Voice of Witness co-hosted the “Storytelling for Immigrant Justice” event with The Women’s Building, a powerful evening dedicated to elevating the voices of immigrant and refugee community members.
Held in the Mission District in San Francisco on October 23rd, the event centered around deep listening, oral histories, and actionable steps for solidarity amid a charged election season with rampant xenophobia and dehumanizing rhetoric from politicians and mass media.
Throughout the evening, attendees engaged with narratives courageously shared by individuals directly impacted by the US’s increasingly draconian immigration policies. Participants listened to oral histories from Solito, Solita and Beginning Again, with narrators from Honduras, Syria, and Mexico describing their experiences with displacement, migration, resistance, and building new communities. Audience members reflected on the stories and considered how mainstream narratives often fail to capture the resilience, humanity, and complexities of immigrant experiences.
The Women’s Building DreamSF Fellow, Anamaria Alfaro, spoke about her own journey, and Teresa Molina, a community leader with Mujeres Unidas y Activas, shared ways attendees can get involved with advocacy, from voting for immigrant-friendly policies to engaging with local community organizations.
Through personal storytelling, sharing food, and reflective conversation, the event brought people together and served as a reminder of the transformative power of first-person narratives.