2 10 14 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/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/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/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