Immigration is a growing beat. Learn how to find stories and report with respect.
Moderator: Bernardo H. Motta, RWU
Panelists:
Dr. Omar Bah, Founder, Refugee Dream Center
Dr. Omar Bah is a torture survivor, former journalist and refugee from The Gambia in West Africa. He is also the author of the book, Africa’s Hell on Earth: The Ordeal of an African Journalist. Dr. Bah is the Founder and Director of Programs of the Refugee Dream Center, which provides a range of support services tailored to the needs of the refugee community.
He is currently an Adjunct Professor of clinical psychology at William James College. Dr. Bah mentors over 200 refugee youth in leadership and community building each year.
Alli-Michelle Conti, freelance reporter
Alli-Michelle Conti, a multimedia freelance journalist with 20 years of experience covering community-driven news in Rhode Island, writes on social justice issues with a focus on immigration. Her work has appeared on PBS Newshour, The Boston Globe, The Providence Journal, Rhode Island Monthly, Providence Monthly, and the Providence Business News.
Dr. Autumn Quezada Grant, Associate Professor of History & Chair, History & Cultural Studies at RWU
Autumn Quezada-Grant is an Associate Professor of History and is involved with the Latin American and Latino Studies Minor, as well as Gender and Sexuality Studies Minor. She received her Ph.D. from the University of Mississippi in 2010, in Latin American History.
Dr. Deborah Gonzalez, Director of the Immigration Law Clinic & Associate Clinical Professor of Law at RWU
Prior to becoming the Director of the Immigration Clinic, Deborah Gonzalez was a partner at Gonzalez Law Offices, Inc., since 2008. Deborah’s practice included defending immigrant clients in the Immigration Court in Boston, MA, against removal by seeking relief in the form of cancellation of removal, adjustment of status, waivers, asylum, and/or termination of removal.