School Speakers Program

Full Speaker List 

 

Holocaust survivor – She hid from the Nazis in an attic for 2 years, story similar to Anne Frank’s. She and her daughter share her story of survival (Hybrid presentation, with the daughter in person and the mother on Zoom).

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Japanese Internment survivor – Was sent to an internment camp in Poston, Arizona with his family during WWII.  He shares his story and also gives the history of AAPI prejudice. (Hybrid-style presentation, with survivor on Zoom and relative in person)

 

Lost Boy of Sudan – survived the horrors of the civil war in Sudan in the nineties.  His story was documented in a movie starring Reese Witherspoon.  His American sponsor can join him to tell the story of his arrival in the U.S. (2 books)

 

Sudanese refugee – survived the lead-up to war in Sudan, then worked to resettle other refugees, through the International Refugee Committee.

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Chumash/Titavian elder – local tribal leader and historian. (book)

 

Actor/film writer on race and ethnicity – currently works with Matt Damon and Ben Affleck to promote diversity in the film industry.  She tours the country performing a one-woman play about racial identity.  She can perform her play or do a presentation on racial issues.

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Cambodian refugee and the journalist who wrote about her story -  features the author with a survivor of the Khmer Rouge genocide.

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Afghan refugee - Worked with U.S. troops in Kabul. Left Afghanistan during the withdrawal of American troops from Afghanistan. Joined by his wife who has started her own business in SLO.

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Syrian refugees - Two young sisters who grew up during the Syrian Civil War and recently escaped and resettled in SLO.

Pakistani refugee - He was persecuted for his Christian faith in Pakistan.  His journey to the U.S. was long and full of trials.

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Ukranian refugee - Young man who had to leave Ukraine during the Russian occupation and survived attacks.

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