Here We Are

Fatiya Kedir is an International Studies major from Minnneapolis. This year, Fatiya did an oral storytelling project on mothers and daughters. For the final part of her project, she sat down to interview her mom.

Zoe Allen is a junior Sociology and American Studies major from South Minneapolis and the White Earth Reservation. Like for so many people, 2020 was a year of grief and loss for Zoe. She found healing at George Floyd Square.

Ndunzi Kunsunga is a junior Environmental Studies major from St. Louis Park, Minnesota. Ndunzi’s family never had a car. Instead, he grew up learning to get around by himself. One winter, Ndunzi took a trip to Milwaukee for the first time.

Tyler Sanchez is a first year from the north suburbs of Chicago. Tyler’s favorite movie is Call Me By Your Name, but it’s a complicated relationship.

Kalala Kiwanuka-Woernle is a junior Theater major from Boston. Kalala always knew she wanted to go into theater. But at the end of high school, she went to a production of Moulin Rouge that changed everything.

Amanda Maria Ortiz is a senior Political Science and International Studies major from the west side of Chicago. When she was 11, Mandy had to start over from nothing. What it takes, she learned, is figuring out who you were, who you are, and what you want for the future.

Ayana Smith-Kooiman is a junior Political Science major from Janesville, Wisconsin. Standing before a crowd of hundreds preparing to give their high school’s commencement speech, most people would be paralyzed. But for Ayana, it was one of the first moments where she felt like she could really be herself.

Katherine Irving is a junior Creative Writing major from Oakland, California. In 2019, Katherine went on a geology expedition to Montana. On the second to last night of the trip, their camp was hit by a massive thunderstorm.

Jennings Mergenthal is a History and Biology major from Chicago. In freshman year, Jennings took a class called Influential Indians. Halfway through the semester, they realized that this was the first time they had a teacher that looked like them.

Brook Geleta is a junior Neuroscience major from Seattle, Washington. In 2018, Brook and his family went back to Ethiopia for the first time in ten years.

Swopnil Shrestha is a senior educational studies and political science major from Farmington, Minnesota. When she was little, Swopnil and her dad grew apart. Last year, a college essay brought them back together.

Jazmin Barcenas is a junior Linguistics major from just outside Salt Lake City, Utah. Jazmin was always really proud of her Spanish-speaking church. She loved choir, the youth groups and being Catholic in general. There was only one problem: She couldn’t speak Spanish.

Dat Nguyen is a junior Environmental Studies major from Wichita, Kansas. In the summer of 2011, Dat saw his first movie in theaters. It was the first time he felt truly happy.

Shania Russell is a senior Media and Cultural Studies major from the Bronx in New York City. As an older sibling, Shania spent a lot of time babysitting her little sister. But she didn’t realize how important that job was until one summer in Jamaica.

Juan Galicia-Diaz is a junior Political Science major from Little Rock, Arkansas. Growing up, Juan never saw his name as anything special. A conversation with his high school librarian changed his mind.

Family. Identity. Loss. Joy. These are the little stories that make us who we are. Voices of color at a predominantly white institution. New episodes every weekday, starting March 15th. Music by Blue Dot Sessions. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram at @herewearepod.