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 MoreJenny 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 MoreAnonymous
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 MoreYolanda Garcia
Yolanda Garcia is an experienced seamstress and has been in New Brunswick since 1996. Her and her husband own Minor Fine Jewelry and our committed to the community around French Street.
Read MoreEmma Sanchez
Emma Sanchez grew up in a small town in El Salvador and her life was directly impacted by war and conflict, including the murder of her father in 1989. She narrates several difficult periods of her life: the murder of her father when she was 8, the kidnapping and disappearance of her brother in 2010, the long-term illness of her mother, and the COVID-19 pandemic, which affected her entire family.
Read MoreAruna Rao
Founder of Desi Rainbow Parents & Allies, Aruna Rao discusses growing up in India, and moving to the US in the late 1980s. She talks about raising her transgender child, and how she is now able to track the process of her child’s ability to express their identity. She emphasizes how difficult it was for her to notice some of these important expressions in real-time, as she was dealing with family traumas throughout her child’s adolescence. She is a proud LGBTQ+ rights activist, and serves on the national board of PFLAG (Parents, Families, and Friends of Lesbians and Gays).
Read MoreKatura Williams
Katura Williams has experienced an abusive home life several times in her life. She has had a substance abuse disorder and served a five year prison sentence for assault. She is now certified in culinary arts, but is stuck in New Brunswick because of car issues. She is utilizing the resources at Elijah’s Promise until her car can be fixed so that she can go home.
Read MoreTia Ryans
Tia Ryans began running away from home to escape physical and sexual abuse, which ultimately led to her ending up in juvenile detention centers and juvenile prison. She was incarcerated for ten years, and describes her experiences while she was incarcerated and the success she has had since she was released. She has excelled in her higher education and is an advocate for criminal justice reform and environmental justice.
Read MoreMark Hopkins
Mark Hopkins experiences with the justice system started when he was a child. He discusses growing up in Camden, as well as the experience of being on parole. He is a dedicated organizer, who is actively involved in the NJ STEP program.
Read MoreRida Hasan
Rida Hasan immigrated to New Jersey when she was a child. She recently moved to Houston, Texas where she is able to support her family with more economic security.
Read MoreChristopher Etienne
Christopher Etienne was incarcerated as a young man. He later earned two undergraduate degrees from Rutgers and his master’s from Columbia.
Read MoreMohammad Chowdhury
Prospect Park resident Mohammad Chowdhury graduated from Rutgers and has significant student loan debt. He works as a business analyst and was previously unemployed for a year.
Read MoreJP
JP details his life as a trans man and how he has been perceived at home, at school, and at the various jobs that he has held. JP also discusses the joy he feels after his recent top surgery.
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