The Marshall Islands consist mostly of atolls, rings of coral reefs that grew up around the rims of underwater volcanoes millions of years ago. Marshallese sailors have been successfully navigating around these atolls without the aid of a GPS device or any other wayfinding instruments for thousands of years.
We recently partnered with the Arkansas Coalition of Marshallese to learn how a younger generation of community leaders are learning to navigate new islands of opportunity and challenges.
ACOM Conversations w/ Marshallese Youth and Young Professionals
1
Youth Panel
3
Conversations
13
Voices
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How to Listen:
Move your cursor over the underlined, highlighted words and click to hear that particular piece of audio and to read the broader context of the speaker’s quote.
Springdale, Arkansas, home to America’s largest Marshallese population, is landlocked. Still, Marshallese youth advocates are discovering new tools to help their community navigate the tragic waters ☊ of the past and move forward ☊ to create access ☊ and opportunities for generations to come.
They are climate activists, medical students, nurses, counselors, interpreters, entrepreneurs and educators who have all navigated into the unknown ☊, making waves ☊ that offer motivation ☊ and trailways ☊ to activate undiscovered futures for their community.
As therapists ☊, politicians, or even LGBTQ models ☊ in a fashion show, the options ☊ today for Marshallese youth living in the United States are more varied than the pressures they may feel from elders to better their country ☊ in fields such as law and medicine. The truth is Marshallese need a seat at every table ☊, persistently sharing stories ☊, embracing language ☊ and family values ☊, not allowing their nuclear legacy ☊ to be forgotten ☊ or erased ☊, and advocating for rights ☊, not privileges ☊.
Exploring new futures for Marshallese living in Northwest Arkansas is not without obstacles; it’s hard ☊. As first-generation ☊ students surrounded by stigma ☊ and as young parents ☊ and professionals who were often underestimated ☊, many struggled to find support ☊ to pursue their aspirations. Yet, they persisted, encouraged by the sacrifices ☊ and examples ☊ of those who “did it” ☊ before them. By shedding certain expectations ☊, advocates find meaning in proximity ☊ and freedom in self-care ☊ and therapy ☊, even when their own families don’t always understand or support it.
The conversations with Marshallese advocates in this kit offer a wayfaring signal to young people everywhere right now. From the de-stigmatization of mental health ☊ to the passionate plea to “break generational curses” ☊, the futures they imagine are futures we all should be fighting for ☊.
