Editor’s Note: This is the documentary video accompanying the five profile stories of Akila Briggs, Aki Sagun, Andy Li, Boe Mendewala and Mohjdeh Mehdizadeh in the project Define American. This project was intended to feature the immigrant stories of the Contra Costa community in hopes of highlighting the misconceptions behind immigration and redefining what it means to be American.
“I hope in the future we can celebrate all kinds of cultures,” said Andy Li, Vice President of Contra Costa Community College District.
To do just that, Define American created a documentary video, adjacent to a written publication in hopes of bringing the compelling stories of the immigration journey to life.
For nearly a year, the Define American team has been filming,
editing and visually capturing the personal stories and experiences of Mojdeh Mehdizadeh, Andy Li, Boe Mendewala, Aki Sagun and Akila Briggs, all of whom are members of the Contra Costa Community College District community.
The intention was to highlight the diverse cultures found in Contra Costa Country while shining a light on the struggles often faced by the immigrant population.
While misconceptions about the immigrant experience exist in today’s society, the mission of Define American was to reinterpret these notions, ultimately defining what it means to be American, despite not being born on U.S. soil.
“We’re all immigrants, no matter what time we got here, what age we got here, we’re all looking for the same things, which is to just be a part of the community,” said Mendewala.
The video portion features the raw emotion captured when the five subjects recalled their journeys coming to America and adjusting to a new culture while adding a spark of hope for a promising future filled with inclusivity and acceptance.
“I feel privileged to work in a space where I can see, through our students, that the American dream is not dead,” said Mehdizadeh. “I can see it in our future leaders.”
A panel and video screening of the project will be held Tuesday, Nov. 12 from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. in the Student Union, with a short reception held afterward. Further details of the upcoming event will be released soon.
Editor’s note
Define American is a special project surrounding immigration, told through the voices of diverse perspectives in Contra Costa County. Check out the other related stories.
