CFD Conversations

Never Belonging Can Be Belonging: A Song of Earthroot by Kinh Vu and Aaron Hwang

Joining Kate and Sabrina in the studio, Kinh Vu and Aaron Hwang discuss the behind-the-scenes of their 2023 documentary Song of Earthroot. The film follows Vu as he rediscovers himself in Vietnam, the place he was born but evacuated from during the American War. Vu, a BU music education professor, and Hwang, co-founder of Fourth District Productions, trace their creative decisions and personal challenges. Covering topics from grief to hope, yearning to sexuality, and 3 am dim sum to mall boba, the group explores their experiences of longing and their special moments of belonging. For more information on research and CFD events can be found here [https://www.bu.edu/cfd/]. The newest edition of the Critical Forced Displacement Magazine can be found here [https://www.criticalforceddisplacement.com/].

Seven Months in Captivity: Colombian History with Maria Antonia Blandon

Kate and Sabrina sit down with Maria Antonia Blandon, a graduate student fellow at the CFD, to discuss her father’s kidnapping. With his diary in hand, Maria shares her father’s accounts of the grueling guerrilla warfare tactics and her research into this often-avoided, multifaceted history of Colombia. Studying this period to frame her upcoming translation, Maria explores how history, both individual and collective, shows up in today’s challenges. They discuss conflict between political and regional groups, explanations for extremism, and the effectiveness of dismissal as a coping method. For more information on research and CFD events, check out our website [https://www.bu.edu/cfd/]. The newest edition of the Critical Forced Displacement Magazine can be found here [https://www.criticalforceddisplacement.com/].

An Inquisitive Dialogue of Border Lives and Works with Muhummad Zaman, Carrie Preston, and Marina Lažetić

In this episode, Kate and Sabrina sit down with editors Muhammad Zaman, Carrie Preston, and Marina Lažetić to discuss their newest volume, Mexico-US, Serbia-EU: Border Lives and Works. They reflect on the interdisciplinary exploration of how migrants, artists, activists, and researchers navigate, reshape, and define life in global borderlands. Could these parallel challenges possess parallel solutions?

An Interrupted Border Crossing: A Story of Courage and Hope with Dorsa Ghazanfari

Join Kate and Sabrina as they step in the studio for the first time with Dorsa Ghazanfari, a CFD Undergraduate Fellow. Dorsa opens up about her mom’s experience as Baháʼí Post-Iranian Revolution and how it led to an unsuccessful border crossing, which impacts their thought processes today. They dive into state-based religious oppression, finding a welcoming religious community, and channeling generational trauma into motivation.  This episode contains mention of gun violence. Please keep this in mind when deciding if and how you’ll listen.  For more information on research and CFD events, check out our website: https://www.bu.edu/cfd/ [https://www.bu.edu/cfd/] The newest edition of the Critical Forced Displacement Magazine can be found here: https://www.criticalforceddisplacement.com/ [https://www.criticalforceddisplacement.com/]

Collaborative Solutions through Academia-Practitioner Partnership

In this episode, Shandra sits down with Marina Lazetic, Director of Programs at CFD, and Alexandra 'Xan' Weber, Chief Advancement Officer and Senior Vice President of the International Institute of New England. They discuss the timely importance of academic and practitioner collaborations in the field of forced displacement, highlighting new initiatives and research both organizations are undertaking together. For more information on research and CFD events, check out our website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.bu.edu/cfd/ ⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.bu.edu/cfd/] The newest edition of the Critical Forced Displacement Magazine can be found here: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.criticalforceddisplacement.com/ [https://www.criticalforceddisplacement.com/]