“I became a Vocalo Storyteller to express impactful stories that have affected my life and give a voice to the ignored nationwide issues the United States, seemingly, refuses to face.”
[pullquote]Listen in: A day in the life of an undocumented immigrant + a church that’s reaching out to new neighbors[/pullquote]
Andrea Montoya uses storytelling to strengthen the immigration voice and appeal to others to help those in need as they search for a bit of the American Dream. Her audio piece, “The Need with No Limits,” looks at the everyday life of an undocumented immigrant in Chicago. She explores their trials, triumphs and how they find community.
Listen to Montoya’s story here:
Immigration is an issue Gerardo Vasquez also holds close. He visited with the immigration committee at Holy Cross/Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish in the Back of the Yards neighborhood and uncovered how members of the congregation came together to respond to the needs of the predominantly Mexican-American community, with support and compassion.
Vasquez believes these types of stories in neighborhoods that aren’t often talked about positively need to be heard. “These kind of stories are inspiring. People from the community that decide to help others, investing lots of time, sometimes leaving their personal goals on pause and put tons of efforts into activities that improve the well-being […] of their neighborhood deserve to be told.”
Listen to Vasquez’s story here:
The Chicago Community Trust is in partnership with the Vocalo Storytellers Workshop series. Over the next several months, workshop participants will share unique examples of what giving back and philanthropy mean in underrepresented communities and across different cultures. Tune in to Vocalo’s Morning AMp every Thursday, from July 9 until August 6, at 9:00am for interviews with the storytellers.
