New Mainers Speak WMPG

Anne Hallward came to the US as a 17 year old from Canada. She is now a psychiatrist and Gracie Award-Winning host of Safe Space Radio, which got its start at WMPG. Anne kindly agreed to interview me as a way of saying goodbye to this beautiful community of listeners.

This show completes the 250 episode series of New Mainers Speak. Thank you for being part of this 7-year show, born and raised at and for WMPGand rebroadcast at WERU. This website will stick around so you can have access to the interviews from 2014 to 2021. Please enjoy the archived shows and drop me a line through the Contact page, anytime. And starting this spring, I can also be reached through www.ThumbprintAudio.com.

Thank you!

Music: Carrie Newcomer sings "You Can Do This Hard Thing." ​

Elise Malongi arrived in Maine with her three young children from Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo during the summer of 2012. A year and a half later she courageously agreed to be my very first guest on New Mainers Speak. Seven years later she is my last formal interview in this series.

A lot has happened in Elise's life in her first seven years in Maine. She has learned English, gotten her driver's license, raised three very active children, and has said "Yes!" to nearly every opportunity that has come her way: Most recently--downhill ski lessons so she could enjoy Maine with her kids.

When she said yes to learning to play squash at Portland Community Squash she had no idea that it would one day blossom into a full time job, in her field. Elise is the Finance and Facilities Director at PCS, which is a perfect job for someone with a bachelor's degree Economics and Business Administration.

Music: "Sur et Certain" (Sure and Certain) by Mama Lydia, a song that gives Elise hope.

Phuntsho came to the US in 2018 from Bhutan to study Global Media and Communications at the University of Bridgeport. Now with master's degree in hand, she lives in Newcastle, Maine where she volunteers her expertise with Lincoln County TV. As a digital media consultant, Phuntsho loves learning new media skills while helping to support Maine Challenge, (a political talk show, with YouTube link below).

Phuntsho continues to work toward her goal of being an embedded investigative reporter in a war zone so that she can tell the stories of the impacted people. She is grateful to come from a country that values and measures people's happiness and hopes to be able to make good use of her balanced upbringing in a chaotic world.

Bhutan is home to the black-necked crane, the national index of Gross National Happiness and is the only carbon negative country in the world.

Music: "My Home" by Sergi Meto

Meirgani is from the Nuba Mountains of Sudan. In 1986 the Sudanese family that employed him with daily labor, brought him to Hollywood, CA, USA where he was kept isolated for a decade before he learned some English and was able to leave, file for asylum, and work for Fox News in CA.
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In 2007 Meirgani and his growing family moved to Maine. He is manages a local group home and has worked two jobs to support his family, both here and abroad, ever since he arrived.
Meirgani talks about the value of Portland Community Squash to his family. He appreciates the door-to-door support which enables his children to benefit from the academic and athletic lessons as well as the on-going mentorship offered to every family in the program that serves Portland students 6th-12th grades.

Music: Bob Marley sings "Three Little Birds"

Kerem Durdag was born to Turkish parents and raised in Pakistan. He came to the US for college. For more of his background story listen to New Mainers Speak 079 from Nov 1, 2015.
Presently, Kerem is the Chief Operating Officer of (Great Works Internet) GWI.net. He speaks with passion about digital inclusion and digital equity and explains why that is paramount to Maine's success as we head into our future together as a state.
At work and in community pursuits, Kerem uses his three languages and all his other magical talents to advocate for immigrants in Maine. The Indus Fund is a newly formed structure that offers a clever way to make small loans more accessible and affordable for immigrant entrepreneurs. Learn more at Amjambo Africa.

Kerem is preparing two upcoming performances. One is with Pecha Kucha in a few weeks and the other is potentially going to have a far wider reach as a musical about immigration, encouraged and commissioned by Portland Ovations. Click here to sample of some of Kerem's recent creative works.

Music: U2 "Ultra Violet" (Light My Way)

Nancy was born and raised in Kigali, Rwanda. She came to the US and Maine in 2018. With her background in finance and her excellent people skills, Nancy's become the new Community and Diversity Specialist for Bangor Savings Bank.

Nancy's insights about the secondary traumas the 1994 genocide inflicted on her life are illuminating. Talking about these painful realities has allowed her to realize she is not alone. The violence and loss was so profound it continues to play a role in all of their lives. That is why Nancy is an advocate of accessing all the mental health supports one can, while healing, growing, and moving through life.

​Music: "Kamaliza" sung by Kamaliza. (Nancy's namesake)