Amro Eltayeb
This interview is with Amro Eltayeb, an engineer in San Antonio, Texas. Amro talks about childhood memories like his father’s business and the ways his family supported his education. He tells the story of his education in mechanical and software engineering and his early work experiences developing off-road wheelchairs. He also describes his current project of designing a note-taking app. Amro also shares about the moral decisions he has had to make in his career and how Islam has influenced his sense of ethics.
Grace Carlin
This interview is with Grace Carlin, a San Antonio-based environmentalist. Grace discusses finding her passion for nature through exposure to national parks and educational opportunities. She talks about her work coordinating the Urban Land & Water program with the Green Spaces Alliance of South Texas, describing the impacts and challenges of community gardens. Grace also shares her interest in youth engagement, particularly the value of young people’s contributions and their right to a future with a stable global climate.
Mara Nathan
This interview is with Rabbi Mara Nathan, leader of the Reform synagogue Temple Beth-El in San Antonio. Mara tells the stories of her congregation’s history and of the arrival and growth of Jewish communities in Texas. She talks about her experience managing community engagement during the pandemic and moving into a hybrid worship model as it becomes safe to do so. She also describes her experience working from home and interacting with her family in new ways, both heartening and frustrating.
Moureen Kaki
This interview is with Moureen Kaki, an Palestine solidarity activist with Jewish Voice for Peace in San Antonio, TX. Moureen describes her experiences of seeing the ills of settler-colonialism in Palestine first-hand, and how that direct exposure as a Palestinian-American has catalyzed her work. She talks about the politicization of her identity as a Palestinian, and of Muslim identities as well, and how she has felt uncomfortable sharing her identity and culture with others at different points in her life. Moureen also discusses misconceptions she would like to clear up about Palestinian solidarity and the nature of the conflict.
Nasriya Witt
This interview is with Nasriya Witt, an Indian immigrant and refugee youth mentor. Nasriya talks about her experiences of living in India, Oman, and Saudia Arabia as a child before moving to the United States. She discusses her acclimation to the US as well as her schooling and fascination with research psychology. Nasriya also describes her current job as a mentor for refugee youth in San Antonio.
Natividad Quinto
This interview is with Natividad Quinto, a retired nurse and Filipina immigrant living in San Antonio, TX. Natividad talks about her happy memories of the Philippines and her decision to move to the US as an adult. She describes her career in nursing at various hospitals across the country. Natividad also shares about her involvement with the Filipino and Catholic communities in San Antonio.
Negena Haidary
This interview is with Negena Haidary, an Afghan-American Shia Muslim woman. Negena speaks about her relationships and experiences with her family, particularly as a first-generation American. She speaks about the impacts of 9/11 on her family, the difficulty of finding community as a member of a minority group, and the ongoing act of balancing immigrant parents’ expectations with the necessity of participating in American culture. Negena also discusses the challenges of navigating mental health and finding one’s own life path, sharing the wisdom she has gathered through her own journey of healing and growth.
Sarah Aburumuh
This interview is with Sarah Aburumuh, a high school teacher in San Antonio, TX. Sarah describes growing up in her large Muslim family, memories of 9/11, and her decision to put on the hijab in middle school. She talks about her experiences as a teacher, especially with regards to race, religion, and teaching diversity. Sarah shares about being seen as a representative of Islam because of her hijab as well as her approaches to prejudice. She also talks about her inspirations and influences.
Sarah Elsunni
This interview is with Sarah Elsunni, a Sudanese-American digital marketer living in San Antonio. Sarah was born and raised in Louisiana, where she attended Islamic School, fleeing to Texas after Hurricane Katrina in 2005. She speaks to the importance of diversity and inclusivity in the public school system as one of the few Black identifying and the only hijabi students. In college, Sarah had the opportunity to experience several study abroad trips that further solidified her appreciation for multicultural understanding and led to a passion for digital marketing in grassroots organizations. Sarah currently works for Malikah, a gender justice organization.
Sarah Pearose
This interview is with Sarah Pearose, an Afghan-American medical student living in San Antonio, where she grew up. Sarah comes from a family of medical professionals and attends University of Incarnate Word School of Osteopathic Medicine in pursuit of her Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree. She speaks about growing up as the daughter of immigrants, her interest in medicine, and the lessons she values from Shia Islam. Sarah also shares her experience of deciding to wear the hijab and how that decision impacted her relationships with God, other people, and her own sense of self.