作者：辛西娅·休伯特

2023年10月24日

As a child in the Philippines, Kevin Aliado envisioned America as “the promised land,” a place of joy, prosperity, and endless opportunity.

2004年，12岁的他和母亲搬到了拉斯维加斯，母亲在那里找到了一份护士的工作。 On the long plane trip to his new country, “I felt like I was traveling to heaven,” Aliado said.

但他的移民故事很复杂，充满了种族主义、欺凌和孤立感。

虽然他很成功，从斯坦福大学（Stanford University）毕业，在科技行业工作，但阿利亚多还是感到漂泊不定。 最近，他意识到他想要一种不同的职业，一种可以让他用自己的经历来帮助其他移民的职业。

10月25日星期三，阿利亚多和其他四名第一代或第二代移民将在博彩平台欣德礼堂（Hinde Auditorium）的舞台上讲述他们的故事。 该活动于下午6点至8点免费向公众开放。

“Immigrant Stories” is presented by the nonprofit group 资本讲故事, launched in 2018 by 囊状态 Associate Professor of Child and Adolescent Development Lisa Cantrell, and the University’s 梦想者资源中心, which serves undocumented students.

研究表明，倾听个人故事可以让人们对难民、变性人、无家可归者和其他被社会边缘化的人有更积极的看法。 Wednesday’s event will help storytellers process their own immigrant stories and offer audience members a chance to better understand their backgrounds and experiences, Cantrell said.

“When you hear someone tell their story, you can see parts of yourself in that person, and you empathize,” she said. “It’s that connection that has the power to change your perspective on the world.”

这次活动是在校园和社区举办的一系列讲故事研讨会的高潮。 The effort received funding from a 囊状态 Anchor Grant, the California Arts Council, and the city’s Office of Arts and Culture. 它是由CapRadio赞助的。

“I wanted the space to talk about my childhood traumas and my journey, and get the tools to do it.” -- Kevin Aliado

Aliado将讨论他从菲律宾生活到拉斯维加斯，然后是湾区，最后是萨克拉门托的转变。 其他的则会讲述源自墨西哥、越南、中国和印度的移民故事。

“All of us have shared experiences, regardless of our upbringing,” Aliado said.

他说，在他和母亲抵达美国后，阿利亚多在学校成为欺凌的目标，并经历了公开的种族主义。 但他坚持了下来，在斯坦福大学获得了生物工程学位，后来从事过各种技术工作。

In recent years, Aliado felt a drive to “serve my community in a much more direct way,” he said.

“Making a lot of money and planning for retirement just didn’t feel like my purpose.”

现在他计划重返校园，目标是成为一名心理健康治疗师，专注于帮助移民。

去年搬到萨克拉门托后，他了解了针对移民的研讨会，发现了“讲故事的资本”。

“I wanted the space to talk about my childhood traumas and my journey, and get the tools to do it,” he said of the workshops, conducted at the Latino Center of Art & Culture. “It turns out that it has been a big part of my healing process.”

阿利亚多将在周三的活动上分享他作为新移民的一些最重要的经历，包括他对美国的第一印象，他上学的第一天，以及他适应新文化的努力。

“Immigrating to a new country can be the loneliest feeling ever,” he said.

“I just want people to know that whatever they are going through, they are not alone. Help is available, and everything is going to be OK.”