Immigration Forward

In this episode of Immigration Forward, William Menard is joined by Serena Collado. Ms. Collado discusses her role as Director of Community Health at Robert Wood Johnson Health in Somerset, New Jersey, and how the Latino Advisory Council rose out of COVID-19 and shares its profound impact on the Latin community.

On this episode of Immigration Forward, William Menard is joined by Tharanga Goonetilleke. Ms. Goonetilleke discusses growing up in civil war in Sri Lanka before coming to the United Sates to become the first Sri Lankan woman to attend the prestigious Juilliard School in New York.  She has gone on to have a successful career as a singer, visual artist, and educator.

On this episode of Immigration Forward, William Menard is joined by Licensed Clinical Social Worker Dalissy Washington.  Ms. Washington provides insight into how she has been able to help immigrants, and children in particular, navigate the difficulties of the immigration process, including two examples of those she has helped manage the realities of deportation.

On this episode of Immigration Forward, William Menard is joined by Melanie Cohn, Executive Director of the Visual Arts Center of New Jersey in Summit. The two discuss how immigrants continue the art scene, as well as how the arts and art education have become a positive outlet for immigrant children in Northern New Jersey.

On this episode of Immigration Forward, William Menard is joined by Gisele Barreto Fetterman, the Second Lady of Pennsylvania and founder of multiple nonprofit organizations supporting those in need, including Free Store 15104 and 412 Food Rescue. Ms. Barreto Fetterman discusses her upbringing as an undocumented immigrant from Brazil, the obstacles to creating a new and successful life in the United States, and the work she is doing to bring people together on the issue of immigration.

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