Many Roads to Here

Joni was just three-years-old when she was declared an enemy alien, even though she was an American citizen. President Franklin Roosevelt signed Executive Order9066  under the Alien Enemies Act after Pearl Harbor. It forced approximately 122,000 people of Japanese descent to report to the government for, what they called, evacuation. Joni and her parents were stripped of their belongings and shipped off to the internment camp, Minidoka, in the Idaho desert. It took decades for Joni to fully grasp the magnitude of what she’d lived through, and to realize how important it is for her to speak out. Many Roads to Here is a production of The Immigrant Story.  This episode was produced by H. Conley, who also handled the audio editing, with post-production by Gregg Palmer. The original interview was conducted by Sankar Raman in April 2025.  Thank you to St. Andrew Lutheran Church in Beaverton for the use of their space to record the interview. This episode is a part of a series exploring the stories and experiences of Asian Americans in a climate of Anti-Asian rhetoric and increasing violence. It is produced as part of the Oregon Rises Above Hate coalition and made possible by a generous contribution by Anne Naito-Campbell.  To learn more about the Oregon Rises Above Hate Coalition, please visit https://oregonrisesabovehate.com. For more stories, visit theimmigrantstory.org/manyroads, listen live at prp.fm, or stream us wherever you get your podcasts.

She has spent much of her life saying goodbye. At seven years old, Vanesa left her village in Oaxaca, Mexico, not knowing that the goodbye  to her childhood home would last 25 years. In the United States, she learned a new language, built a family, and dreamed of a life beyond the limits placed on her by her undocumented status. She learned to say goodbye to opportunities—to travel, to college, to the freedom to simply leave and come home. Then, in 2024, came the goodbye she never got to make: her father died in Mexico before she could reach him. Today, Vanesa tells us what it means to build a life while never knowing what tomorrow might take away—and how, through it all, she has found the courage to keep showing up, keep speaking out, and remain true to where she comes from. Many Roads to Here is a production of The Immigrant Story. This episode was produced by Ashwini Chandrakanth, with audio editing by Jack McDonald and post-production by Gregg Palmer. The original interview was conducted by Sankar Raman in March 2026. Thank you to St. Andrew Lutheran Church in Beaverton for the use of their space to record the interview. This episode was made possible through a generous contribution from the Zidell Family Foundation. It is part of The Immigrant Story’s DREAMs Deferred collection, which explores the experiences of immigrant families living with uncertainty, separation, and the fear of what may come next. To learn more about DREAMs Deferred, visit theimmigrantstory.org/dreams-deferred-3/. For more stories, visit theimmigrantstory.org/manyroads, listen live at PRP.fm, or stream Many Roads to Here wherever you get your podcasts.

As a teenager, Wu Man was a celebrated instrumentalist in China, whose performances had been broadcast on national television and extensively reported in national press. Her instrument, the pipa, has a storied tradition closely interwoven with other Chinese literary and folk arts. Wu Man’s path was laid out in front of her as China’s next pipa master. Instead, she forged her own way, moving to America and working to redefine the landscape of traditional music around the world. Many Roads to Here is a production of The Immigrant Story. This episode was produced and edited by Jonah Buchanan with post production by Gregg Palmer. The original interview was conducted by Sankar Raman and Elizabeth Mehren in the Fall of 2025. Thank you to Oregon Historical Society in Portland for the use of their space to record the interview. Thank you to Wu Man, for providing selections from her album, “Music from the Dunhuang Caves,” for this episode. This episode is a part of a series exploring the stories and experiences of Asian Americans. It is produced as part of the Oregon Rises Above Hate coalition and made possible by a generous contribution by Anne Naito-Campbell. To learn more about the Oregon Rises Above Hate Coalition, please visit https://oregonrisesabovehate.com. For more stories, visit theimmigrantstory.org/manyroads, listen live at prp.fm, or stream us wherever you get your podcasts.

Inna Kovtun carries the folk songs of Ukraine within her: songs that have survived years of suppression and attempted erasure, songs that tell stories, celebrate traditions, and preserve culture. A folklorist, ethnomusicologist, and performing artist of Ukrainian folk music, she sang to crowds of thousands back in Europe. When the war started, she fled to Portland to protect her young daughter. Today, she struggles to do what she loves while making a living, all the while facing uncertainty about what the future holds. Many Roads to Here is a production of The Immigrant Story.  All of the music you heard in this episode is from Inna’s latest solo album, released in March 2026. The title of this album translates in English to “Princess” and it’s a collection of Ukrainian traditional songs along with a few original compositions inspired by folk traditions. You can find it on all major streaming platforms or buy it on the Magnetic West Music Bandcamp page. To hear more of Inna’s music, go to https://www.magneticwestmusic.com/innakovtun.html This episode was hosted, produced, and edited by Selene Ross. Storyboard was edited by Meg Ritter with audio post production by Gregg Palmer. Our Executive Producer is Sankar Raman. This episode was made possible through a generous contribution from the Zidell Family Foundation. For more stories, visit theimmigrantstory.org/manyroads, listen live at prp.fm, or stream us wherever you get your podcasts.

Welcome to The Immigrant Story Live, where we feature stories from the stage. In this fourth episode, we’ll hear from three storytellers — Jane Mantiri,  Chanpone Sinlapasai, and Saron Khut —who tell stories of unbreakable familial bonds despite war, violence, and unimaginable suffering. Because these bonds are ones of love. The Immigrant Story Live is a production of The Immigrant Story.  This episode was hosted, produced, and edited by Meg Ritter. Storyboard was edited by Sankar Raman with audio post production by Gregg Palmer. Our Executive Producer is Sankar Raman. All stories were part of I’m an American Live, a series of storytelling events showcasing Asian American voices, staged in various venues in Portland, Oregon. This episode is part of the Oregon Rises Above Hate series, generously funded by Anne Naito-Campbell. If you want to catch up on our past live events, don’t forget to subscribe to our YouTube channel @theimmigrantstorylive.  For more stories, visit the immigrantstory.org/manyroads, listen live at prp.fm, or stream us wherever you get your podcasts.

At 23, Jose has spent nearly his entire life in the United States– going to school, making friends, dreaming big. But unlike many of his peers, Jose lives every day with a secret: he’s undocumented. He missed the chance to apply for DACA when he was a kid, not because of anything he did wrong, but because of a missed deadline…a mistake his mother made years ago. Now, he’s caught in a legal limbo with no clear path forward. In this episode, we follow Jose’s story, from the moment he realized he didn’t have papers, to the quiet sacrifices he makes every day just to stay under the radar. What does it mean to grow up in a country that feels like home, but doesn’t recognize you? And what happens when your future depends on a window that closed before you were old enough to open it? Many Roads to Here is a production of The Immigrant Story. This episode was produced, edited, and hosted by Amal Elhelw. Special thanks to Jenna Woodring for editorial support and to Gregg Palmer for post-production support. This interview was conducted by Amal Elhelw and our executive producer, Sankar Raman. Thank you to St. Andrew Lutheran Church in Beaverton, Oregon, for letting us use their space to record this interview. This episode is made possible by the generous support by the Marie Lamfrom Charitable Foundation. To find more stories, visit The Immigrant Story website, listen live at prp.fm, or stream us wherever you get your podcasts.

Many of us have been told who we are, who we should be. Maybe we’ve been judged for the actions of our parents, the color of our skin, the way our eyes look,  the accent someone tells us we have, or for not conforming to expectations of how our gender supposedly should act. Often this judgement comes from our families, our classmates, our colleagues. Sometimes from the towns we live in, our cities or states, our country. We can wonder where we belong, if anywhere, who we are, who we should be, who we want to be.  Each of us goes on a journey, some expeditions full of more hurdles and roadblocks than others. Many of us hoping to filter out the noise, ask the hard questions, discover the truth, and stay true to what we find. But also to come to peace with the things we cannot change.  Our three storytellers in today’s episode tell of such journeys.  The Immigrant Story Live is a production of The Immigrant Story.  This episode was hosted, produced, and edited by Meg Ritter. Storyboard was edited by Fran Silverman and Degen Larkin with audio post production done by Gregg Palmer. Our Executive Producer is Sankar Raman. All stories were part of I’m an American Live, a series of storytelling events showcasing Asian American voices, staged at the Patricia Reser Center for the Performing Arts in Beaverton, Oregon. If you want to catch up on our past live events, don’t forget to subscribe to our YouTube channel @theimmigrantstorylive.  This episode is part of the Oregon Rises Above Hate series, generously funded by Anne Naito-Campbell. For more stories, visit the immigrantstory.org/manyroads, listen live at prp.fm, or stream us wherever you get your podcasts.

Born in a Tanzanian refugee camp to parents who fled conflict in the Congo, Jeanette Muibi grew up walking toward a future she couldn’t yet imagine. In this episode, she shares her journey from survival to self-discovery—a story of resilience, heartbreak, and the courage to rise again. Many Roads to Here is a production of The Immigrant Story. This episode was produced by Naomi Bone, with audio editing by Jack McDonald and post-production by Gregg Palmer. The original interview was conducted by our executive producer Sankar Raman at Portland Community College’s Southeast Campus Library in the fall of 2024. This episode was made possible through a generous contribution from the Zidell Family Foundation. For more stories, visit theimmigrantstory.org/manyroads, listen live at prp.fm, or stream us wherever you get your podcasts. Trigger Warning: This episode contains content that may be distressing to some viewers, including depictions of sexual violence. Viewer discretion is strongly advised. This episode was produced by Naomi Bone while she was a high school student working with The Immigrant Story staff. Naomi graduated in May 2025 from Catlin Gabel School in Portland, Oregon.

At just 50-years-old, Rukshana Hafez Triem could say she’s lived many lives. From fleeing her home country of Mozambique at just 5-years-old to being a refugee  3-times over…first in Malawi, then Zambia, and finally the United States. She took on the role of caregiver as the eldest of 5 children while enduring the trauma of sexual abuse at the hands of her father. Despite the 16 years of pain, she later found the courage to break the silence that had held her captive for so long. This episode contains discussion of sexual violence, which may be distressing or triggering for some listeners. Please take care of your mental and emotional well-being, and feel free to skip this episode if the subject matter is too difficult. If you or someone you know is affected by these issues, consider seeking support from a trusted resource or professional. Many Roads to Here is a production of The Immigrant Story.  This episode was produced, audio edited and hosted Amal Elhelw. Special thanks to Fran Silverman for script editing, and to Gregg Palmer for post-production support. Our Executive producer is Sankar Raman. Thank you to St. Andrew Lutheran Church in Beaverton, Oregon, for letting us use their space to record this interview. This episode is made possible by a generous contribution from the Zidell Family Foundation.  For more stories, visit theimmigrantstory.org/manyroads, listen live at prp.fm, or stream us wherever you get your podcasts.

Erica Naito-Campbell, the author of Portland’s Audacious Champion: How Bill Naito Overcame Anti-Japanese Hate and Became an Intrepid Civic Leader in  conversation with  Eliza Canty Jones– chief program officer at the Oregon Historical Society and editor of the Oregon Historical Quarterly. Erica speaks about her grandfather’s influence and legacy in Portland, yes, but also about his lesser known story–the trauma and racism he experienced during WWII and how he carried that through his life, how it propelled him to great action. In exploring his story, Erica gains a deeper understanding of her beloved grandfather–the public figure and the private man– and his history. But ultimately she gains a greater understanding of herself, what she wants for future generations, and what she hopes for Portland now. Many Roads to Here is a production of The Immigrant Story.  This episode was hosted, produced and edited by Meg Ritter. Storyboard was edited by Fran Silverman with audio post production by Gregg Palmer. The original interview was conducted by our executive producer, Sankar Raman, in October of 2024. Thank you to St. Andrew Lutheran Church in Beaverton, Oregon for the use of their space to record the interview. This episode is made possible by the generous support by the Marie Lamfrom Charitable Foundation. For more stories, visit theimmigrantstory.org/manyroads, listen live at prp.fm, or stream us wherever you get your podcasts. For more information about Portland’s Audacious Champion: How Bill Naito Overcame Anti-Japanese Hate and Became an Intrepid Civic Leader, please vist: https://osupress.oregonstate.edu/book/portlands-audacious-champion