Selena Andraca

New Brunswick resident Selena Andraca has had facial paralysis from a very young age and came to the United States as a child to seek treatment. She is an optimistic person, who has overcome the obstacles that have been presented to her in her life. Selena is generous and seeks to help others, and talks about the love she has for her family. 

Read More

Healthcare Worker in Texas

Healthcare worker in Texas shares her life story and upbringing, her relationship with her family, and the memories of her childhood, including how she met her husband. Together they have two children, one who was born with a hereditary, long-term condition. She speaks of her experiences with birth control, abortion, miscarriages, raising a family during COVID, health issues, dreams and lessons learned, as well as how her life experiences have informed her political views.

Read More

Project Manager in Georgia

This project manager in Georgia experienced rocky years during her teens and mid-20s when she had substance use disorders. She has been sober for five years. She describes her medical abortion experience, including the pain, anxiety, and the ultimate relief she felt after the process.

Read More

Jennifer Cortes

Jennifer Cortes is a Mexican business owner and resident of New Brunswick. She discusses how community work has helped her, her family, and her business feel supported and has made her and her business feel like a valued part of the community. Jennifer tells her story and that of her family.

Read More

Reproductive Justice Advocate in Maine

This Maine-based advocate wanted to get involved in reproductive justice work when she saw the increase in laws that created barriers to reproductive health care. She is on the board of the New River Abortion Access Fund in Virginia and believes that people should be able to make the best decisions for themselves and their families. 

Read More

Project Manager in New Orleans

Project Manager in New Orleans discusses the economic and social reasons for her not wanting to have children at this time, the poor quality of healthcare available in Louisiana, as well as her frustration with the medical system for not taking more of a stance in defense of reproductive rights.

Read More

Computer Scientist from Texas

This Texas-native computer scientist moved around a lot as a child. She talks about her family and her experiences in higher education, as well as why she chose to reach out to Aid Access. Her hope is that people become more compassionate towards one another’s experiences.

Read More

Joe Nastus

Joe Nastus loves his hometown of New Brunswick and details many fond memories of growing up in the area. Joe worked full-time in the plumbing business, owning a company that he sold in 2015. He discusses the many reinventions of New Brunswick that he has witnessed over the years. He is involved with Rotary fundraising, likes to take cross-country motorcycle trips, and is earning his private pilot’s license.

Read More

Jasmine Lim

The middle child of a large immigrant family, Jasmine Lim spent her childhood in New York City and Long Island. Jasmine just celebrated the 100th anniversary of her late father, a WWII veteran, arriving in the US as a Chinese immigrant. She has lived in Parsippany for 36 years, has held a variety of city management positions throughout New Jersey, is currently retired, and volunteers on the board for Habitat for Humanity.

Read More

Artist in California

This artist living in California reached out to Aid Access in 2022 to make sure that her children had access to medical abortions if they ever needed them. She talks about her appreciation for her mother, her own abortion experience, and how grateful she is that she had access to one when she needed it.

Read More

Jimmie Staton

Jimmie Staton is an active member of the New Brunswick community. Mr. Staton’s narration offers reflections on white flight, racism, inner city schools, and being Black in America in the 21st century.

Read More

James Wiggins

James Wiggins is a native of New Brunswick where the majority of his memories take place. James talks about growing up on Loretta Street, his experiences in school, and the importance of his neighborhood in shaping that type of person that he wanted to be. He is a life-long musician who, after helping set up Crossroads Theatre Company, a Black theater company in New Brunswick, became an actor himself.  Now retired from truck driving, James narrates his deep love for his family, especially for his wife and his late son.

Read More

Manu Subbaiah

Manu Sabbaiah details his time in Kerala, Mumbai, and Singapore and recalls memories of his family and friends. He discusses how his resourcefulness and risk taking has helped him advance at work.

Read More

Jenny Carvajal

Jenny Carvajal speaks quickly and with great joy as she discusses the details of her life. Jenny grew up in the Philippines loving American culture and remembers her childhood fondly. She has had an extensive career across the globe and is a proud mother of three. She moved with her family to the US in 2020, and discusses both the positive aspects and setbacks of being an immigrant in the United States.

Read More

Grisell "Gigi" Peña

Gigi Peña currently resides at Amandla Crossing. She lost both of her parents within six months of each other due to COVID-19. Gigi talks about growing up in Cuba under Fidel Castro, major life changes, and her love for her family. She also discusses several of her and her family’s experiences after they migrated to the US.

Read More

Anonymous

Anonymous charts her life beginning with growing up in India, studying in Pune, where she received her MBA, the story of her marriage, and what has happened since moving to the US. She worked at a prominent newspaper in advertising and marketing, worked in HR, and has also experienced being unhoused.

Read More

David Peña

Plainfield native David Peña details growing up as a queer child, and the love he has for his mother’s dedication to her children. David struggled in school after being placed in bilingual classes that stunted his general education. He is a talented artist and fashion designer who takes care of his mother, but he and his husband have recently experienced houselessness. David depended on Coming Home of Middlesex to help him with this situation.

Read More

Deborah Morgan

Deborah Morgan has been a resident of Highland Park for over thirty-seven years and currently serves as the secretary for the New Brunswick Area branch of the NAACP. She narrates growing up in Harlem during a time of great social change, and talks about the many nonprofit and social advocacy groups of which she has been involved. She discusses the changes that she sees, both good and bad, and emphasizes the need for young people to get involved in their communities.

Read More