More Than A Place

10. Growing Community on Indy's Burmese Southside with Jully Pettijohn, Child Therapist

Jully Pettijohn, a beloved former IndyPL staff member turned child therapist, journeyed from the Chin State of Burma to Greenville, South Carolina, and finally to Indianapolis' prominent southside Burmese community. After returning to Greenville as an adult, Jully recalls the process of finding her community and what it was like to grow up under her mother's roof surrounded by the comforting chatter of family and friends, and the smell of fresh-cooked rice. Finally, she offers advice on how to learn more about cultures that are different from our own and how to decide what home means for ourselves.   View a transcript for this episode. [https://drive.google.com/file/d/11J77GnVfVB1rOo0AvweZJKVjzCWBRo-A/view?usp=share_link]   More Than a Place is a production by The Indianapolis Public Library. Learn more about the show at indypl.org/more-than-a-place. [https://www.indypl.org/services/immigrant-services/more-than-a-place-podcast]

9. A Look Inside Togo's Vibrant Traditions with Koffi Koevi, Anthropologist and Clothing Designer

Koffi Koevi is cementing a place for himself in the Indianapolis community through a wide skill set in cyber security, fashion, anthropology, and cultural & language interpretation. Currently a student at IUPUI, Indianapolis has become Koffi's second home. But a light shines through his voice as he reminisces on the traditions of his home village in Togo.   View a transcript for this episode. [https://drive.google.com/file/d/1fjgypKrrWN1yECzJlcMYe39b-tsNI_5S/view?usp=share_link] More Than a Place is a production by The Indianapolis Public Library. Learn more about the show at indypl.org/more-than-a-place. [https://www.indypl.org/services/immigrant-services/more-than-a-place-podcast]

8. Making An Investment In Your Community with Hiba Alalami, Arab-American Advocate

Hiba Alalami took “a leap of faith” 20 years ago with her husband to leave Jordan and start a new life in the United States. In her time living in Indianapolis, Hiba has become a pillar in the Arab American and Muslim communities. She is a mother of three, a philanthropist, and leader focused on bringing visibility to her community, including as director of the Indiana Muslim Advocacy Network. In this conversation, Hiba describes the too often forgotten contributions of Arab immigrants to Indianapolis and explains why she is pursuing a doctorate in American studies. One reason, according to Hiba: "When we learn history, it can better prepare us for the future."   View a transcript for this episode. [https://drive.google.com/file/d/16tEXSZw2qMk5e0LpU2A7-U9aZ7u2uifB/view?usp=share_link] More Than a Place is a production by The Indianapolis Public Library. Learn more about the show at indypl.org/more-than-a-place. [https://www.indypl.org/services/immigrant-services/more-than-a-place-podcast]

7. Becoming a Global Citizen with Maria Manalang, Respiratory Therapist

Listen as Maria Manalang begins her story in Indianapolis during the legendary Blizzard of 1978 and shares how her life has blossomed since through multiple career paths in healthcare, the arts, and outreach to fellow immigrants. Today, Maria calls both Indianapolis and the Philippines home. Through her work at Indianapolis' Global Village Welcome Center, Maria explains how she has gained a perspective on life that many can only dream of reaching--a true understanding of her identity and what it means to be a global citizen.   View a transcript for this episode. [https://drive.google.com/file/d/109sx0rb3AOBjkmWuYYL-FyHrw4rxK6XQ/view?usp=share_link] More Than a Place is a production by The Indianapolis Public Library. Learn more about the show at indypl.org/more-than-a-place [https://www.indypl.org/services/immigrant-services/more-than-a-place-podcast].

6. A Personal History of Life in Ukraine with Dr. Svitlana Ramer, Ukrainian Society of Indiana

Dr. Svitlana Ramer has dedicated her life's work to her home country Ukraine, first through her career in Ukrainian tourism, and more recently by co-founding the Ukrainian Society of Indiana [https://www.ukrindiana.org/] in response to the 2022 Russian military invasion. In this conversation, Dr. Ramer describes her experiences growing up in Fastiv and Ukraine's capital, Kyiv. She interweaves her family's history with the country's and adds essential context to the ongoing crisis in Ukraine.   View a transcript for this episode. [https://drive.google.com/file/d/1bFrIomovVFy2CiF9IQNTr4Xjn1p7Wuqq/view?usp=share_link]    More Than a Place is a production by The Indianapolis Public Library. Learn more about the show at indypl.org/more-than-a-place. [https://www.indypl.org/services/immigrant-services/more-than-a-place-podcast]