First Person Immigrant Narratives: Dr. Alfredo Quiñones-Hinojosa

From the Evelyn and Walter Haas Jr. Fund:

The Evelyn and Walter Haas, Jr. Fund is launching a series of first-person narratives on our website this month. The stories spotlight people whose voices shed light on the issues and the values at the heart of the Fund’s work. This oral history approach was inspired by Pulitzer Prize-nominated author Dave Eggers and his nonprofit organization, Voice of Witness, which sees oral history as a way to connect all of us in a deeper way with the complex social issues of our time — and to help lift up the voices of people and groups who are often ignored.

The series kicks off with Dr. Alfredo Quiñones-Hinojosa. His is a uniquely American story. Alfredo leaves a difficult life in Mexico as a teenager, becomes a farmworker in the San Joaquin Valley, and ends up attending U.C. Berkeley and Harvard Medical School on his way to a career as a leading U.S. brain surgeon and medical researcher.

“I came here with a dream that I could one day make a difference in this country,” he told us. We hope you enjoy the stories — and we encourage you to keep checking back for more.

bh