Come to hear stories of the lives of immigrants to Oregon from around the world and the important item they brought with them.
I Lived to Tell the World presents thirteen inspiring profiles of men and women who have endured unthinkable cruelty, only to resume productive lives in their new homes in Oregon. They come from Rwanda, Myanmar, Bosnia, Syria, and more—different stories, different conflicts, but similar paths through loss and violence to a new, not always easy, life in the United States.
The in-depth profiles are drawn from hours of interviews and oral histories. Journalist Elizabeth Mehren worked collaboratively with the survivors to honor the complexity of their experiences and to ensure that the stories are told with, and not just about, them. Mehren also weaves in historical, cultural, and political context alongside these personal stories of resilience.
About the presenter:
Elizabeth Mehren is a Portland-based writer, editor and educator. After working at The Washington Post, she became a national correspondent for the Los Angeles Times. Mehren, who earned undergraduate and graduate degrees at UC-Berkeley, spent a decade on the faculty at Boston University. She has earned several prestigious fellowships, and has written for national magazines, appeared on television and radio and received awards for teaching and journalism. “I Lived To Tell the World,” her fifth book, was selected in 2025 as the adult title for the Oregon Center for the Book.
This talk is capped at 25 guests, so please be sure to register to hold your spot!