Immigration MIC Hendel Leiva

*This episode of Immigration MIC  was originally recorded in August. 
 
Welcome Joel Salguero to the Immigration MIC Podcast!
 
Joel and I met through the Stony Brook Audio Fellows program when I presented to his undergraduate cohort back in March, and we reconnected through this interview to talk about where he's at going back to in-person/virtual learning, his personal immigration story, his take on the fight for DACA, and how his show takes a nuanced look at issues -- while remaining objective.
 
The Objective Truth
The Objective Truth Podcast aims at educating, investigating, and sharing stories, facts, and experiences from a variety of topics ranging from personal wellness all the way to political science.
 
In the open of the episode I reflect on where I'm at in this moment with the elections coming up, and with more tragedy that has happened this year -- it's not the full story, but hope you take a listen as I continue to be in solidarity with everyone, with the overwhelming amount of suffering this year. 
 
It's almost five years since Immigration MIC started! 
 
Enjoy this latest episode.  

Paola Mendoza, Film Director, Activist, and a Co-Founder of the Women’s March, joins us on @immigrationmicpodcast to talk about her upcoming book “Sanctuary”!
 
In this interview, Paola and I discuss her personal commitment to the immigration reform work, the intersections between her work in the film industry and serving as the artistic director for the Women’s March, the inspiration for “Sanctuary” and some of the books themes and elements that mirrors the difficult reality we’re grappling with. We also go into her experience being front and center election night at the Javits Center, the idea of artists working to reopen/ heal “the heart of America”, and her role as we move towards this year’s presidential elections.
 
About Sanctuary (available for pre-order, out September 1): It's 2032, and in this near-future America, all citizens are chipped and everyone is tracked—from buses to grocery stores. It's almost impossible to survive as an undocumented immigrant, but that's exactly what sixteen-year-old Vali is trying to do. She and her family have carved out a stable, happy life in small-town Vermont, until Vali's mother's counterfeit chip starts malfunctioning and the Deportation Forces raid their town, forcing them to flee. On the run, Vali and her family are desperately trying to make it to her tía Luna's in California, a sanctuary state that is currently being walled off from the rest of the country. When Vali's mom is captured, Vali must carry on with her younger brother across this brutal country to get to safety before it's too late.
 
Pre-Order Sanctuary: 
https://www.greenlightbookstore.com/book/9781984815712
 
Paola Mendoza Twitter
https://twitter.com/paolamendoza
 
Paola Mendoza Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/paolamendoza
 
"Artists We Need You" Talk @ The New School 
https://bit.ly/3awJJwd
 
Tink Media 
https://tinkmedia.co/

Hear reactions from former Immigration MIC guests Eliana Fernandez, Alejandro Flores, and Damaris!

In this episode, I read my new article which brings together my experience with Immigration MIC, my friend's passing due to COVID-19 due to the federal government's response, and the Black lives being lost as part of a systemic pattern.

Stay safe everyone.

In light of a friend recently passing from complications from COVID-19, this bonus episode will instead focus on spotlighting two women of color podcasters I recently collaborated with. I’ll be back in a couple of weeks with a full length episode having taken the time to process this moment, but in the meantime, please support the important work both of these podcasters are doing by taking a listen to the additional episodes below.
 
046: Careerfluencer Community Update with Cynthia Heisch
 
A message from Cynthia Heisch, Founder of Careerfluencer – community updates, staying strong in times of crisis, and keeping your career afloat. We hope that you are staying safe and hanging in there! Careerfluencer is committed to helping you keep your career on track during these tough times as a positive, professional resource and source of support.
 
It Girl Thoughts: Did Someone Say Food?
 
It's all about food this week! I talk about how Latin food has influenced my life, and my favorite dishes! Song of the week is "Kompany" by Monte Booker, Smino, and Phoelix. Check it out!
 
It Girl Thoughts: My Story #SAAPM
 
Today's podcast is long and heavy. I open up about me being molested at age 15, and the importance of fighting for more public policies for Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention. I really hope you all listen to this podcast, and share this. My only hope is to create a space for people like myself to feel safe and ready to combat this and seek help. No song of the week this week, I wish you all love and happiness during this difficult time.
 

Welcome David Silva Ossa, co-founder of Techqueria (the nonprofit that serves the largest community of Latinx in Tech) to the Immigration MIC Podcast!

[Update: Techqueria’s fundraising campaign to support undocumented families has closed at the 50K mark, but you can still donate to support the organization, or support the other campaigns on the original donation page]

In this episode, David talks to me about: how he’s been holding up in the midst of the COVID-19 crisis, his personal story growing up in Santiago De Cali, Colombia at a time when Cali was one of the most dangerous cities to live in, while trying to discover his own place in society (4:31), his background in activism inspired by his Jewish faith and his status as an undocumented immigrant (16:20), his journey into the tech world originating with a computer in his mother’s office, and learning how to modify/ program, and culminated with him joining a startup in 2012 in Colombia and moving to Silicon Valley the following year (19:00), the beginnings of Techqueria and the development of the organization as a network, which has chapters in eight cities (23:50), the fundraiser and the longer term goals and vision to support undocumented communities affected by COVID-19 (26:03), and some closing forward-looking words of inspiration (31:15)