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Essey Paulos

Stories

  • caption: Hosts Asemayet "Mimi" Zekaryas and Essey Paulos pose for a photo on Zoom. As many schools switch to online learning due to Covid-19, some students thrive while others fall behind. How does inequities in school funding play a part in these disparities, and which students are the most vulnerable?
    Education

    For students of color, Covid-19 reveals deep inequities in Seattle area schools

    High school looks different this year for most students: classes on Zoom, drive-through graduations, social distance birthday parties, skipped proms. But some students have more pressing worries as classes move online. How do you make the switch to online learning when you don’t have wifi at home? RadioActive’s Mimi Zekaryas and Essey Paulos look at the education gaps between white students and students of color, as well as schools in wealthy areas and those where most students come from low-income households.
  • caption: A wedding ceremony at Eritrean Kidisti Selassie, an Eritrean Catholic church in Seattle. During a wedding, Eritreans from across the United States come to pray together and wish the couple good blessings.

    How faith defines a family — and in my case, divides it

    When my dad immigrated to Seattle from Eritrea, the Eritrean Catholic church became his new community. He goes to mass every Sunday. There, he sings in Tigrinya, his native tongue, and prays to God. As a first generation Eritrean American, I feel the duty to keep our traditions, language and culture alive. But the church has never completely felt like my own. And my brother no longer attends church. How can I protect my community while staying true to myself? And how can my brother and father bridge this gap between them?