small Town”. During this season we will get to know the staff and case workers at the American Civic Association in Binghamton, NY. A non-profit organization whose mission is to help refugees and immigrants start a new life while preserving their ethnic and cultural diversity. This six-episode installment showcases the amazing work and journeys of migration of the people “behind the scenes”. Our guest today is Aye Aye Mar. Aye Aye was an immigration case worker at the ACA through 2024. In this episode, Aye Aye shares with us many aspects of her complex journey of migration from a refugee camp in Thailand to the US. She also talks about her work helping immigrants and refugees at the American Civic Association.   Transcript for this episode: https://www.immigrantswakeamerica.com/transcripts#h.xqioxqr2dt3i This podcast is supported by Humanities New York, Institute for Advanced Studies in the Humanities, Centre for Civic Engagement, Department of English, Asian and Asian American Studies, Institute for Asia and Asian Diasporas at Binghamton University. In partnership with the American Civic Association and the Tenement Museum. For more information visit our Website: https://www.immigrantswakeamerica.com/ [https://www.immigrantswakeamerica.com] For more information about the America Civic Association visit: https://americancivic.com/ [https://americancivic.com/] Instagram: @immigrantswakeamerica X: @ImmigrantsWake

Hidden Heroes: Edward Marte

Immigrants Wake America is back with a new season titled “Hidden Heroes in a Small Town”. During this season we will get to know the staff and case workers at the American Civic Association in Binghamton, NY. A non-profit organization whose mission is to help refugees and immigrants start a new life while preserving their ethnic and cultural diversity. This six-episode installment showcases the amazing work and journeys of migration of the people “behind the scenes”. Edward Marte was a caseworker at the ACA until 2023, where he worked helping immigrants and refugees settle in Broome County. Edward, an immigrant himself, shares with us the difficulties he encountered as a young person in a new country, and the ways in which he tirelessly gives back to the community both in the US and in the Dominican Republic. Edward also speaks about his experience with the Hispanic Youth Leadership Institute, with which he has often collaborated in different charity and solidarity programs.   Transcript for this episode: https://www.immigrantswakeamerica.com/transcripts#h.boujrfk32p9z This podcast is supported by Humanities New York, Institute for Advanced Studies in the Humanities, Centre for Civic Engagement, Department of English, Asian and Asian American Studies, Institute for Asia and Asian Diasporas at Binghamton University. In partnership with the American Civic Association and the Tenement Museum. For more information visit our Website: https://www.immigrantswakeamerica.com/ [https://www.immigrantswakeamerica.com] For more information about the America Civic Association visit: https://americancivic.com/ [https://americancivic.com/] Instagram: @immigrantswakeamerica X: @ImmigrantsWake

Hidden Heroes: Laila Hernandez

Immigrants Wake America is back with a new season titled “Hidden Heroes in a Small Town”. During this season we will get to know the staff and case workers at the American Civic Association, a non-profit organization in Binghamton, New York, whose mission is to help refugees and immigrants start a new life while preserving their ethnic and cultural diversity. This six-episode installment showcases the amazing work and journeys of migration of the people “behind the scenes”.  Our guest in this episode is Laila Hernandez, Deputy Director of the American Civic Association in Binghamton NY.  Laila shares her journey as a remarkable woman wearing many hats -  as an immigration caseworker accredited by the department of justice, as the chief mentor for her busy staff, as an educator for student interns, as a mother homeschooling her children, and more. Transcript for this episode: https://www.immigrantswakeamerica.com/transcripts#h.ghdtqwdoaqoh This podcast is supported by Humanities New York, Institute for Advanced Studies in the Humanities, Centre for Civic Engagement, Department of English, Asian and Asian American Studies, Institute for Asia and Asian Diasporas at Binghamton University. In partnership with the American Civic Association and the Tenement Museum. For more information visit our Website: https://www.immigrantswakeamerica.com/ [https://www.immigrantswakeamerica.com] For more information about the America Civic Association visit: https://americancivic.com/ [https://americancivic.com/] Instagram: @immigrantswakeamerica X: @ImmigrantsWake