The Roanoker May/June 2022 - 18
Do You Know...?
Do You Know...
Ahoo Salem?
written and photographed by Christina Nifong
This global citizen serves Roanoke's newest Americans.
A
18 MAY/JUNE 2022
hoo Salem sits behind her
desk on the ground floor of
the Roanoke public library
downtown. Through one wall of
windows, she sees women and
men from Haiti, Afghanistan and China greet
each other as they gather for class. Through
another, she hears laughter, as students from
around the globe form friendships through
their studies.
" The sense of community we are able
to create here is the best part of what I do, "
says Salem, executive director of Blue Ridge
Literacy, a 34-year-old nonprofit whose focus
is preparing non-English speakers for life in
the US.
To Salem, every person who walks
through the door has a unique set of gifts and
challenges. She wants them all to shine in their
new land.
" We talk a lot about 'interwoven equity' -
making sure that everybody is matched where
they are and given the services they need, " she
says.
But she sees the bigger picture, too. The
ways that invisible barriers can overwhelm
someone not familiar with the city's, state's and
country's many overlapping systems.
For example: Emphasis is often placed on
making sure that call-in services are translated
into many languages. But Salem says that is
only the first step. If someone can't navigate
the phone service to get to the language they
need or if they don't know a service exists, that
translation can't serve them.
Salem, 39, was born in Iran, and grew up in
the midst of war, mass protests, and constantly
shifting political and cultural expectations. She
left her country, not to flee violence, but to see
the world and further her education.
But soon the theories she was studying gave
shape to her lived experiences. She became
fascinated with the field of migration, first as
master's student in Sweden and later, earning
her PhD in sociology in Milan, Italy.
" It was always very interesting to me to
see how different countries have different
limitations but also opportunities for people
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Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of The Roanoker May/June 2022
The Roanoker May/June 2022 - Cover1
The Roanoker May/June 2022 - Cover2
The Roanoker May/June 2022 - 3
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The Roanoker May/June 2022 - Cover3
The Roanoker May/June 2022 - Cover4
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