Cosmetologist in Indiana

This cosmetologist lives in Indiana and has two children. Her one child requires intense medical treatment and care. She was on birth control when she became pregnant again and so decided to utilize Aid Access to access abortion pills. Her decision felt like her only feasible option. She believes that this type of healthcare should be something that can be accessed legally and locally.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Emma 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.

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Aruna 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).

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Katura 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.

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Tia 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.

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Mark 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.

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JP

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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