1 10 14 https://stories.cvlcollections.org/files/original/497f4eff0cb7a1159c9e7d278d69f564.mp3 3c2858ad4674859517a6246a01bc9c47 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource LGBTQ+ Stories Subject The topic of the resource LGBTQ people Gender minorities Sexual minorities Description An account of the resource Autobiographical storytelling is about sharing the emotions and life experiences so others can understand, relate, and share in those experiences and histories as if they were also part of these stories. This exhibit within Stories of Colorado highlights stories from the Tell Your Story activity provided in the Let’s talk about it! : Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Questioning, or Gender Non-conforming CSL Big Red Resource Kit. Oral History A resource containing historical information obtained in interviews with persons having firsthand knowledge. Interviewee The person(s) being interviewed Kieran Hixon Duration Length of time involved (seconds, minutes, hours, days, class periods, etc.) 00:07:29 Transcription Any written text transcribed from a sound I don't yell a lot. That isn't how I get angry. And honestly, I don't get angry that much. But one day I found myself yelling at the dmv, at the clerk. The clerk who told me, "we have to keep track of those kind of people." And he meant transgender people. It started fine. Over the course of a few weeks, I'd gone to the dmv, gotten the form to change the gender marker on my driver's license, took the form home, filled it out, made an appointment at the doctor's office, got the doctor's signature, gone back to the dmv. And there I was, thinking I'd followed all the instructions. The clerk took one look at the form and said, where did you get this? I was kind of puzzled. Where did I get the form? The clerk said again, sternly, where did you get this form? So I'm like, well, from here. And he says, no, you didn't. We write down and number the files of people who pick up this form. And this one isn't numbered. So I think, ah, a misunderstanding. And I say I'd come in last Thursday and pick. The other DMV person was there, and the lady with the long black hair, and she'd given me the form. The clerk stands up, leans over the desk and tells me, the other clerk isn't here, she's on vacation. We number these forms. We have to keep track of those kind of people. And even though I'm getting this knot in my stomach, I try logic and I say, well, I got the form here and she didn't number it. Can you number it now and keep track of me now? And he says, we have to know who picks up these forms. And I say, I picked up the form. And he says he won't help me. That's when I found myself yelling, yelling as he walked around the desk toward me, and I backed out of the office. He is yelling, too. He was yelling stuff about those kind of people and how we're trying to trick other people and how it should be a crime. And I'm yelling how I'm going to report him and how he'll get in trouble. And I was totally shaking. Unfortunately, that was only in part one of getting the F changed to an M on my driver's license. After that encounter, I reported him to the DMV higher ups on a website complaint form and I complained on Facebook, and I never heard anything back from the dmv. But the Facebook complaint got me a call from a state legislator who put me in touch with a lawyer for the GLBT center up in Denver who told me really nicely that they were grateful to win the right to change the gender marker at all. And why don't I just try a different DMV and see if I can get it all worked out? And I should report the clerk that I had dealt with to the DMV. So I drove myself to the nearest city, about 45 minutes away. I stood in line at the DMV, and I handed the clerk my form. And she looks me up on the computer and explains how there needs to be this code number on the top of the form and this little box that says, for official use only. And I ask her if she can just, like, number the form now. And she says, according to my record, this form is already in question. And I guess that last clerk documented our interaction on my record, and I wish I could add my version to his record. So I take a deep breath and I ask for a new form with a new code number, please and thank you. And I go home and I fill out the form, and I make an appointment with a doctor. I go get the doctor's signature. I go back to the city, to the dmv. I stand in line for, like, an hour. I get to a clerk who looks at the form, looks me up on the computer, and says, the doctor's signature isn't legible. I can't accept this. And I'm like, what? And I look at him blankly and honestly, I start to suspect a conspiracy. I repeat back to him what I thought I heard him say very slowly, the doctor's signature isn't legible, really. And very calmly, I say, so you're not going to accept this form because you can't read the doctor's handwriting? And he nods. So I take the form and I leave, and I drive straight to the doctor's office. It was like an hour. And I made it there right before they closed for the day. And I hand the form to the receptionist and I say, the DMV wouldn't accept this because the doctor's signature is illegible. And she looks at the signature and she says, well, but that's the doctor's signature. And I say, yeah, I know. Is there a way you can authenticate it? Is there like, an official stamp or a number or something that could serve as proof? Can I have the doctor come with me to the dmv? And the receptionist kind of smiles and says, you know, this has never happened before. And she goes away with the form and she Comes back and. And then next to the illegible signature, there's an equally illegible signature, but then there's some printing of the doctor's name and initials and a phone number. So the next week, I go back to the city, to the dmv, and I stand in line and I hand an ex clerk a form, and I brace myself, and the clerk says nothing. And she hands me another number, and she tells me to wait. And I don't even ask why, you know? And sometime later, I was called back up and I had my picture taken, and I was told I would receive my new license in the mail. The whole event of applying for the gender marker change took about three months, five trips to the dmv, and I look like a serial killer in my photo. It's been like two years, you know, since that happened. And I realized I'm still pissed about it. And part of that is because. Because of the prejudice, because of the feeling that I had no recourse or power in this situation. Like, it might be legal for me to change that gender marker on my license, but they sure aren't going to make it easy. And I get how I'm supposed to be, like, grateful or happy that we've won the right to have the gender marker changed. And I get that that's supposed to be, you know, some sort of privilege. But. Why do they need to keep track of who picks up the form? Why can't the form join all the other forms that you can just print out online? Why do we need to keep track of those kind of people? And I get it's because there's some scary idea that people who are not really transgender are going to try to change their ID or fake their ID by changing their gender marker or something. I don't quite even understand the concern, really. Actually, I don't get it at all. I don't get the procedure at all. I get that there was a doctor's signature area, and I get that there is my name and changed and all these things. And for God's sakes, you could just look at that picture and see that I need to have my gender marker changed. I mean, what makes that so difficult? I guess I'm still mad. I guess that clerk still frightens me. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Changing the Gender Marker on a Colorado Driver's Licence Subject The topic of the resource Transgender people Southern Colorado Colorado Rural communities Drivers' licenses Description An account of the resource "Identity documents are a major area of legal concern for transgender people. Beyond reasons of quality of life, convenience and even physical safety, IDs that match the gender marker of the person holding them are important in many simple day to day activities. The gender marker is the M or F listed as ‘Sex’ on a driver’s licence. Many transgender people have difficulty with, or avoid altogether, interactions that involve showing an ID because of the possible reactions of the person examining the ID and seeing someone who doesn’t match the picture or gender marker. Even going into a club or bar with an ID that doesn’t have a gender marker that looks like it matches the person showing the ID can create a situation where the ID checker has reason to believe it is a fake. This can lead to life-threatening and uncomfortable moments. Currently, not all U.S. states allow the gender marker to be changed on a driver's license according to the latest information from the Human Rights Campaign. In Colorado, the process requires form DR2083, Medical Information Authorization for Change of Sex Designation, to be picked up, in person, at a Colorado DMV office. In June of 2012, I went to the DMV in my rural town in Colorado where the DMV has only two clerks. I had picked up my form, in person, gotten the doctor’s signature and went back to turn it in. The following audio is the story of what transpired." -Kieran Hixon Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Hixon, Kieran Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2014 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource mp3 Language A language of the resource eng Type The nature or genre of the resource Sound Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC-EDU/1.0/ Is Part Of A related resource in which the described resource is physically or logically included. LGBTQ+ Stories Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived CSL: Big Red Resource Kits Activity (Let's Talk About It). LGBTQ LGBTQ+ Resource kits Transgender https://stories.cvlcollections.org/files/original/33facea432f3e6180c2efdc099ded94b.jpg 1e2fdc180d826f448b4e9147f7f75ac2 https://stories.cvlcollections.org/files/original/8260f71c5b71fdbeb978bb1e66ab5cbd.mp3 94daac96160e36ed3e88a45d786acde2 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Immigrant & Refugee Stories Subject The topic of the resource Immigrants Refugees Description An account of the resource Autobiographical storytelling is about sharing the emotions and life experiences so others can understand, relate, and share in those experiences and histories as if they were also part of these stories. This collection within Stories of Colorado highlights stories from "Mementos From Home," a project of Services to Immigrants and Refugees and the Denver Public Library. Oral History A resource containing historical information obtained in interviews with persons having firsthand knowledge. Transcription Any written text transcribed from a sound Speaking French and Moroccan Arabic The object I have is something I brought home from Saudi Arabia when I made my pilgrimage in 2010. I brought this object home to Morocco, then I brought it here. It always keeps me company, even while I’m sleeping. It’s a rosary that I ?filled with/used for? all my prayers to thank God for allowing me to take the pilgrimage, and for giving me good health and well-being… that’s all. It’s important. It’s always with me, even when I walk - during my daily walk. It’s been almost seven years. Yeah, from 2010 until 2018, that’s almost seven years. And even when I travel and go to Morocco, it’s always in my pocket. There are objects that give you confidence, that give you serenity, that give you peace with yourself. Even when you walk alone. I was in Mecca. I was sitting down praying the maghreb prayer, when a woman passed in front of me, and she gave it to me. It was a gift. Like sadaqah - like a donation. People there want to do good. They want to give, they want to do charitable things. So a woman that I didn’t know walked in front of me and gave it to me. And I kept it. I bought some for my friends and family in Morocco - I bought more of them. But this one, I kept because it was offered to me. It was a gift from God. I am happy to share this moment with you. It’s a pleasure to share. Because in Morocco, people aren’t closed off. You find people in the street, in the mosque, in the hamaam - do you know the hamaam (bathhouses)? And we talk, we talk! We discuss things! We’re used to to people - to the presence of people. Me, I’m open. The difference [here] is that when I’m going from my house to the mosque, or from my house to the library, there aren’t many people who walk. Whereas in Morocco - well, these days many people have cars - but even so, we walk. We go out, we take walks, we have picnics. Conviviality doesn’t exist here. People here come together at parties, special occasions. But there, every Friday you see a family prepare couscous, and we come together around the table. Neighbors, friends, family. It gives you warmth. Speaking Arabic This couscous we cook - you know couscous, right? We cook it and make a big plate, and we call it Gsaa (the plate), this is where we knead it. And we come together. All the family comes together. Speaking French Now that I’m in Denver, I don’t make couscous on Fridays anymore. Couscous is a dish that requires people - a large presence of people. You can’t eat it alone. I made it yesterday, and it just sat there. No one touched it. You see? That’s the difference. There [in Morocco] on Fridays we make a big platter of couscous and we bring it to the mosque. To share with people - the poor people who come. And these people have the opportunity to eat well, to eat meat and chicken. You see? That does good. Sadaqah - we call that Sadaqah. Charity - that’s it. Charity. And we pray to God that he accepts it and forgives us, that’s all. That's why I always have my rosary with me. My prayer rosary. My prayer rosary. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Misbaha (Rabha) Description An account of the resource A prayer rosary; this is very precious and valuable to me, because I got it in Mecca when I was performing my Hajj pilgrimage in 2010. It was an experience of a lifetime, to be at the Holy Place, with millions of people from every country who were having their own spiritual journey. I have used my misbaha in my daily prayers ever since. To give glory to my God and to recognize his mercy and power gives me peace of mind. Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://www.denverlibrary.org/mementos-home">Mementos From Home</a> A project of <a href="https://www.denverlibrary.org/services-immigrants" target="_blank" title="Ctrl+Click to follow link" rel="noreferrer noopener">Services to Immigrants and Refugees</a> and the <a href="https://www.denverlibrary.org" target="_blank" title="Ctrl+Click to follow link" rel="noreferrer noopener">Denver Public Library</a> Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC-EDU/1.0/ Is Part Of A related resource in which the described resource is physically or logically included. Immigrant & Refugee Stories Language A language of the resource Moroccan Arabic and French DPL Immigrant Mementos Resource kits https://stories.cvlcollections.org/files/original/e41e5984f28ddec4621976f351da9afe.jpg 2a7fb554376ec27b4f4530f30895948a https://stories.cvlcollections.org/files/original/06e71a586c2c57e36bd5335dd23cdd82.mp3 9fb2703cbfebe86c6f94d961b69f5d44 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Immigrant & Refugee Stories Subject The topic of the resource Immigrants Refugees Description An account of the resource Autobiographical storytelling is about sharing the emotions and life experiences so others can understand, relate, and share in those experiences and histories as if they were also part of these stories. This collection within Stories of Colorado highlights stories from "Mementos From Home," a project of Services to Immigrants and Refugees and the Denver Public Library. Oral History A resource containing historical information obtained in interviews with persons having firsthand knowledge. Transcription Any written text transcribed from a sound Speaking English My name is Zahra Ibrahim. I’m from Iraq, but my nationality is Turkish. I’ve been here for twenty years, and I work at the library as an Activities Leader, and I do my job with love, with passion. And I like to do it and I think I will be able to do it for the rest of my life because I love it so much, and I work with really great people. I brought a dress with pink hemmings, I should say? I don’t know, like lace, it’s kind of a white-ish but not quite. It brings a lot of good memories. It’s a childhood dress that is very sentimental to me. I got it for my sister’s wedding in Iran, in Tehran, in 1994, when I was only seven years old. It brings a lot of, as I said earlier, it brings a lot of great memories, childhood, I had an amazing childhood, so I always go back, it takes me back, because when I touch the dress, when I smell it, it reminds me of home. Ah it fit perfectly! Because at the time, I don’t know, as I said it’s a great memory, family, home, the smell, the touch, the feeling. I wish I could go back, but unfortunately none of us could go back. I want to pass it on to my great grandchildren if I had a chance. If, if I get married! But yeah, definitely. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Party Dress (Zahra) Description An account of the resource This dress is from my sister's wedding. I got this dress from Iran, and it is a wonderful childhood memory, and it has special value. It brings memories of my childhood, and it reminds me of my birth place. Whenever I see the dress, I remember happy times. Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://www.denverlibrary.org/mementos-home">Mementos From Home</a> A project of <a href="https://www.denverlibrary.org/services-immigrants" target="_blank" title="Ctrl+Click to follow link" rel="noreferrer noopener">Services to Immigrants and Refugees</a> and the <a href="https://www.denverlibrary.org" target="_blank" title="Ctrl+Click to follow link" rel="noreferrer noopener">Denver Public Library</a> Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC-EDU/1.0/ Is Part Of A related resource in which the described resource is physically or logically included. Immigrant & Refugee Stories Language A language of the resource English DPL Immigrant Mementos Resource kits https://stories.cvlcollections.org/files/original/0acecfe1538ddb6f658bb2d002395a2b.jpg 03b086d79971529087a4a01e6a4b3703 https://stories.cvlcollections.org/files/original/edbe22d569a92b49673e9127006cce2f.mp3 c7048503271417a23c319c90ae4fd8d6 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Immigrant & Refugee Stories Subject The topic of the resource Immigrants Refugees Description An account of the resource Autobiographical storytelling is about sharing the emotions and life experiences so others can understand, relate, and share in those experiences and histories as if they were also part of these stories. This collection within Stories of Colorado highlights stories from "Mementos From Home," a project of Services to Immigrants and Refugees and the Denver Public Library. Oral History A resource containing historical information obtained in interviews with persons having firsthand knowledge. Transcription Any written text transcribed from a sound Speaking Spanish Good morning my name is Jorge Romero, and well I am participating in this project and today the Memento from Home that I’ve brought comes from Mexico. I brought it when we moved or when we immigrated to the United States in 1993, and it was an object that I acquired in 1978 from my godparents at my baptism. It is a chair, made in Morelia, Mexico, where my godparents were originally from, and it is made of wood and the seat part of the chair is made of fibers - I don’t remember exactly what they’re called - but they are plant fibers, and the fibers are braided to make the seat. At one point the chair was blue, and now it is a bit, now it doesn’t have much color, it is a little bit broken. It is at least 40 years old - I don’t know when it was made, but I received it 40 years ago. Well it is important to me because it is something, it is a physical object that I have from when I was little, when I was a baby. When we came to the United States we left everything behind, and for me it is very significant because my godparents gave it to me when I was baptized, after my baptism. So for me it reminds me of my childhood because many of my cousins, my relatives, used it when they were babies, and it is also a connection to my godparents and now to the memory of them. It is very nostalgic for me. I brought this, it is one of the few things that I have that connects me to Mexico, to my ancestors, to my relatives, to my godparents, and it is very important to me even though it is now very old, though it is a little broken, it means a lot to me. Well, one of the things is that I thank you for doing this project, and that’s because I believe that for many of us it’s important to share the few things we have been able to bring from our countries, that remind us of our countries, that in some way connect us to what we are, so that we never forget, even though we live over here. And I think it is a very special project and gives us the opportunity to share a little piece of what our country was, of how we lived, of how we felt. So thank you. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Baby Chair from Godparents (Jorge) Description An account of the resource I received this baby chair when I was 6 months old as a gift from my godparents. It was bought in their native town of Morelia Michoacan, and brought to me in Tecate, Baja, California back in 1978. It is the only physical object, besides photographs, that I was able to bring when we migrated to the U.S. It is a connection with my culture, godparents, and many memories of different babies in the family using the chair (that's why it's a bit beat up). It reminds me of my godparents and my childhood memories, where this chair is shared by many in the family. Also, it is one of the few (if not the only) physical object that I owned in Mexico and still have today. Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://www.denverlibrary.org/mementos-home">Mementos From Home</a> A project of <a href="https://www.denverlibrary.org/services-immigrants" target="_blank" title="Ctrl+Click to follow link" rel="noreferrer noopener">Services to Immigrants and Refugees</a> and the <a href="https://www.denverlibrary.org" target="_blank" title="Ctrl+Click to follow link" rel="noreferrer noopener">Denver Public Library</a> Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC-EDU/1.0/ Is Part Of A related resource in which the described resource is physically or logically included. Immigrant & Refugee Stories Language A language of the resource Spanish DPL Immigrant Mementos Resource kits https://stories.cvlcollections.org/files/original/e264ca5cf6abe882308ee043a526a55d.jpg 5f066b121018822dd1feef360449c279 https://stories.cvlcollections.org/files/original/5c495b7229d78cb7516442b47fd983b7.mp3 d0541d03b8cd3fc6721b3fd34c0298de Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Immigrant & Refugee Stories Subject The topic of the resource Immigrants Refugees Description An account of the resource Autobiographical storytelling is about sharing the emotions and life experiences so others can understand, relate, and share in those experiences and histories as if they were also part of these stories. This collection within Stories of Colorado highlights stories from "Mementos From Home," a project of Services to Immigrants and Refugees and the Denver Public Library. Oral History A resource containing historical information obtained in interviews with persons having firsthand knowledge. Transcription Any written text transcribed from a sound Speaking English I’m Ed, Ed Kiang. I brought a deck of cards I recently acquired from China. It’s so cool I think. Yeah it’s called the Chinese Generals and Marshals. It’s something that, you know, is like old day, Cold War memorabilia that you can only get from China - and at a considerable discount may I add! It’s the latest acquisition of something from China, that’s where I’m from. And I like to keep things that’s meaningful to me. Like, I like to tell people that if it was something meaningful, for example the first project from my daughter’s kindergarten class, I keep. Like when I asked my wife to marry me I sent her a huge fortune cookie and I still keep that fortune cookie. And things like that. So it’s meaningful. It will eventually go from display, until I get something new, and then to the boxes I keep at home. I will always read them, especially you know, the good thing about this is because it’s a piece of history also, it tells you a little bit. So a lot of times like when I watch movies and TV shows and read books, and it mentions somebody’s name, you can use that as a cross-reference to see if in the deck of cards, if what it says is true. That way you can tell if the book is inaccurate, or if the cards are misprinted. You know, after all, I am a librarian! It’s history. It’s also part of me because I’m from China. I like to keep things that I get from there. I like to get little mementos, souvenirs, of the places I visited. You know it’s like keep fresh of memory, you know making connections, you know because you tend to forget a lot of things. I think with some physical item in your hand you can bring back a lot of fun memories. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Chinese Marshals & Generals Poker Cards (Ed) Description An account of the resource I got these cards from China. I love cards, and I enjoy the game of chance. Everyone has access to a deck of cards; all barriers are removed. Kids' games to high stakes, like we see on T.V., are some representations of how universal a deck of cards can be. The same deck of cards can be used in different games across the world. It's so GREAT. Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://www.denverlibrary.org/mementos-home">Mementos From Home</a> A project of <a href="https://www.denverlibrary.org/services-immigrants" target="_blank" title="Ctrl+Click to follow link" rel="noreferrer noopener">Services to Immigrants and Refugees</a> and the <a href="https://www.denverlibrary.org" target="_blank" title="Ctrl+Click to follow link" rel="noreferrer noopener">Denver Public Library</a> Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC-EDU/1.0/ Is Part Of A related resource in which the described resource is physically or logically included. Immigrant & Refugee Stories Language A language of the resource English DPL Immigrant Mementos Resource kits https://stories.cvlcollections.org/files/original/dd338d9fdc2f7c8d4f9e43a3e456b781.jpg 5aa26f168b421c6c37b468df44e1a795 https://stories.cvlcollections.org/files/original/5e44fc4da1be145bd0dd5758383330a6.mp3 889e3d8fd15ecbbd216895a1222cbdd0 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Immigrant & Refugee Stories Subject The topic of the resource Immigrants Refugees Description An account of the resource Autobiographical storytelling is about sharing the emotions and life experiences so others can understand, relate, and share in those experiences and histories as if they were also part of these stories. This collection within Stories of Colorado highlights stories from "Mementos From Home," a project of Services to Immigrants and Refugees and the Denver Public Library. Oral History A resource containing historical information obtained in interviews with persons having firsthand knowledge. Transcription Any written text transcribed from a sound Speaking Spanish I am Viviana Casillas Reyna and I am originally from Zacatecas, Mexico. I came to this country 28 years ago. The objects I brought for the exhibit are two coins, a one-peso coin and a hundred-peso coin, that show the years 1990 or 1988 on top. These two coins are significant for me because they speak to when we were children and my father lived here in the United States and we lived in Mexico. The times when he would visit us, he brought us little things, different things, to show us that he was back and that we had been in his thoughts. And when we were young, some time ago, my mother asked my father for one peso for us. It was my older sister, my younger brother and myself, so she asked for one peso for each of us to go buy animal cookies from a man who had a store called Don Cesario. We went to that store and asked for animal cookies, one peso worth. And he gave them to us in a paper cone that he made, and the three of us left with our animal cookies, very content. On one occasion that my father came to Mexico we were going to ask him for one peso so we could buy animal cookies. And I remember that I said to my brother and sister, “we’re going to ask him for 50 pesos! Because if he’s coming from the United states, if he’s coming from the North, he must have a lot of money!” But my older sister said, “no Vivi, no, only one peso, only one peso!” And so we went to my father and asked him, “Papa can you give us one peso to go to the store?” And my father said, “what are you going to buy?” And we told him we were going to buy animal cookies. So he said yes that he would give us money - and instead of 50 pesos that we were asking for, he gave us 100 pesos. And with these 100 pesos my brother my sister and I went to the store; kids of about 6, 7 and 8 years old, we went to the store and bought 300 pesos worth of animal cookies. We returned with giant paper cones filled with many animal cookies. And when my father saw us he asked us why we bought so many cookies, he said we could have bought a different kind of cookie. But we said, “no, because the animal cookies will last us.” This was one of the few times I saw my father cry. When he saw that we tried to do as much as possible with what we had, and that he had given us 100 pesos - and 100 pesos was a lot - we could have chosen the sweetest cookie, the most beautiful cookie, but we chose animal cookies because we wanted them to last as long as possible for the time that we had with him - usually he stayed two weeks in Mexico with us. After that was when my mother asked my father if he would live with us in Mexico or if we would go to the United States to live with him. And for this reason my mother has her contribution in this exhibit as well - her bills and her shoes. This country has given us more than we would have been able to have in Mexico. But at the same time, while we’ve been able to have so much here, we’ve had to pay a high price. We’ve lost members of our family who are now no longer with us. It has given us successes, it has given us joys, it has given us triumphs. But the memory of coming to the United States where three of us were going to die and only one of us was going to be able to stay. Now he has been deported, my older sister passed away, and now the only ones here are my mother and myself. My father is far away, and my sister is far away. But being here has given us a strong life experience, and we have valued every day and our existence, thanks to God. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Animal Crackers (Viviana) Description An account of the resource As a child, I would ask my mom for a peso to buy some animal crackers. It didn't happen often. One time, my dad had just arrived from "El Norte," and we asked him for 50 pesos. He gave us 100 pesos, and we spent it all on animal crackers. Three kids with 300 pesos-worth of animal crackers lasted a long time. Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://www.denverlibrary.org/mementos-home">Mementos From Home</a> A project of <a href="https://www.denverlibrary.org/services-immigrants" target="_blank" title="Ctrl+Click to follow link" rel="noreferrer noopener">Services to Immigrants and Refugees</a> and the <a href="https://www.denverlibrary.org" target="_blank" title="Ctrl+Click to follow link" rel="noreferrer noopener">Denver Public Library</a> Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC-EDU/1.0/ Is Part Of A related resource in which the described resource is physically or logically included. Immigrant & Refugee Stories Language A language of the resource Spanish DPL Immigrant Mementos Resource kits https://stories.cvlcollections.org/files/original/fa8e412f62174385459e4e989e4dd3ca.jpg 0885920143887ff0d6bba7334c565920 https://stories.cvlcollections.org/files/original/2ae12add684bcaace4b4e9b983c5d342.mp3 07844ec3363ae4e1ea181cdbe8a2bfe2 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Immigrant & Refugee Stories Subject The topic of the resource Immigrants Refugees Description An account of the resource Autobiographical storytelling is about sharing the emotions and life experiences so others can understand, relate, and share in those experiences and histories as if they were also part of these stories. This collection within Stories of Colorado highlights stories from "Mementos From Home," a project of Services to Immigrants and Refugees and the Denver Public Library. Oral History A resource containing historical information obtained in interviews with persons having firsthand knowledge. Transcription Any written text transcribed from a sound Speaking Spanish Today I brought a Spanish card game that is different than your typical card deck, like ace of diamonds, this one has walking canes, swords, goblets, and coins. This is something that I brought with me when I came here 15 years ago from Argentina. It was a playing card game that I used to play with my friends. We would get together on the weekends, in the evenings, to play this card game, and it was a very social game. I would like to find people who play the game that we used to play - it’s called Truco - but yes it’s a beautiful memory of being with my friends and everything, and of Argentina more than anything because it was a big part of my life in Argentina, and for this reason I brought this card game with me. I know the rules are a bit complicated for someone who doesn’t speak Spanish, but it is truly a very fun game and I would like to be able to find people who play! So if you play Truco, let me know! Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Truco (Nicanor) Description An account of the resource These cards are important because they remind me of my family and my friends back home in Argentina. The cards remind me of those evenings and weekends when we would get together and play Truco, a very social game where you trick your opponent by playing quickly and distracting them with conversation. Playing the game was a way of connecting with friends and family. They remind me of fun times, and I enjoy teaching other people how to play even though it can be a difficult game to learn. Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://www.denverlibrary.org/mementos-home">Mementos From Home</a> A project of <a href="https://www.denverlibrary.org/services-immigrants" target="_blank" title="Ctrl+Click to follow link" rel="noreferrer noopener">Services to Immigrants and Refugees</a> and the <a href="https://www.denverlibrary.org" target="_blank" title="Ctrl+Click to follow link" rel="noreferrer noopener">Denver Public Library</a> Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC-EDU/1.0/ Is Part Of A related resource in which the described resource is physically or logically included. Immigrant & Refugee Stories Language A language of the resource Spanish DPL Immigrant Mementos Resource kits https://stories.cvlcollections.org/files/original/cba1574b0d1568d993cb04363e5b814f.jpg bf0b92762b319e0ffbabd8446055a168 https://stories.cvlcollections.org/files/original/e48998ab0ac42035afdbf0bb8d0383c4.mp3 f4308d6cc119a3e32e48dd85d8a391d4 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Immigrant & Refugee Stories Subject The topic of the resource Immigrants Refugees Description An account of the resource Autobiographical storytelling is about sharing the emotions and life experiences so others can understand, relate, and share in those experiences and histories as if they were also part of these stories. This collection within Stories of Colorado highlights stories from "Mementos From Home," a project of Services to Immigrants and Refugees and the Denver Public Library. Oral History A resource containing historical information obtained in interviews with persons having firsthand knowledge. Transcription Any written text transcribed from a sound Speaking Spanish I am Maria Elena Reyna Diaz. I am from Aguas Calientes. I came from Mexico in 1990. When I came I brought my four children; the oldest, Maria de la Contención Casillas Reyna, and Viviana Casillas Reyna, Marco Antonio Casillas Reyna and Nancy Casillas Reyna. In regards to the money, he sent me money to Mexico and I had to cash it because I had to pay for the work arrangements for the land. I brought money from Mexico, as I came, I brought large bills in my shoes. And I sold two horses because they made me angry. It seemed simple. I thought, “if the man comes tomorrow to buy them…” And luckily he did, and so I sold them, and brought the money with me for travel expenses. I told my children’s father that he would either come to live with us in Mexico, to suffer, or that he would bring us all there [to the U.S.] because I couldn’t keep my kid at home, he wouldn’t stay home, he would get home whenever he wanted, I couldn’t go out and look for him because a woman on the streets alone looks bad. I brought the money in my shoes, and I was hurting because I got blisters, but the money got here safe, I had it in a bag. [My husband] told me to sell the horses. And I told him that I already had sold them. He asked my why I hadn’t told him, and I said because they made me angry. I told him, “You are coming back here or you’re bringing us there with you. We will all suffer together there, or all here.” And I told him, “I don’t want to be here on my own, I’m struggling, it’s challenging.” I was sick frequently with bronchitis. I couldn’t be alone handling all of this. I had to come here. And here I was sick a lot as well, until I got used to the climate here. We got caught twice by immigration, we took about 15 days to cross the border, we went from house to house. I faced danger with my kids. In a house there was a guy that wanted to stab every child there, so I would stand in the way of him doing it. Then the Coyote got there, I was already on my way out the door, we were in Juarez all five of us not knowing but we traveled all over Juarez, and then he found us a cab and he brought us to Juarez looking for my friend’s address, after that he left us with her, but after that I didn’t know where the car was going or anything but I had faith with me and a little saint [inaudible] that a guy donated. I didn’t let anyone check me because I had money in my shoes. They would ask me if I had money and I would say no, so they didn’t search me. They has us locked up, I got into an argument with an immigration guy, I told him “ just because I am Mexican and my kids are Mexican, I am not going to let you humiliate me and do whatever you want”. I would defend our suffering, my kids, me alone, the expenses we had, I would get sick, I would struggle and that's why he brought us here. I got here and gave everything to their dad and he saved it, but yeah the journey was a lot of suffering. The first time Viviana fell into the river her hair got stuck, she had long (hair) below the curve, I got her however I could, I had never been under water with my eyes open, I pulled her out by her hair and I brought her up. The oldest almost drowned, so I did the same thing to get her out, The Coyote told me to leave her there that she was already dead. I told him “she’s not dead, do whatever you want but I’m going to get her out.” In that same moment Nancy went into quicksand and she had her hair a little above shoulder height, and however I could I also grabbed her by her hair. It hurt her and it hurt me, but I got her out of the quicksand. My son also suffered, but God wanted him to be safe, because we would cross the street between the cars and he would yell at us, whistle, to hurry. But the cars were going at high speed and I couldn’t get to him and it kept raining, but here we are. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource En Mis Zapatos (Maria) Description An account of the resource In 1990, when we lived in Mexico, my husband was in the States. I gave him an ultimatum to bring us to him. I sold the two horses we had. I saved the money and brought it with me in my shoes. Throughout the trip/journey back and forth to the border, I kept my money in my shoes for fear that our savings would be taken away. Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://www.denverlibrary.org/mementos-home">Mementos From Home</a> A project of <a href="https://www.denverlibrary.org/services-immigrants" target="_blank" title="Ctrl+Click to follow link" rel="noreferrer noopener">Services to Immigrants and Refugees</a> and the <a href="https://www.denverlibrary.org" target="_blank" title="Ctrl+Click to follow link" rel="noreferrer noopener">Denver Public Library</a> Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC-EDU/1.0/ Is Part Of A related resource in which the described resource is physically or logically included. Immigrant & Refugee Stories Language A language of the resource Spanish DPL Immigrant Mementos Resource kits https://stories.cvlcollections.org/files/original/329be1d41cebbd4561722cb808f6797f.jpg 14870753279008ab865a67fa865e0d24 https://stories.cvlcollections.org/files/original/a712030ac4b43d2b7f6b993ac97b4989.mp3 0fd5f427a45c1b60be68c786d75de3d2 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Immigrant & Refugee Stories Subject The topic of the resource Immigrants Refugees Description An account of the resource Autobiographical storytelling is about sharing the emotions and life experiences so others can understand, relate, and share in those experiences and histories as if they were also part of these stories. This collection within Stories of Colorado highlights stories from "Mementos From Home," a project of Services to Immigrants and Refugees and the Denver Public Library. Oral History A resource containing historical information obtained in interviews with persons having firsthand knowledge. Transcription Any written text transcribed from a sound Speaking English My name is Naghem Swade. I’m the program coordinator for Services to Immigrants and Refugees at the Denver Public Library. I brought a couple items with me to be photographed today, and they all have significant meaning. So the items that I had, and you can see in the photograph, the green elaegg isn’t as visible, it’s just kind of resting on my hand. And it’s a rectangle piece of cloth and it has gold engraving on it. And elaegg in Arabic means it’s just a special piece of cloth and it’s visited a holy shrine in Iraq. And it has the names of the Imams, the Imams, the Ahl al-Bayt, they are the family of the Prophet. Saints if you will. Sometimes I’ll take it out, I’ll put special perfume on it so the smell will still stay the same. Whenever I’m sick, physically sick, whenever I’m stressed out, whenever I just miss home, it reconnects me back to the land that gave birth to me. And then I have a really small stone and they call it heriz in Arabic. And the actual stone it’s marble with light brown and tan-ish colors. I can’t see it, but with a magnifying glass you can actually see the engraving of a prayer and it’s meant to protect whoever is holding it. And then my husband has a ruby ring. And if you look closely enough there is a prayer engraved inside of it and it looks like there’s a face. And he’s been wearing it for the last seventeen years. It was really interesting because I was talking to my husband about this project and I was asking him if he had anything. And as he was telling me about his ring, I was like, you got your ring from the same exact place that I got my objects from. So I came to the United States in 1996 when I was seven. And I had visited Iraq in 2014 and I had gone at a time that was very difficult for me; I was going through a lot of life changes. And one of the reasons I had gone there was to visit the holy shrine and it was in Karbala. It was super packed because it was a holiday season and I had just wanted to visit the shrine. And I was, you know, just very in love with the Imam of the shrine, the protector of the shrine. And I kept praying and saying, you know, “if everything is okay with me, if you accept me as who I am,” I was talking to the protector of the shrine, “I just want to be able to touch the window.” And somehow, like the crowds just parted and I was able to reach the window, and as I was walking, I had my hands up in prayer and this green cloth fell into my arms. And the ladies behind me, they’re like, “oh my god you got your wish granted, you got your wish granted!” And the pessimist in me was like, “no, no someone just probably threw it and it landed in my, in my hands.” That same night I had a dream about the Imam of the shrine. He came to me in my dream and he was like, “Don’t ever doubt me again. You asked for something, and I gave it to you. And that is a symbol that your wish has been granted. Wherever you go, keep this elaegg, keep this cloth with you for your protection and for your sanity.” And then I also from that shrine, I was able to get a stone and it had a prayer engraved in it. And then a year later I met my husband. And we got talking and our two worlds collided because he had gotten that ring seventeen years ago from the same exact shrine that I had gotten my elaegg from and my stone from. And I keep it with me wherever I go now because whenever I am panicked, or I’m having an anxiety attack or I’m just so stressed out from work or family or whatever it is, I remember that moment when that flag, when that elaegg, fell into my hand, and just this wave of calmness just falls onto me. And I remember my dream and I remember what he said, and so I keep it with me wherever I go. Coming to the United States as a refugee, and coming to the United States as a child was really hard because I had to leave my entire world behind and learn a completely new language. And it’s very expensive to go back home now, to go back to Iraq. And I miss Iraq. I have two homes. I’m a hybrid of two cultures. And sometimes I just want to go back to my roots, to the land that gave birth to me. I miss the smell. I miss the soil. And unless I’m willing to pay like $5,000 every year to travel back and forth, I can’t do that. So whenever I’m feeling homesick I take out this elaegg, I’ll borrow my husband’s ring, and I’ll take this stone that has the prayer engraved on it, and I’ll just, you know, I’ll rub the cloth on my face and I’ll just inhale because still to this day, four years later, it still has a very special smell to it. And it reminds me of home, you know? It reminds me of the place that gave birth to me. It wasn’t safe. I had to, you know, my mother and I had to flee Iraq because of persecution. It wasn’t safe. But at the end of the day it’s still the land that gave birth to me. I have two homes. I have the country that opened its arms to me and protected me, and then I have the country that gave birth to me. Speaking Arabic The elaegg of Abu Fadl (the Imam) protects me. Sometimes when I feel tired or missing Iraq, I just smell the elaegg and I go back. I am able to travel back in time to Iraq some 20, 22 years ago. I remember my grandmother, my grandfather, my aunts. It’s true that I am live in America. America is my country as well but Iraq continues to be my roots. The soil of Iraq, the ground of Iraq stays in my memory. Whenever I miss Iraq, particularly whenever I miss the religious pilgrimage to the Holy Shrines in Iraq, the pilgrimage to Abu adul-Alaah al Hussein, I take out my heriz , my husband’s ring and my elaegg, and I find comfort. My soul is at peace. Every single sorrow and trouble that I was carrying on shoulders just disappears. Just seeing these mementos and smelling them, I am at peace. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource When Worlds Collide (Naghem) Description An account of the resource The ruby ring is my husband's, and he has worn it for the last 17 years. The smaller stone is mine, and it has a prayer engraved on it. The green 'elaegg' is my protection and sanity. When I went to Iraq in 2014, I was going through some of the hardest years of my life. I visited the Holy Shrines in Iraq and prayed. I cried and prayed. I got the 'elaegg' from one of the shrines, and that same night I had a dream about the Imam of that shrine. In my dream, he told me that he sent me the 'elaegg' as an answer to my prayers and as protection for me. Within a year, I met my husband, and our two worlds collided. It turns out that he got the ruby ring from the same shrine where I got my stone and the 'elaegg.' Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://www.denverlibrary.org/mementos-home">Mementos From Home</a> A project of <a href="https://www.denverlibrary.org/services-immigrants" target="_blank" title="Ctrl+Click to follow link" rel="noreferrer noopener">Services to Immigrants and Refugees</a> and the <a href="https://www.denverlibrary.org" target="_blank" title="Ctrl+Click to follow link" rel="noreferrer noopener">Denver Public Library</a> Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC-EDU/1.0/ Is Part Of A related resource in which the described resource is physically or logically included. Immigrant & Refugee Stories Language A language of the resource English and Iraqi Arabic DPL Immigrant Mementos Resource kits https://stories.cvlcollections.org/files/original/5b3df48b7f9b7491054ba293b3a98b69.jpeg 73d32999511dd80a67d1e830a158dabb Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Pomp & Circumstances Beyond Our Control: Commencement 2020 Subject The topic of the resource Commencement ceremonies COVID-19 (Disease) Description An account of the resource Due to the COVID-19 global pandemic, the class of 2020 didn't get to have traditional graduation ceremonies, but the occasion was still marked, in many cases virtually. This collection captures the creativity, innovation, and adaptability of the class of 2020 and holds the unique memory for the graduates, their friends and family, faculty, and the historical record. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Colorado State Library Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2020 Still Image A static visual representation. Examples include paintings, drawings, graphic designs, plans and maps. Recommended best practice is to assign the type Text to images of textual materials. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource http://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/ Title A name given to the resource Photograph of Backyard Graduation Date Created Date of creation of the resource. 5/23/2020 Description An account of the resource Backyard graduation ceremony complete with robe ceremony and national anthem, performed by a Jefferson County High School teacher for two graduates (of D’Evelyn Senior High and Wheat Ridge High School). Spatial Coverage Spatial characteristics of the resource. Lakewood (Colo.) Subject The topic of the resource Jefferson County Public Schools (Jefferson County, Colo.) Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Roser, Lindsey Type The nature or genre of the resource Still Image Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource image/jpg Is Part Of A related resource in which the described resource is physically or logically included. Pomp & Circumstances Beyond Our Control: Commencement 2020 Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Colorado Virtual Library