Sharing our Stories

Earlier this month, Mano en Mano joined the Maine Immigrant Rights Coalition for a community storytelling event in Blue Hill that centered on the connections between climate change, migration, and belonging.

Thank you to board member, Tania Medina for sharing her story

The gathering brought together approximately 30–40 community members to listen, learn, and share personal experiences about the ways environmental events can shape people's journeys and decisions to move. Through storytelling, participants explored how climate-related disasters, economic realities, and changing conditions affect families and communities both locally and around the world.

Representing Mano en Mano, board member Tania Medina shared her family's experience leaving Puerto Rico following Hurricane Maria in 2017. Tania spoke about the devastating impacts of the storm, the difficult decision to relocate, and the challenges and opportunities her family encountered as they built a new life in Maine.

Tania's daughter also shared her perspective, reflecting on what it was like to move from Puerto Rico and adapt to a new home, culture, and community. Together, their stories highlighted the resilience of families navigating displacement and change.

Community members from the Blue Hill area also contributed their own stories and reflections, creating a meaningful space for dialogue across different backgrounds and experiences. Throughout the evening, participants found common ground in conversations about home, identity, community, and the realities of a changing climate.

At Mano en Mano, we believe that storytelling is a powerful tool for building understanding and connection. We are grateful to the Maine Immigrant Rights Coalition for creating this opportunity and for their continued partnership in uplifting immigrant voices across Maine.

By sharing our stories, we strengthen our communities and deepen our understanding of the challenges and experiences that connect us all.