MediaRites

12/23/2025

10/09/2025

Took a while to get this video together because of tech difficulties but it looks and sounds great now! Watch this rare opportunity to hear Q***r Elder stories from The -Ism Storytellers Project event on August 9, 2025 at the Q Center!

The -Ism Storytellers Project is a statewide storytelling experience focusing on 10-minute personal stories from both artists and community members on the th...

09/18/2025

f you're in Eugene this Sat, Sept. 20th at 3pm, come to a special edition of The -Ism Storytellers. Longtime friend Eliza Roaring Springs has curated five storytellers in the Helping Hearts Program at the First Christian Church (1166 Oak St.). We'll hear stories of "Courage, Grace and Grit" experiences of being unhoused and in transition to housing.

09/10/2025

New video of Mixed Race affinity storytellers now online! Watch all or individual stories.

https://youtu.be/Sx55KmA5MF4

MediaRites' The -Ism Storytellers Project on July 27, 2025 at the North Portland Library was hosted by Dmae Lo Roberts with Mixed-Race storytellers comprised of theater artists and community members.

Michael Hammerstrom talks about code-switching, Margaret Lieder recounts how her mother's trauma during WWII bombing in Japan impacted their lives, Victoria Alvarez-Chacon addresses how theater instructors didn't honor her mixed race identity, Alec Lugo tells us about finding identity as Quesa D'Mondays and Dr. Eleanor Gil-Kashiwabara talks about her in*******al family. Watch all or individual stories now.

The -Ism Storytellers Project is a statewide storytelling experience focusing on personal stories from both artists and community members on the theme of “Co...

08/12/2025

Ten years ago we made a film using Dmae Lo Roberts' Peabody-winning audio documentary "Mei Mei" as the sole soundtrack. Here is now on YouTube. It was one of the first mixed-race Asian audio documentaries on NPR in 1989, the same year that Amy Tan's "Joy Luck Club" was published. This Dmae's autobiographical story of her journey to Taiwan with her mom who hadn't been back since after her post-WWII trauma.

Mei Mei, A Daughter’s Song is a cross-cultural tale of a mother and daughter separated by language and culture, yet bound together for life.In 1989, producer...

07/31/2025

We had overwhelming comments from MediaRites' -Ism Storytelling Project event on Mixed Race featuring (see photo L-R) Michael Hammerstrom, Margaret Lieder, host Dmae Lo Roberts, Alec Lugo aka Quesa D'Mondays, Victoria Alvarez-Chacon and Eleanor Gil-Kashiwabara. Here are some comments on our themes of "Courage, Grace and Grit" and "A Sense of Belonging."
"Heart-breaking, inspiring resilience and grace!"
"Good to know I'm not alone and others have survived the 'awkward' moments of not fitting into the box. Not only did they survive but they paths to thrive."
"Beautiful storytelling and heartfelt!"
" It takes time to process powerful lessons. I know that they're meaningful when I want to cry..."
Kudos to these brave storytellers! Our next event is Aug. 9th at 2pm at the Q Center featuring Q***r elders and hosted by Sandra de Helen.Join us! It's free!

10/07/2024

This weekend Oct. 11 and 12th at 6-730pm we are celebrating the Double Ninth festival at Lone Fir Cemetery, Block 14 to honor early Chinese immigrants who were buried at a segregated part of Lone Fir. We are looking for volunteers to help be guides during the video showings of Chinese youth storytellers and elder musicians of Nat Sing Music Club. Please email MediaRites at [email protected] if you can help out. https://mailchi.mp/a39b8ed13733/serenading-the-departed-and-block-10593999?e=c047ea449b