Phoenix tells the story of his mother and father's separate journeys from Laos through Thailand and to the United States. His parents met through a mutual friend and have built a life together. Phoenix is a second-generation Laotian-American and describes the way his family has preserved Laotian traditions while living in the U.S.
Creator:
Saythany, Phoenix
Contributor:
Horner, Kimberly
Created:
2023-12-05
Contributed By:
University of Minnesota, Immigration History Research Center
Cesar was born in Venezuela and moved to the U.S. with his mother with just a single bag of personal items. Though the transition was difficult, he is proud of who he is today.
Creator:
Mendez, Cesar
Contributor:
Horner, Kimberly
Created:
2023-12-03
Contributed By:
University of Minnesota, Immigration History Research Center
Leyla was born in Ecuador where she enjoyed school and spending time with her friends. She left Ecuador by bus with her mother, sisters, and aunts due to both political and economic circumstances. She had to leave much behind and is now rebuilding her life in the United States.
Creator:
Pacha, Leyla
Contributor:
Horner, Kimberly
Created:
2023-11-08
Contributed By:
University of Minnesota, Immigration History Research Center
Born and raised in Egypt with four siblings, three brothers and one sister, Georgette Tadros was an extremely academic person. This video tells the story of her marriage and migration to the US.
Creator:
Donalds, Maya
Contributor:
Waslin, Michele
Created:
2023-04-26
Contributed By:
University of Minnesota, Immigration History Research Center
Biographical Information: Ibrahim Roba was born in Dire Dawa in Eastern Oromia. In 1979, Ibrahim left Ethiopia due to the ongoing war. He left the country right before he could complete high school. He walked from Ethiopia to Djibouti before going to Egypt as a refugee. He spent three years in Egypt where he was able to gain an education. He was...
Creator:
Roba, Ibrahim
Contributor:
Roba, Hibaa
Created:
2023-03-27
Contributed By:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Immigration History Research Center Archives.
Biographical Information: Tasissa Moti, born in Western Oromia, was the first Oromo to settle in Minnesota. He grew up in a small village and did not attend school until his mid teens. While working as a dresser in a hospital, he met his future wife who was from Minnesota. After they married, the couple decided to come to Minnesota so that Tasis...
Creator:
Moti, Tasissa
Contributor:
Roba, Hibaa
Created:
2023-03-09
Contributed By:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Immigration History Research Center Archives.
Biographical Information: Johara Mohammed was born in Eastern Oromia in a city called Dire Dawa. Before entering university, Johara left Ethiopia due to the ongoing political crisis. She went to India to complete her university studies before coming to Minnesota in 1987. During her first few years in Minnesota, she worked any job she could befor...
Creator:
Mohammed, Johara
Contributor:
Roba, Hibaa
Created:
2023-03-01
Contributed By:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Immigration History Research Center Archives.
Luu Nhat Tam Ngyuen moved to the U.S. with her mom and dad in 2019. Unfortunately, her sister was not able to join them because of her age. Luu Nhat Tam is the only person who can speak English in her family.
Creator:
Nguyen, Luu Nhat Tam
Contributor:
Rolland, Isabella
Created:
2022-05-09
Contributed By:
University of Minnesota, Immigration History Research Center
Lillian Gamm arrived at Ellis Island from Russia on April 19, 1910. While living in Manhattan, she worked hard as a bookkeeper, raised a family, and pursued her dreams.
Creator:
Feldman, Jonah
Contributor:
Rolland, Isabella
Created:
2022-05-02
Contributed By:
University of Minnesota, Immigration History Research Center
Sarah Reyes was born in the Phlippines and moved to the U.S. when she was in middle school. Though she faced a lot of racial discrimination in her first years of being here, she eventually found a Filipino American community that she is proud to be a part of now.
Creator:
Haakonsen, Malia
Contributor:
Rolland, Isabella
Created:
2022-05-02
Contributed By:
University of Minnesota, Immigration History Research Center
Yeshi Gongpatsang was forced to flee her home country of Tibet in 1969 when the Chinese Communist Party invaded. When she came to the U.S., she still risked her life by doing a hunger strike to raise awareness about injustices in Tibet.
Creator:
Lobsang, Ngawang
Contributor:
Rolland, Isabella
Created:
2022-04-26
Contributed By:
University of Minnesota, Immigration History Research Center
Yubin Sun was born in South Korea, went to college in Japan, and is now an international student at the University of Minnesota. Her journey was delayed because of Covid-19, but she is grateful for her experiences.
Creator:
Sun, Yubin
Contributor:
Rolland, Isabella
Created:
2022-04-26
Contributed By:
University of Minnesota, Immigration History Research Center
Food has always been a part of Emilee Xayanourom's life. She grew up making and eating authentic Lao dishes, and now owns a food truck with her family so that she can share her love of food with others in Minnesota.
Creator:
Xayanourom, Emilee
Contributor:
Rolland, Isabella
Created:
2022-04-19
Contributed By:
University of Minnesota, Immigration History Research Center
Ernesto's granddaughter Isabel talks about her experienes being from an immigrant family. Then, Ernesto is interviewed about his life in the Philippines and his perspective on his life as an immigrant in the U.S.
Creator:
Laderman, Isabel
Contributor:
Rolland, Isabella
Created:
2022-04-12
Contributed By:
University of Minnesota, Immigration History Research Center
Margaret Deirdre O'Hartigan is an Irish Catholic transsexual woman, transsexual health and rights activist, writer, and retired secretary and typesetter living in Portland, Oregon. Prior to her retirement, O'Hartigan was involved in a number of trans civil rights and nondiscrimination campaigns in Oregon, Washington, and Minnesota, including suc...
Creator:
O'Hartigan, Margaret Deirdre (interviewee)
Contributor:
Billund-Phibbs, Myra (interviewer, project manager, and transciber)
Created:
2022-04-06
Contributed By:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Jean-Nickolaus Tretter Collection in Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Studies.
Betula Ali's family moved from Somalia to Ethiopia during a war. They came to the U.S. in 2012. Though it has taken them some time to navigate the new culture, weather, and language, they have overcame all of their challenges by supporting each other.
Creator:
Ali, Betula
Contributor:
Rolland, Isabella
Created:
2021-12-13
Contributed By:
University of Minnesota, Immigration History Research Center
Bridget Feeney grew up in the rural countryside of Ireland. She moved to the U.S. in 1900 to follow in her older sister's footsteps, and made a life for herself in Boston. Her great great granddaughter tells her story.
Creator:
Ferry, Jack
Contributor:
Rolland, Isabella
Created:
2021-12-02
Contributed By:
University of Minnesota, Immigration History Research Center
John and Martha Nygaard immigrated from Norway. After living briefly in Montreal, Minneapolis, and Fridley, they finally settled in Grand Park, Minnesota and managed a farm. Their great great granddaughter tells the story of their life in this video.
Creator:
Hensel, Megan
Contributor:
Rolland, Isabella
Created:
2021-10-29
Contributed By:
University of Minnesota, Immigration History Research Center
David Peal was born on the West Coast of Africa and moved to the U.S. because of a civil war in his country. He grew up in Massachusetts and then attended Gustavus Adolphus College. He reflects on his successes.
Creator:
Bradley, Andrew
Contributor:
Rolland, Isabella
Created:
2021-10-22
Contributed By:
University of Minnesota, Immigration History Research Center
Robbie Aparicio was born in Cancun, Mexico and moved to Minnesota to play football and study History at Gustavus Adolphus College. He was drawn to college in the U.S. by the opportunity to continue playing football at a higher level, and was influenced by his dad who had coached him when he was growing up.
Creator:
Durham, Kevin
Contributor:
Rolland, Isabella
Created:
2021-10-22
Contributed By:
University of Minnesota, Immigration History Research Center
Liz Fierst is a Korean American adoptee. She was raised in Minneapolis and has traveled to many places throughout her adult life. She is now a prinicpal for a Middle School in San Francisco.
Creator:
O'Hagan, Ruby
Contributor:
Rolland, Isabella
Created:
2021-10-20
Contributed By:
University of Minnesota, Immigration History Research Center
Henry Chacon Arevalo was born in Honduras in 2004. His dad moved to the U.S. when he was 2 months old and Henry was able to move there with him when he was 13.
Creator:
Chacon Arevalo, Henry Jeovany
Contributor:
Rolland, Isabella
Created:
2021-09-25
Contributed By:
University of Minnesota, Immigration History Research Center
Daniel Castellon is a second-generation immigrant, raised in Texas by his father who is from El Salvador. He talks about his life growing up with his family in the U.S.
Creator:
Castellon, Daniel
Contributor:
Rolland, Isabella
Created:
2021-09-23
Contributed By:
University of Minnesota, Immigration History Research Center
Christopher Chavez's grandmother was born in El Salvador and his grandfather was born in Mexico. They met in Texas and moved into a house that Christopher was raised in. He reflects on his life with his family.
Creator:
Chavez, Christopher
Contributor:
Rolland, Isabella
Created:
2021-09-05
Contributed By:
University of Minnesota, Immigration History Research Center
Damanta Basnet was born in Beldangi 2 refugee camp in Damak, Nepal. Her parents moved there after the Lhotsampas were forced to leave Bhutan in the 1990s. Damanta and her family moved to Minnesota in 2011 and overcame many obstacales while adjusting to the new culture.
Creator:
Basnet, Damanta
Contributor:
Rolland, Isabella
Created:
2021-05-22
Contributed By:
University of Minnesota, Immigration History Research Center
Elena Hernandez in Mexico in 1977. At the age of 19 she gave birth to her first daughter and travelled to the United States to live with her father using a relative's documents. Elena's story is told by her daughter and details the dangers that migrants can face when crossing the U.S.-Mexico border.
Creator:
Hernandez, Sinai
Contributor:
Rolland, Isabella
Created:
2021-04-21
Contributed By:
University of Minnesota, Immigration History Research Center
Adrian Lowe is a white male activist, organizer, and prison abolitionist based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. At the time of this interview, he was a Senior Staff Attorney at the AIDS Law Project of Pennsylvania and a community organizer with Hearts on a Wire, a grassroots organization he co-founded that supports transgender incarcerated people ...
Andy Marra is a Korean-American trans woman, activist, educator, and public policy advocate based in New York City. At the time of this interview, she was the Executive Director of the Transgender Legal Defense and Education Fund (TLDEF,) an advocacy and legal services organization serving and lobbying for trans and gender nonconforming people. ...
Beau Larsen is a white trans educator, scholar, and forensics coach based in St. Paul, Minnesota. At the time of this interview, they were the Director of Forensics at Macalester College, where they directed and coached the mock trial, ethics bowl, and debate teams. Prior to their work at Macalester, Larsen was a graduate student and debate coac...
Bran Fenner is a Black transmasculine activist, consultant, educator, and ER and hospice nurse based in Brooklyn, New York. At the time of this interview, he was Director of People and Organizational Culture at the Transgender Law Center. Prior to his work at TLC, Fenner was the founder of the Education for Liberation Project, a co-director of F...
Canyon Carballosa is a white Cuban queer trans nonbinary dancer and movement maker based in Los Angeles. At the time of this oral history interview, they were working as a professional dancer, choreographer, and Youth Protection Advocates in Dance (YPAD)-educated dance instructor. In this oral history interview with Macalester College students H...
Debra DeBruin is Interim Director, Associate Professor, and Director of Graduate Studies for the Center for Bioethics at the University of Minnesota, the co-leader of the Minnesota COVID Ethics Collaborative, and a member of the MDH's COVID-19 Vaccine Allocation Advisory Group. In this oral history interview, she discusses the role of bioethics ...
Creator:
DeBruin, Debra (interviewee)
Contributor:
Negri, Adam (interviewer); Sommer, Barbara W. (interviewer)
Created:
2021-05-25
Contributed By:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Jean-Nickolaus Tretter Collection in Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Studies.
Devi Peacock is a South Asian non-binary storyteller, performing artist and community organizer based in Oakland, California. At the time of this interview, they were the founding Artistic and Executive Director of Peacock Rebellion, an Oakland-based BIPOC, queer- and trans-led arts organization, as well as the co-organizer of the Liberated 23rd...
Dominique Morgan is a Black trans woman, prison abolition activist, and artist based in Omaha, Nebraska. At the time of this interview, Morgan was the Executive Director of Black and Pink, a nationwide prison abolitionist organization that provides direct services and support to currently and formerly incarcerated LGBTQIA+ people. Prior to her w...
Dr. Andrew D. Badley is Chair of the Mayo Clinic task force on SARS-CoV2 / COVID-19 research, where he oversees all research activities including clinical trials related to the virus and the disease. In this oral history interview, he discusses organizing the Mayo Clinic task force, research needs, priorities, and challenges relating to the pand...
Creator:
Badley, Dr. Andrew D (interviewee)
Contributor:
Negri, Adam (interviewer); Sommer, Barbara W. (interviewer)
Created:
2021-07-14
Contributed By:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Jean-Nickolaus Tretter Collection in Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Studies.
Dr. Marci Bowers is a white woman with a lived trans experience, OB/GYN, and plastic surgeon specializing in gender affirming surgeries. At the time of this interview, she was the president-elect of the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH,) and was in surgical practice in Burlingame, California, having previously practic...
Dr. Nathan T. Chomilo is Director of Vaccine Equity at the Minnesota Department of Health, as well as the Medicaid Medical Director for the State of Minnesota, and a General Pediatrician & IM Hospitalist at Park Nicollet. In this oral history interview, he discusses social equity, systemic racism, and the COVID-19 pandemic in Minnesota, critical...
Creator:
Chomilo, Dr. Nathan T (interviewee)
Contributor:
Negri, Adam (interviewer); Sommer, Barbara W. (interviewer)
Created:
2021-06-24
Contributed By:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Jean-Nickolaus Tretter Collection in Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Studies.
Dr. Rhys Preston is a white trans man, chiropractor, and trans health activist based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. At the time of this interview, he was practicing at his chiropractic clinic in the Uptown neighborhood of Minneapolis. In addition to his chiropratic work, Preston has taught on topics of anatomy, nutrition, trans health, and holistic ...
Creator:
Preston, Rhys (interviewee)
Contributor:
Billund-Phibbs, Myra (interviewer and project manager); Brenner-Adam, Katherine (transcriber)
Created:
2021-10-28
Contributed By:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Jean-Nickolaus Tretter Collection in Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Studies.
Emerson Steiner Hayward is a white, Ashkenazi Jewish, trans-masc, and nonbinary individual based in St. Paul, Minnesota. In this oral history interview with Macalester College student Sarah Garrett-Engele, Hayward discusses their upbringing and early experiences of gender, their process of transition and coming to understand themself as a trans ...
Creator:
Steiner Hayward, Emerson (interviewee)
Contributor:
Garrett-Engele, Sarah (interviewer); Billund-Phibbs, Myra (project manager)
Created:
2021-11-22
Contributed By:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Jean-Nickolaus Tretter Collection in Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Studies.
Hailey A Ockinga is an Alaskan Native / Tlingit trans woman, anti-incarceration activist, and community organizer based in Washington state. At the time of this interview, she was Executive Director of Beyond These Walls, a direct support and political advocacy organization run by and for incarcerated and formerly incarcerated transgender and ge...
Creator:
Ockinga, Hailey (interviewee)
Contributor:
Billund-Phibbs, Myra (interviewer and project manager); Chamness, Daria (transcriber)
Created:
2021-11-08
Contributed By:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Jean-Nickolaus Tretter Collection in Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Studies.
Harper Jean Tobin is a white trans woman, consultant, and policymaker based in Washington, D.C. At the time of this interview, she worked as an independent policy consultant and educator around issues of LGBTQ+ civil rights, employment rights, and nondiscrimination. Prior to that work, she led the policy team at the National Center for Transgend...
Jack Martin is a co-founder and director of Southside Harm Reduction Services. Nicholas Henderson is program director of Southside Harm Reduction Services. In this oral history interview, they discuss their initial thoughts on the pandemic in relation to Southside Harm Reduction Services and its programming, HIV/AIDS and COVID-19, the role of Mi...
Creator:
Henderson, Nicholas (interviewee); Martin, Jack (interviewee)
Contributor:
Negri, Adam (interviewer); Sommer, Barbara W. (interviewer)
Created:
2021-09-06
Contributed By:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Jean-Nickolaus Tretter Collection in Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Studies.
Jacqueline Ann Dionne is American Indian Health Director and a Tribal Liaison with the Minnesota Department of Health and a member of the MDH's COVID-19 Vaccine Allocation Advisory Group. In this oral history interview, she discusses her initial thoughts about the pandemic for Minnesota's Native American populations, HIV/AIDS and COVID-19, her r...
Creator:
Dionne, Jacqueline Ann (interviewee)
Contributor:
Negri, Adam (interviewer); Sommer, Barbara W. (interviewer)
Created:
2021-08-02
Contributed By:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Jean-Nickolaus Tretter Collection in Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Studies.
Jacsen Callanan is a white masculine trans health organizer and educator based in rural Vermont. At the time of this oral history interview, he was working in the NICU (newborn/neonatal intensive care unit) at the University of Vermont Medical Center while preparing for medical school, and as a swim coach for a youth team in northern Vermont. Pr...
Jenna Rapues, MPH is a Filipina trans woman, activist, and leader in public and transgender health in government, research, academic and public health institutions. She lives in San Francisco. At the time of this interview, she was the Program Director of Gender Health SF, a program of the San Francisco Department of Public Health that provides ...
Jonathan Hanft is the Ryan White Community Health Program Supervisor in the Hennepin County Public Health Department, leading the Twin Cities metro area's Ryan White Part A program. In this oral history interview, he discusses his initial thoughts about the pandemic as a public health professional, HIV/AIDS and COVID-19, the role of the Ryan Whi...
Creator:
Hanft, Jonathan (interviewee)
Contributor:
Negri, Adam (interviewer); Sommer, Barbara W. (interviewer)
Created:
2021-12-08
Contributed By:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Jean-Nickolaus Tretter Collection in Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Studies.
Kathleen Clark is a nurse, Executive Director of the Augsburg Health Commons, and Assistant Professor of Nursing at Augsburg University. In this oral history interview, she discusses nursing education during the COVID-19 pandemic, the challenges therein, the interplay and similiarities between HIV/AIDS, SARS, and COVID-19, healthcare through the...
Creator:
Clark, Kathleen (interviewee)
Contributor:
Negri, Adam (interviewer); Sommer, Barbara W. (interviewer)
Created:
2021-09-07
Contributed By:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Jean-Nickolaus Tretter Collection in Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Studies.
Katie Burgess is a white trans woman, community organizer, social worker, trans activist, and theatre artist based in Minneapolis. At the time of this oral history interview, she was a Co-Founder and Co-Director of Open Flame Theatre, an all-trans theatre ensemble based in Minneapolis and western Wisconsin, and additionally worked as a social wo...
Creator:
Burgess, Katie (interviewee)
Contributor:
Billund-Phibbs, Myra (interviewer and project manager); Brenner-Adam, Katherine (transcriber)
Created:
2021-11-16; 2021-11-30
Contributed By:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Jean-Nickolaus Tretter Collection in Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Studies.
Kelly V. Robinson is a Nurse Care Coordinator with Westat Research and founder of the Minnesota chapter of Black Nurses Rock, Inc. In this oral history interview, she discusses the pandemic's occurrence in the first months of founding Minnesota's Black Nurses Rock chapter, HIV/AIDS and COVID-19, the work of Black nurses in Minnesota during the p...
Creator:
Robinson, Kelly V (interviewee)
Contributor:
Negri, Adam (interviewer); Sommer, Barbara W. (interviewer)
Created:
2021-09-16
Contributed By:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Jean-Nickolaus Tretter Collection in Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Studies.
Kristen R. Ehresmann is an epidemiologist and director of the Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Prevention, and Control Division at the Minnesota Department of Health. In this oral history interview, she discusses her initial thoughts about the pandemic as a public health nurse and epidemiologist, HIV/AIDS and COVID-19, the role of MDH in the pan...
Creator:
Ehresmann, Kristen (interviewee)
Contributor:
Negri, Adam (interviewer); Sommer, Barbara W. (interviewer)
Created:
2021-06-23
Contributed By:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Jean-Nickolaus Tretter Collection in Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Studies.
Kristie Rathmanner is a Wright County Public Health Nurse in the Health Promotion Unit and a member of the MDH's COVID-19 Vaccine Allocation Advisory Group. In this oral history interview, she discusses her initial thoughts on the pandemic as a public health nurse, HIV/AIDS and COVID-19, the impact of the pandemic on public health, the role of t...
Creator:
Rathmanner, Kristie (interviewee)
Contributor:
Negri, Adam (interviewer); Sommer, Barbara W. (interviewer)
Created:
2021-09-08
Contributed By:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Jean-Nickolaus Tretter Collection in Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Studies.
Mary C. Turner is an ICU Nurse in the COVID unit of North Memorial Hospital in Robbinsdale, Minnesota, the President of the Minnesota Nurses Association, and the only RN appointed to President Biden's COVID-19 Health Equity Task Force. In this oral history interview, she discusses her initial thoughts on the pandemic as an ICU nurse, HIV/AIDS an...
Creator:
Turner, Mary C (interviewee)
Contributor:
Negri, Adam (interviewer); Sommer, Barbara W. (interviewer)
Created:
2021-08-27
Contributed By:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Jean-Nickolaus Tretter Collection in Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Studies.
Masen Davis is a white trans man, political organizer, and nonprofit executive based in Berlin. At the time of this interview, he was the Executive Director of Transgender Europe (TGEU,) a network of European trans advocacy and activist organizations. Prior to his work with TGEU, he was the Executive Director of the advocacy and lobbying group F...
Nico Amador is a Latinx trans man, community organizer, trainer, educator, and writer based in Vermont. At the time of this interview, he was the Director of Operations at People's Hub, an online movement school and training hub, and was also pursuing an MFA at Bennington College's Writing Seminars. Prior to his time in Vermont, Amador worked as...
Shannon TL Kearns is a white trans man, playwright, and ordained priest based in Minneapolis. At the time of this interview, he was the founder and artistic director of Uprising Theatre Company, and a co-founder of QueerTheology.com. His plays include Body+Blood, in a stand of dying trees, Line of Sight, Twisted Deaths, The Resistance of My Skin...
Shawn Demmons, MPH is a Black trans man, community organizer, public health and HIV/AIDS advocate, and trans health activist based in Oakland, California. At the time of this interview, he worked for the UCSF Center for AIDS Prevention Studies providing technical assistance to AIDS service organizations, and with the UCSF Center of Excellence fo...
Stephanie Luz Hernandez, LMFT is a queer Latinx trans-femme licensed mental health therapist, gender health specialist, and trans health activist based in the San Francisco Bay Area. At the time of this interview, she worked at a clinic in Oakland, California supporting trans and gender nonconforming adolescents and adults in accessing gender-af...
Vincenta Jasiewicz immigrated to the United States from Poland at the age of 16. After her first husband tragically died, she remarried and raised 5 children in a Polish enclave of Grand Rapids, Michigan. Her story is told by her granddaughter.
Creator:
Brandenburg, Ashley
Contributor:
Rolland, Isabella
Created:
2021-03-24
Contributed By:
University of Minnesota, Immigration History Research Center
Ann Forsman (also known as Ann Kathryn when performing music) shares stories of her life as a musician and a non-profit employee during the time of COVID-19 in Duluth, Minnesota. She describes how she first heard of the virus, and knew it was serious when the community started cancelling basketball games and major events. She shares the story of...
Creator:
Forsman, Ann Kathryn
Contributor:
Nicklawske, Mark
Created:
2020-09-14
Contributed By:
Archives and Special Collections, Kathryn A. Martin Library, University of Minnesota Duluth
Chuayi Yang was born in Gien, France in 1978 and lived in a small town, Aubigny-sur-Nere, with her family until 1990. That year, her parents moved their family to St. Paul, Minnesota in the United States. Chuayi studied in the St. Paul public school district and graduated from the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities with a bachelors degree in En...
Creator:
Yang, Chuayi
Created:
2020-03
Contributed By:
University of Minnesota, Immigration History Research Center
Aaron Kloss describes his work as a fine artist, husband and father during the COVID-19 pandemic. He shares stories about his “painting a day” project that he has been posting and selling on Facebook since April of 2020. He mostly paints acrylic landscapes of nature subjects, sometimes animals or birds that he sees near his home. He describes ho...
Creator:
Kloss, Aaron
Contributor:
Scholtz, Mike
Created:
2020-08-19
Contributed By:
Archives and Special Collections, Kathryn A. Martin Library, University of Minnesota Duluth
Abbie Amundsen shares her experiences during this time of COVID-19 as a college sophomore and while working a variety of summer jobs. She recounts being in Las Vegas, Nevada for a debate competition in the middle of March, just as awareness about COVID-19 was emerging. She remembers much confusion about what it was and what to do or not to do. S...
Creator:
Amundsen, Abbie
Contributor:
Moxley, Brandi
Created:
2020-08-21
Contributed By:
Archives and Special Collections, Kathryn A. Martin Library, University of Minnesota Duluth
Adam Swanson shares stories about his life as a full-time working artist during the COVID-19 pandemic. He describes how he was able to work steadily at his rural property on his paintings, as well as complete some mural installations in the area while following social distancing guidelines. He describes changes to family plans, such as not being...
Creator:
Swanson, Adam
Contributor:
Scholtz, Mike
Created:
2020-07-29
Contributed By:
Archives and Special Collections, Kathryn A. Martin Library, University of Minnesota Duluth
Agaiotupu Viena is a fa'afafine and trans woman from Amerika Samoa, educator, advocate, and community organizer based in the Seattle area. At the time of these interviews, she was Program Director for TRANSform Culture, an education and advocacy program of the Pride Foundation, a Seattle-area philanthropic organization prioritizing movements led...
Aldita Gallardo is a Latinx trans woman, community organizer, and former youth worker based in Oakland, California. At the time of this interview, she served as a Senior Program Associate for the Fund for Trans Generations at Borealis Philanthropy, and as a board member at El/La Para Translatinas, a community center, public health, and anti-viol...
Alexander Martin shares his experiences of living during the COVID-19 pandemic. He talks about being unemployed for six weeks and the effects on his personal life. He is open about the combined challenges of staying home, having fewer social interactions, and the feeling of having less purpose while being laid off from work. He shares how this h...
Creator:
Martin, Alexander
Contributor:
Moxley, Brandi
Created:
2020-08-23
Contributed By:
Archives and Special Collections, Kathryn A. Martin Library, University of Minnesota Duluth
Alex Griffin is a white trans woman, social worker, and community activist based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. In this oral history interview, Griffin discusses the impact of her upbringing and education on her politics, her first forays into, experiences within, and thoughts on trans politics, community organizing, and direct action, her experienc...
Amber Burns shares her experiences living during the COVID-19 pandemic. As Artistic Director for the Duluth Playhouse Family Theatre, she recalls the day they had to shut down the theater due to the statewide shutdown. She tells us the theater was in the middle of a run of the play Matilda, with a performance scheduled that evening, when they ha...
Creator:
Burns, Amber
Contributor:
Jacobson, Katie
Created:
2020-10-14
Contributed By:
Archives and Special Collections, Kathryn A. Martin Library, University of Minnesota Duluth
Amber Haglund-Pagel shares her experiences of life during the time of the COVID-19 pandemic. As the Safety and Training Officer for the city of Duluth, Amber recalls that very early in the pandemic Duluth secured enough personal protective equipment for the fire and police departments but she recalls just how little was known and how “unnerving”...
Creator:
Haglund-Pagel, Amber
Contributor:
Jacobson, Katie
Created:
2020-10-22
Contributed By:
Archives and Special Collections, Kathryn A. Martin Library, University of Minnesota Duluth
Amy Westbrook shares details and stories about her life working at home during the time of COVID-19 in Duluth, Minnesota. She describes how she first heard about the virus on the news, and began taking her own measures to clean her workspace at the Environmental Protection Agency Lab and offices in Duluth. She worked at a front desk and a common...
Creator:
Westbrook, Amy
Contributor:
Nicklawske, Mark
Created:
2020-08-24
Contributed By:
Archives and Special Collections, Kathryn A. Martin Library, University of Minnesota Duluth
Anders Hultstrom speaks about life and work during the time of COVID-19. He describes hearing about the novel coronavirus very early on. As a paramedic and EMS [Emergency Medical Services] worker, he says that when those in his line of work hear about a new pathogen they consider the worst-case scenarios. He also says that as a paramedic, he was...
Creator:
Hultstrom, Anders
Contributor:
Jacobson, Katie
Created:
2020-09-14
Contributed By:
Archives and Special Collections, Kathryn A. Martin Library, University of Minnesota Duluth
Ann Maxwell shares her experiences of work and life during the COVID-19 pandemic. She describes in detail how the tools of yoga have been essential to her mental and physical health during this time. She reveals how she felt energized early on, as a small business owner, to figure out how be of service to the community. Ann shares that she has p...
Creator:
Maxwell, Ann
Contributor:
Jacobson, Katie
Created:
2020-09-08
Contributed By:
Archives and Special Collections, Kathryn A. Martin Library, University of Minnesota Duluth
Ash Stephens is a Black transmasculine anti-criminalization activist and community organizer based in Chicago. At the time of this interview, he was Manager of Policy & Strategy at the Transgender Law Center, a PhD candidate in the Department of Criminology, Law and Justice at the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC,) and a board member at th...
Aurora Higgs is a Black queer visionary, activist, scholar, and speaker based in Richmond, Virginia. At the time of this interview, she had recently begun her PhD at Virginia Commonwealth University, studying the bidirectional relationship between queer and trans people of color and digital media. She has been a vocal member of the activist comm...
Azrin Awal shares stores of her life as a college student, student activities employee, and volunteer during the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in Duluth, Minnesota. She shares her perspective as a student at the University of Minnesota Duluth (UMD) majoring in public health and taking classes about Global Health during the early spring of 2...
Creator:
Awal, Azrin
Contributor:
Nicklawske, Mark
Created:
2020-08-14
Contributed By:
Archives and Special Collections, Kathryn A. Martin Library, University of Minnesota Duluth
Benjamin Hugus shares his experiences as an entrepreneur of a newer business, Ursa Minor Brewing, in the Lincoln Park Craft District of Duluth, Minnesota during the time of COVID-19. He says that in the early weeks of the pandemic business owners were faced with a choice of either quitting or adapting their business operations. He outlines many ...
Creator:
Hugus, Benjamin
Contributor:
Lundgren, Paul
Created:
2020-09-10
Contributed By:
Archives and Special Collections, Kathryn A. Martin Library, University of Minnesota Duluth
Blake Thomas shares his experiences while living in Northeastern Minnesota during this time of the COVID-19 pandemic. He describes being in Madison, Wisconsin around March 20th, performing and playing music, when he first began hearing about COVID-19. When his next performance, scheduled to be in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, was cancelled, he knew it w...
Creator:
Thomas, Blake
Contributor:
Jacobson, Katie
Created:
2020-07-21
Contributed By:
Archives and Special Collections, Kathryn A. Martin Library, University of Minnesota Duluth
Brandi Rose Moxley shares her experiences of work and life during the time of COVID-19. As a nurse working in infection control in a nursing home, she first began to hear about the coronavirus at work and took it seriously even when others did not. She is open about her decision to leave her job due to her own health concerns. She explains how t...
Creator:
Moxley, Brandi
Contributor:
Villiard, Moira
Created:
2020-08-02
Contributed By:
Archives and Special Collections, Kathryn A. Martin Library, University of Minnesota Duluth
Brenda Pfab shares stories of her life and perspective as a childcare provider and grandparent in Duluth during the time of COVID-19 and school closures. She describes how she first heard about the virus on the news, and began being very careful when shopping by wearing a mask and gloves and sanitizing everything when she got home. She shares he...
Creator:
Pfab, Brenda
Contributor:
Wright, Brooke
Created:
2020-09-08
Contributed By:
Archives and Special Collections, Kathryn A. Martin Library, University of Minnesota Duluth
Brian Barber shares stories of his experiences as an illustrator, animator and parent of young adults in Duluth during the initial days of the COVID-19 pandemic. He describes how he felt he should do something daily at the start of the quarantine, and settled on creating the “Draw-Along Fun Time” where he posted short videos of himself creating ...
Creator:
Barber, Brian
Contributor:
Scholtz, Mike
Created:
2020-07-31
Contributed By:
Archives and Special Collections, Kathryn A. Martin Library, University of Minnesota Duluth
Brittany V. Hecker shares her experiences of being furloughed for two months from her management position at Panera Bread. She describes how she first learned about COVID-19 and how it impacted her work. She talks about being discouraged for the first week she was furloughed, but soon realized what it was like to have time again. She reflects on...
Creator:
Hecker, Brittany V.
Contributor:
Lundgren, Paul
Created:
2020-08-05
Contributed By:
Archives and Special Collections, Kathryn A. Martin Library, University of Minnesota Duluth
In this interview, Brooke Wright shares her perspective as a small business owner of a resort north of Duluth during the COVID-19 pandemic. She discusses how she has increased the cleaning procedures at the resort and changed the check-in process to limit contact, but as a resort with separate cabins, it was already easy to be socially distanced...
Creator:
Wright, Brooke
Contributor:
O'Brien, Chistopher
Created:
2020-07-26
Contributed By:
Archives and Special Collections, Kathryn A. Martin Library, University of Minnesota Duluth
Carla Hamilton shares her experiences living under COVID-19. She shares that when the news first came out about the pandemic, she wasn’t too worried and she traveled to San Francisco. She reveals that she and her son had COVID-19 in March and she describes what that experience was like for them. She mentions that her boyfriend recently got teste...
Creator:
Hamilton, Carla
Contributor:
Villiard, Moira
Created:
2020-09-12
Contributed By:
Archives and Special Collections, Kathryn A. Martin Library, University of Minnesota Duluth
Both Carly Hiti and Kaila Formanek speak about their advocacy and therapy work with PAVSA [Program for Aid to Victims of Sexual Assault] in Duluth, Minnesota and of their personal lives during this time of COVID-19. Carly describes her work as an outreach advocate at PAVSA and Kaila says that she is one of the two therapists that work at PAVSA. ...
Creator:
Hiti, Carly; Formanek, Kaila
Contributor:
Moxley, Brandi
Created:
2020-08-31
Contributed By:
Archives and Special Collections, Kathryn A. Martin Library, University of Minnesota Duluth
Carolyn Olson recounts her experiences living during the time of the COVID-19 pandemic. She shares that she is staying safely in her home and has been relatively okay during this time. She expresses concern for her two adult twin children, aged 25, who are both essential workers in the Twin Cities. She talks about how guidelines at their workpla...
Creator:
Olson, Carolyn
Contributor:
Jacobson, Katie
Created:
2020-08-25
Contributed By:
Archives and Special Collections, Kathryn A. Martin Library, University of Minnesota Duluth
Carter Brown is a Black trans man, activist, and community organizer from Dallas, Texas. Brown is the founder of Black Transmen, Inc., and served as its Director at the time of this oral history interview. He also works with the Black Trans Advocacy Coalition (BTAC, is highly active in community organizing efforts among Black trans men, and has ...
Creator:
Brown, Carter (interviewee); Stylz, Diamond (interviewee)
Cathy Kiana Keiko Kapua is a Native Hawaiian māhūwahine and trans woman, community organizer, and public health advocate based on O'ahu. At the time of this interview, she was Deputy Director of the Trans Justice Funding Project, an organization that distributes grants and other funding to grassroots organizations led by and serving trans commun...
Chase Strangio is a white transmasculine attorney and activist. At the time of this interview, he was a staff attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and served as Deputy Director for Trans Justice of the organization's LGBT & HIV Project. Prior to joining the ACLU, Strangio worked at the Sylvia Rivera Law Project in New York Cit...
Christine Etima Colbenson reflects on her experiences with work, family, church, and life under the COVID-19 pandemic. She shares how her employment and experience as a social worker in Virginia, Minnesota has changed, including how she meets with clients, how she has lost the connection with coworkers, and even how she misses the transition tim...
Creator:
Colbenson, Christine Etima
Contributor:
Villiard, Moira
Created:
2020-08-02
Contributed By:
Archives and Special Collections, Kathryn A. Martin Library, University of Minnesota Duluth
Christopher J. Cuevas is an Indigenous-Latinx, non-binary community organizer, educator, and peace practitioner based in Orlando, Florida. Since co-founding the organization in 2016 following the Pulse nightclub shooting, Cuevas has served as the executive director of QLatinx, a racial, social, and gender justice movement working toward the adva...