Aarzu Punjani
This interview is with Aarzu Punjani, a business manager and first-generation Indian-American living in San Antonio, TX. Aarzu talks about her early experiences with and without Indian and Ismaili communities. She describes growing up as the daughter of immigrants and how their constant hard work to provide in the US influenced her upbringing. She talks about her involvement with her family’s business, her college experience, and work-life balance. Aarzu also shares about her experiences with racism and xenophobia in the US, as well as her relationship to her Indian heritage and family.
Saamiya Seraj
This interview is with Saamiya Seraj, a Bangladeshi-American immigrant and entrepreneur in Austin, TX. Saamiya shares memories of Bangladesh and her family, then talks about her decision to come to the US for college and graduate school. She talks about her education and work as an engineer, both in the US and in Bangladesh. Saamiya describes the founding of A Better Force, a professional development company that focuses on empowering women and people of color. Saamiya also shares her experiences with cancer, including medical sexism and racism.
Radames "Rod" Martinez
This interview is with Rod Martinez, a semi-retired radiologist and Cuban immigrant living in Longview, TX. Rod shares his memories of growing up in Cuba and escaping with his family after Castro came to power. He describes immigrating to the US and how his family lived during their first years in the States. Rod talks about the influences and education that led him to a career in medicine. He also shares about how he met his wife, how she influenced his faith, and his current relationship with Christianity.
Muna (Exhibit page)
Quote from Muna Hussaini for September 11, 20+ Years Later overview page
Ramon (Exhibit page)
Quote from Ramon Mejia for September 11, 20+ Years Later overview page
Katy Murdza
This interview is with Katy Murdza, the Texas regional organizer for the Immigrant Legal Resource Center, in Houston, TX. Katy describes her start in immigration activism during college, her work at a detention center through the Dilley Pro Bono Project, and her work with SA Stand Coalition and Houston Leads. She compares life in the places she has lived and also recalls her travels, including being in the Peace Corps in Panama. Katy describes the connections between the causes she organizes for and believes in, such as immigration reform, abolition, and transit.
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.
Samira Abed
This interview is with Samira Abed, a Palestinian-American businesswoman living in Florida. Samira describes her youth in Brazil, her time in Palestine, and her immigration to the US after her marriage. She talks about raising her family in Texas and becoming a businesswoman. Samira shares about a car accident that left one of her sons permanently disabled and talks about how this affected her family. She also discusses her family’s experiences of Islamophobia after 9/11 and her relationship with Islam today.
Van Wagner
This interview is with Van Wagner, IDCL’s Community Archive Director, in Austin, TX. Van talks about growing up in a military family, moving around, and living in conservative Christian culture in Georgia. They describe their experiences in high school and college, including music, religious studies, and involvement in a student organization. Van discusses their relationship to Texas, especially as a queer person with a Jewish partner. They also describe their current life and musical involvement.
Tiffany Puett
This interview is with Tiffany Puett, the founder and director of the Institute for Diversity and Civic Life, in Austin, TX. Tiffany describes her childhood in small town America and the influence of evangelical Christianity on the culture. They talk about exploring different religious communities during college, then later about how they exposed their children to religion. She shares about her educational journey up through a PhD in religious studies as well as her work experience in interfaith and religion education. They discuss the founding of IDCL, its challenges and goals, and their hopes for both the organization and Texas.