Photos | Mark Mattos
Suitcase Stories, a Stellar Story Company production, was held live at the Portland Museum of Art (PMA) on Thursday, May 8.
The popular storytelling series, featured nationally on PBS and making its Maine debut, showcased stories of refugee and immigrant life told by Maine residents representing eight nationalities.
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“Suitcase Stories launched in 2017 to counter the negative rhetoric aimed at immigrants during the presidential election, which we are seeing a resurgence of today,” said Cheryl Hamilton, Executive Director of the Stellar Story Company. “The program lifts up immigrant voices, explores the complexities of migration, and fosters more welcoming communities.”
The showcase featured experienced storytellers and newcomers to the stage, as well as introduced audiences to local immigrant organizations doing important work in Maine.
“Through storytelling, we have the opportunity to learn together and celebrate our shared humanity,” said Martha Stein, Executive Director of Hope Acts. The Portland-based nonprofit supports immigrants in transitioning to life in greater Portland.
“I was excited to hear everyone’s stories, including our Program Director Alice Kabore’s,” said Stein. “Her story of moving from Burkina Faso to the United States reflects so many people’s stories – someone who needed to leave her home country and start over.”
Tae Chong, Multicultural Markets and Strategies Consultant for the Maine State Chamber of Commerce, and one of the storytellers at the May 8 event, moved to Maine as a child from South Korea and eventually became the first Asian American elected to the Portland Board of Education and City Council.
Chong spoke about the importance of storytelling in helping people understand each other better: “Right now, we need to strengthen our empathy muscles and listen to people who have gone through vulnerable experiences so that we are reminded of immigrants’ strength and resilience. This is an opportunity to stand in solidarity with the immigrant community.”
The event featured Tae Chong (Korea), Maine State Chamber of Commerce; Kerem Durdag (Turkey), artist, CEO of Great Works Internet (GWI); Reza Jalali (Iran), author, former director of Greater Portland Immigrant Welcome Center; Alice Kabore (Burkina Faso), Program Director, Hope Acts; Sokhoeun Kok (Cambodia), dance instructor, Khmer Maine; Carla Muniz (Peru), Maine Health Innovation Lab Program Manager; Julia Trujillo Luengo (Canary Islands), Director of Strategic Planning Management, Maine Community College System; Cheryl Hamilton (U.S.), Suitcase Stories creator; and Event Host Theresa Okokon, storyteller, host of the public broadcastingnational media program “Stories from the Stage,” and daughter of immigrants.
