Maribel Serrano of "Mi Vida DACA"!

05/27/17 • 50 min

Maribel is in the process of the post-production phase of her upcoming film, but she takes the time to let us get to know her road to deciding to put her life on screen!

Ambitious, and resilient, Mexican born, LA- raised Maribel once envisioned herself climbing the ranks of corporate America, but has decided to use her story’s strength to help others in the same position of struggle she finds herself in. She relates the story of how her family decided that they would stay in the U.S - and the ‘magical’ sights she saw when she arrived.

We dive into some heavy topics, including how through experiences in middle school and high school brought on shame of being referred to as not having ideal status, how she planned to move to Washington State to obtain a license, how she wasn’t excited about the announcement about deferred action and how she’s been on ‘survival mode’ since high school.

More topics we cover include real-time bullying of immigrants, her activism for immigration reform since she was 18, even arriving at the office of-then Senator Obama. Also, the anxiety from this past weekend regarding the potential repeal of President Obama's legislation is discussed.

She’s currently working on her second film, a full length look into her recent journey back to Mexico, which she emotionally recounts to me, and describes her ambitions for using her upcoming film to teach in schools and universities!

Maribel is in the process of the post-production phase of her upcoming film, but she takes the time to let us get to know her road to deciding to put her life on screen!

Previous Episode

Angel Reyes, and his Immigration Activism on Long Island!

My guest this week on The @HendelMedia Project was recently on Seriously.TV killing it with the comebacks, welcome Angel!

A fellow LI organizer, born in Peru, in a years time, I’m proud to see his storytelling abilities having developed so much (listen to his take on Glen Cove either being The Wonder Years or Eddie Murphy’s Coming to America.)

Overstaying Angel has faed several challenges within a few years a SCPD routine traffic stop led to the deportation of a family member, and family separation, forcing him to grow up fast.

Hear how he was first introduced to Ani Halasz - how he then became a member of Long Island Immigrant Students Advocates - and became a part of the immigrant rights movement, advocating for the NYS DREAM ACT, to the two incredibly successful conferences he’s helped to organize, and his ambitions with his forthcoming alternative rock band!

He’s looking forward to the future in coalition building of people being affected and targeted by the new presidential administration: he warns that hiding at this time, instead of standing to fight back, will usher in governments in the future that he describes as “even more dangerous.”

Next Episode

Stephanie from Nevada on Immigration MIC!

Stephanie, from Las Vegas is speaking out for the first time, exclusively on my show!

Her family resettled in Nevada after an incident in Mexico where her mother was held up at gunpoint; her family leaving behind their well established lives. She speaks with admiration of her father’s work ethic, no longer working his dream job in accounting, and instead opting to work difficult jobs to provide for the family. Her anecdote about her father’s calloused hands and desire for her to learn English so she wouldn’t struggle with an accent is something poetic to listen to.

She’s a multitalented woman: she learned Japanese, played the cello, and has a fascination with all sorts of insects and reptiles - very unique interests! It was also during this time in high school when she was unable to travel to Japan that she began understanding the ramifications of being undocumented. “That year I spent painting, angrily” - she’s is also an artist inspired by Frida Kahlo.

It took her a lot to step forward to do this interview, having never been involved in activism out of concern for her family’s safety and has decided that ‘enough is enough’ - and listen to her heartfelt anecdote thanking all the immigrant rights activist for all the work that she’s benefitted from - and she’s ready to step up and join the fight. She tells us that there is real fear in Nevada communities - Clark County is setting sanctuaries at schools for immigrants.