In this episode you’ll learn about this resilient young woman’s journey, including:

🔵 Palloma’s family’s journey from Brazil, and how they came to settle in Framingham, Massachusetts. 🔴 How her family had to move about nine times, beginning with a trusted family friend neglecting Palloma’s health as her parents worked. ⚫️ The harrowing experience of having the family’s car broken into - and the police officer that told them to “go back to where you came from”, which set off a lifelong distrust of authorities. 🔵 Being Brazilian in the US, and how Palloma came to hide it as she went through middle school and high school - and how she came to embrace her heritage proudly. 🔴 Her #MeToo moments - being sexually harassed at almost every job she’s had, almost raped once, and her anger at our current president whose behavior has been just like that her harassers. ⚫️ How the #DACA announcement changed her life: she goes into all the things she’s been able to accomplish, but also analyzes the shortcomings, including financial aid. 🔵 The reaction to the the president’s cancellation of DACA - her emotions throughout the day after, and how it affected her family. 🔴 “The money he wants for the wall, he sees us as objects, holding us as hostages” — and how she sees negotiations working. ⚫️ How she’s been able to find community with her professors at Framingham, and the difference they’ve made in her academics, and for her dreams to become a change agent in the immigration movement. 🔵 “Stay hopeful” is Palloma’s message for her community, and that people’s dreams matter, even if the good in things can’t be seen immediately.

Thank you Palloma! It was such an incredible event at Framingham and for joining me for the first ever live Immigration MIC with a crowd! And Lina — I can’t thank you enough for trusting me to come to the university and bringing such a great program!