Each year, students of the Belmont Methodist ESL program in Nashville write stories for their annual essay competition. In partnership with Nashville Public Television’s Storytellers project, these students are given the option of turning their stories into movies. In this video, Maria’s view of American takes shape as she and her family find their place together in a new country.
Each year, students of the Belmont Methodist ESL program in Nashville write stories for their annual essay competition. In partnership with Nashville Public Television’s Storytellers project, these students are given the option of turning their stories into movies. In this video, Mehtap tells the story of a “little lady” who demonstrates extraordinary resilience. By taking chances and embracing change, she and her family have managed to thrive in the U.S. Today, Mehtap continues reaching for her goals. She was most recently accepted into Vanderbilt University Medical Center’s Neurodiagnostic Technology (EEG) program. Congratulations Mehtap!
Each year, students of the Belmont Methodist ESL program in Nashville write stories for their annual essay competition. In partnership with Nashville Public Television’s Storytellers project, these students are given the option of turning their stories into movies. In this video, Pedro brings the symbolism of the American flag to life as he describes his transition from Venezuela to the U.S.
Each year, students of the Belmont Methodist ESL program in Nashville write stories for their annual essay competition. In partnership with Nashville Public Television’s Storytellers project, these students are given the option of turning their stories into movies. In this video, Pilar chronicles her experiences as a new American. Despite some initially difficult cultural adjustments, Pilar maintains an excellent sense of humor and shows us that hindsight can be hilarious.
For Adonis, growing up without a mother created a void that he would never outgrow. When he could take it no longer, he set out on a dangerous journey to find the one person he couldn’t live without.
Daniel is no stranger to social injustice. He’s seen it on a national scale and experienced it on the playground. But Daniel is not about to let a few bullies get him down.
Dina’s parents brought her to the U.S. from Egypt seeking a better education. Although Dina and her parents still faced challenges finding the right school, Dina is now well on her way to graduating and pursuing her dreams.
Hafitwa is proud of her Ethiopian heritage and does a marvelous job of sharing just some of what makes her home country so unique.
Jennifer’s story stands out from many of her classmates. She was born in the U.S. and struggled to learn Spanish, not English. When coming from a home of all Spanish speakers, though, that can be a challenge.
Having moved around a lot, Jennifer knows the awkward feeling of always being the new girl. So she’s definitely qualified to point out what a difference a best friend can make.
For Jessica, discovering her artistic ability meant opening up an entire world of new characters and original stories.
Despite being a good student, Mena’s family realized that he wouldn’t receive the opportunities he deserved in Egypt, so they brought him to the U.S. Today, he’s hoping to graduate from high school and make the most of his academic ability.
Peter was enjoying life in Egypt and preparing for his senior year of high school when life would take a dramatic turn. Fast forward several months, and he’s now going to a different school in a different country where they speak a different language.
Moving from Mexico to the United States was tough for Tania, especially when it came to speaking English. Like so many others in her place, though, she quickly realized that being able to communicate was the key to new friendships and success in school.
For Jesus, moving from Honduras to the United States meant saying goodbye to his family and an entire way of life. It would also mean new experiences and educational opportunities.
Antioch High School student, Zeynab, missed Somalia when she came to the U.S. and wanted to return to Africa. Fortunately, a good friend came along at just the right time and helped her through the transition.
Antioch High School student, Sara, lets us in on her ongoing journey as a young Egyptian American.
Antioch High School student, Vivaldi, shares of the trials she and her family went through in their transition to life in the U.S.
Antioch High School student, Eva, opens up about her fears of immigrating to the U.S. and not succeeding in school.
Antioch High School student, Arlett, describes the pains of being pulled between two cultures and having to say goodbye to those you love.
Antioch High School student, Mousa, talks about his family’s desire to come to the U.S. so he could achieve a better education.
Nashville Public Television recently did a Storytellers video workshop at the Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition’s 11th Annual Membership Convention. Here’s a short video produced in conjunction with TIRRC that features some of the day’s events and highlights TIRRC’s ongoing commitment to developing leaders within the immigrant community.
Hussein and Ahmed bring us their second video, chronicling Nashville’s Ramadan festivities. In this video, they take us to the Eid al-Fitr, an event that punctuates the end of a month-long fast.
You may be familiar with Ramadan, the month-long fast observed by Muslims, worldwide, but have you ever heard of an Iftar? If not, you’re missing out on one of the most exciting and joyful parts of the whole Ramadan experience. But don’t take my word for it. Join Hussein as he interviews a diverse group of Nashvillians and shares their Iftar reflections.
Storytellers is celebrating three years of inspiring stories from Nashville’s very own immigrant and refugee community. Today we have nearly 150 videos available on YouTube and the Storytellers blog. Here’s a look at just some of what we accomplished in 2013/2014, along with some nice first-hand accounts of the experience. Thanks for watching!
A few kind words can go a long way. Take it from Hiromi. Growing up in Japan, praise for one’s accomplishments or individuality was not the cultural norm. Needless to say, the frequent complements of others felt a bit foreign when she came to the U.S. Sometimes, though, a fresh perspective is all we need to see ourselves and others in a new light.
Akiko knew that coming to the United States from Japan would be a big change, but she didn’t know just how big. Not only were her expectations turned upside down, but her sense of scale was completely altered. This is one hilarious story about a larger than life transition to everyday life in the U.S.
Here’s a story for all the romantics out there. It’s a tale of families, fate and the winding journey of two people who seemed destined to be together.
Margarita knows what it means to work hard and walk away empty handed. In her home country of Guatemala, opportunities for personal, financial growth were limited. But here in the USA, she and her husband are painting a different picture for themselves.