Neil Thomas
This interview is with Reverend Dr. Neil Thomas. Reverend Dr. Neil Thomas is a well known reverend who has served as a pastor in the United Kingdom, Los Angeles, CA and Dallas, TX. Reverend Thomas is currently the pastor for the Cathedral of Hope in Dallas, a member congregation of the United Church of Christ that strives to promote diversity and inclusivity. In this interview, Revered Thomas discusses his leadership and activism in the church and larger community. He shares navigating preaching during the pandemic, how the goals of faith have changed, and the new structure of church via Zoom. We learn through his insights, the connection and engagement found through faith and how the pandemic can reteach one’s relationship with God.
Sehar Ezez
This interview is with Sehar Ezez, a Pakistani-American with experience organizing with marginalized communities. Sehar talks about growing up Muslim in Alabama and the struggles her family and extended Muslim community faced in the aftermath of 9/11. She describes experiencing Islamophobic prejudice and violence when she wore hijab in college. She also discusses her involvement, tokenization, and various roles she has filled as an activist and ally.
Victoria Ferrell-Ortiz
This interview is with Victoria Ferrell-Ortiz, an education and urban planning organizer in Dallas. Victoria describes the disconnect she saw at a young age between the resources available to the Mexican-American side of her family and to the White side. She talks about other organizers she has worked with and been inspired by in Dallas, including her co-founders of the Rayo Planning nonprofit. Victoria shares her experiences of religion throughout her life, and how her relationship to Christianity has changed over the years. She also details her work, such as with educational and urban planning nonprofits and with oral history.
Jessica Pires-Jancose
This interview is with Jessica Pires-Jancose, an abortion rights organizer working for Avow Texas in Dallas, TX. Jessica talks about moving around a lot in their childhood and their impressions of the different places they have lived. She describes relationships with her family and her heritage, including exploring gender with her sibling and getting in touch with her Goan roots. Jessica reflects on the lessons they have learned from working in the reproductive healthcare field, such as the importance of intersectional knowledge and care. She also shares the challenges of the field, both combating anti-abortion legislation and getting democratic lawmakers to be bold in their support of abortion access.
Stephanie Drenka
This interview is with Stephanie Drenka is a writer and non-profit founder living in Dallas, TX. Stephanie talks about her life as a transracial adoptee and her relationship with Korea and the Korean culture of her biological family. She shares her experiences of racism and her involvement in Asian and Korean activism and history spaces. Stephanie also describes the goals of her non-profit organization the Dallas Asian American Historical Society, and what her work looks like and draws inspiration from.
Content Warning: The following interview contains sensitive material. Please note that the interview includes discussion of anti-Asian racial slurs. These subjects will be discussed at [17:12-18:56] (in the transcript p. 6).
Chanda Parbhoo
This interview is with Chanda Parbhoo, an Indian-American organizer and immigrant from South Africa who lives in Dallas, TX. Chanda compares her early experiences of ethnic integration in Canada with her experiences of apartheid in South Africa. She also shares the challenges and prejudice her family experienced in Canada and the States. She describes the influence of her father’s business ventures and values on her childhood and career. Chanda talks about her activism for representation in her school district and for AAPI voting empowerment.
Jin-Ya Huang
This interview is with Jin-Ya Huang, an artist and immigrant from Taiwan living in Dallas, TX. Jin-Ya describes her childhood in Taiwan and memories of the stark differences between her mother’s and father’s families. She shares about coming to the States, including the challenges of her parents’ career changes and working in family restaurants. Jin-Ya talks about influences on her life both good and bad, from keeping her cultural traditions to experiencing intergenerational trauma.
Ramon Mejia
This interview is with Ramon Mejia, a veteran of the Marine Corps and anti-war organizer in Waxahachie, TX. Ramon describes his childhood in Oak Cliff, Dallas, leading up to his decision to join the Marines. He shares about his experience in the military, his deployment in Kuwait and Iraq, and being discharged for his health. He talks about his curiosity about Islam after deployment and his decision to convert. Ramon goes on to describe his work as an educator and organizer. He talks about how his intersecting identities influence the work he does, particularly in the post-9/11 United States.
Hadi Jawad
This interview is with Hadi Jawad, an activist in Dallas, TX. Hadi shares memories of growing up in Pakistan and coming to the US for college. He talks about his business and how he began activism work against US military involvement in Iraq. Hadi describes the impacts of post-9/11 Islamophobia on his community and his own interactions with the FBI.