Join #beyondFLG for a special series titled Echoes from the Edge: Voices on the Margin. This series will explore in detail the actual lived experiences of immigrants in northern AZ and the individuals that help them navigate the pathway to documented status including Northern Arizona Legal Services director, Grace Vaughan, and immigration attorney, Kelly Rowe. Additionally, Chip Thomas, local artist/activist, offers some insight into experiences documenting borderlands and immigration.

In today’s episode, we are joined by an individual that moved to Flagstaff, AZ as a young child as her mother attempted to escape threats to the family. Listen in as she describes her early life connections to Flagstaff, her struggles with identity, including her immigrant history, the complexities in considering educational and career options, and the difficulties she and her family has faced in maneuvering the legal process in seeking documented status.

She references her family throughout the episode, including her brother and his name has been removed to protect their identity. Of note, this individual makes reference to suicide in the latter half of the episode. You can contact The National Suicide Hotline at 1 800 273 8255 if you or someone you love is experiencing thoughts of suicide. Thank you for joining us.

Ways to support as suggested by guests of this series:

• Understand the complex and nuanced nature of immigration status and have dialogue with others that include that nuance.
• Talk to neighbors and community members about the topic of immigration.
• Volunteer or donate to Northern Arizona Immigration Legal Services (NAILS) https://thinkliteracy.org/northern-arizona-immigration-legal-services-nails/.
• Message us about joining Keep Flagstaff Together (KFT).
• Volunteer with Culture Connections including dialogue with community members through the Vecinos program https://www.cultureconnectionaz.org/.

Thank you to Compost Crowd for sponsoring this episode! Check them out at https://www.compostcrowd.com/. Use coupon code beyondflg to receive your first month of service free.

Join Echoes from the Edge: Voices on the Margin for weekly episodes starting Thursday, July 17th.